Rolls-Royce Corniche

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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 fabulously 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 very 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.

The Corniche was progressively developed over time, gaining features like split-level air conditioning, rack-and-pinion steering, Bosch fuel injection and self-levelling rear suspension. 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.

On offer here from a deceased estate, this Corniche was first registered in May 1974 and has had just four owners from new, being acquired by the current owner in 1993. During his 25-year ownership the car has always been kept garaged and used very sparingly, mainly to take the family out for lunch on summer weekends. We are told that it was always maintained by a family friend who also looked after the Silver Spirit that the owner used more regularly.

As is so often the case with deceased estates, the history file for the car has gone astray, but an online MOT history check shows that it has only covered 3,500 miles since 2006 and we are told that it had been in storage for nine years when the vendor acquired it, so the 21,652 miles currently displayed may even be correct but cannot be warranted.

Treated to a high quality respray some years ago, it looks splendid in its light green paint with biscuit hide interior and retains its period radio and 8-track stereo with a selection of cassettes still in the glove box. Starting promptly and running well as we moved it around for these photos, it has been barely used in the last few years but is due to have a new MOT in time for the sale, the last having expired in May 2017 with only two minor advisories.

The interior would benefit from a thorough cleaning and the walnut door cappings and rear bumper end sections could do with some refurbishment but it would then look very smart indeed. Riding on a good set of Avon Turbospeed tyres, this rare and beautiful motorcar has lots of potential and looks irresistible at the modest guide price suggested.

NB: The dark blob you see in the centre of some of the photos was on the camera lens, not the car!