From the Estate of the Late Peter Blond

1974 Bentley Corniche

Registration no. 107 HYL

Footnotes

"The name Corniche has been chosen for the latest coachbuilt models because it symbolises their higher cruising speeds and their ability to cover greater distances with the minimum of fatigue for driver and passengers," explained Rolls-Royce in 1971, referring to the magnificent cliff-top roads of France's Côte d'Azur, for decades a favoured destination among Rolls-Royce and Bentley owners.

Introduced in March that year, the Corniche was a revised version of the Mulliner, Park Ward-bodied two-door variants of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T-Series saloons, themselves notable as the Crewe factory's first unitary construction cars. In Corniche form Rolls-Royce's well-tried 6.7-litre V8 produced around 10% more power than standard and proved capable of propelling the car to a top speed in excess of 120mph with sports car-beating acceleration to match. The model proved a major success for Rolls-Royce; periodically revised and up-dated, it remained in production well into the 1990s, the last (Convertible) examples being delivered in 1995.

For much of the time that the Corniche was in production, a Bentley was regarded as little more than a slightly cheaper alternative to a Rolls-Royce. This famous marque had yet to re-establish its reputation as maker of some of the world's fastest and most exciting sports saloons and Grand Tourers, a process that commenced in 1982 with launch of the Mulsanne Turbo. Consequently, the Bentley Corniche was produced in much smaller numbers than its Rolls-Royce equivalent, despite being – arguably – the more handsome of the two. Up to 1984, when the Bentley Corniche was renamed 'Continental', only 151 had been sold compared to several thousand of the Rolls-Royce version! These rare Bentleys are much sought after today.

The car offered here was acquired by the current vendor in 2004, since when it has been maintained by Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist N Sandell of Isleworth, Middlesex. The car had a major engine overhaul in 2003 and has covered circa 13,000 miles since. Numerous related bills are on file from N Sandell for works and servicing since 2004, together with the current V5C Registration Certificate and a quantity of expired MoTs and tax discs. The car has received a recent service from N Sandell and these bills are on file. The car also comes with factory instruction handbooks and an Information for Owners booklet recording the original colour combination as Willow Gold with Magnolia leather interior.