1974 Rolls-Royce Corniche

Description

Few owners, one for 25 years; only 25,800 miles indicated; gearbox, brakes, suspension and air con overhauled; a beautiful car with a whisper-quiet engine that looks stunning in Larch Green

Launched in 1966 as a two-door version of the Silver Shadow, the coachbuilt Mulliner Park Ward Coupe was a superior car to the saloon on which it was based. With elegant coachwork designed by Bill Allen, each and every one was handbuilt by MPW in a necessarily lengthy process that took all of 20 weeks and resulted in a price some 50% higher than the standard Silver Shadow.

Only the finest materials were used with different seats and dash to the Shadow, engine power went up by 10% and tweaks to the suspension and steering geometry gave an even better ride. Demand for these magnificent cars was so great that the waiting list was measured in years, not months, a state of affairs that resulted in them being given their own model name, Corniche, in March 1971.

Reassuringly exclusive, only 1,108 Coupes were made before production ceased at the end of 1981, though a convertible version continued to be made as the flagship model in the Rolls-Royce range until 1996.

As copies of the factory build sheets confirm, this Corniche was ordered new in July 1973 by a Mr Alan Firmin of Martin Walter Ltd in Kent (Vauxhall/Bedford distributors and owners of the Dormobile brand). Finished in Larch Green with gold pinstripes and a Beige Vaumol hide interior, it was delivered to Mr Firmin in March 1974.

Nothing is known of the car’s subsequent history (although the RREC may be able to help on this score) but in 1993 it was acquired by a Staffordshire gentleman in whose family it was to remain for the next 25 years before appearing in a Brightwells auction in 2018 as part of a deceased estate. At this point any service history had sadly gone astray, the catalogue description at the time recording that it was one of two Rolls-Royces owned by the family and had been kept garaged and used very sparingly, the odometer reading at that time being an unwarranted 21,652 miles.

Invoices show that over the next two years  (2018/19) it had the following work carried out: automatic gearbox reconditioned; hydraulic system overhauled with various new seals and pipes; new accumulators; brakes overhauled with new or reconditioned calipers, pads and hoses (including hand brake); new rear suspension springs and mountings; new front suspension springs and dampers; new ball joints; new front and rear exhaust sections; new rear axle straps; air conditioning system overhauled and converted to modern gas; new petrol gauge sender; new front tyres; new battery; underbody repairs; full service plus various other minor items.

The odometer now shows 25,787 miles and the car looks very well indeed with a smart interior and nice paintwork which is believed to have been resprayed to a good standard in the not-too-distant past. It has been starting promptly and driving beautifully as we have moved it around on site with good oil pressure and an engine that is so quiet you can barely tell whether it is running or not.

Documentation includes the aforementioned build sheets and recent invoices, an original Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow handbook, 19 old tax discs from 1986 - 2010, plus two old MOTs issued in 2015 and 2018 (the car now being MOT-exempt).

This rare and nicely presented Corniche turns every journey into an occasion and will draw admiring looks wherever it goes.

For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email [email protected]