1978 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible

Coachwork by H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd Registration no. BRX 522T Chassis no. DRH25262

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." - Rolls-Royce.

Recalling the firm's glamorous Grandes Routières of pre-war days such as the Phantom II Continental, Rolls-Royce's final coachbuilt models - entrusted to the company's in-house coachbuilder H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd - were limited to just two, a two-door coupé or similar convertible, the former arriving in March 1966 and the latter in September the following year. Some of the frontal panels were shared with the standard Silver Shadow four-door saloon but otherwise the new bodyshells were unique, featuring a distinctive dipping upper wing line with parallel crease, and a revised, more rounded posterior.

These exclusive cars were hand built in the best traditions of British coachbuilding using only materials of the finest quality including Wilton carpeting, Connolly hide and burr walnut veneers, such painstaking attention to detail resulting in a price some 50% higher than that of the standard Silver Shadow. Nevertheless, demand for these more glamorous alternatives to the much more numerous four-door model was strong right from the start, a state of affairs that resulted in them being given their own model name - 'Corniche' - in March 1971. 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. Progressively developed, the Corniche received Rolls's advanced split-level air conditioning system along with a redesigned fascia in 1976 (the first Rolls-Royce model to do so) and in 1977 benefited from the many improvements - most notably rack-and-pinion steering - introduced on the 'Shadow II range. Despite its sky-high asking price, 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.

This Rolls-Royce Corniche is offered fresh from a 12-month, bare-metal restoration by Michael Hibberd costing circa £60,000, which included a brand new hood and refurbishment of much of the interior woodwork. Owned and doted on by the vendor for many years, the car is a reluctant sale and is only going under the hammer due to a change in the owner's personal circumstances. Simply stunning, this car is one of the best-looking Corniche convertibles we have ever seen and worthy of the closest inspection.