Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupe

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 Rolls-Royce-owned coachbuilders Mulliner Park Ward were tasked with the job of turning Rolls’ Silver Shadow saloon into a two-door. In hard top and convertible form, the MPW coupes started appearing on the streets in 1965, and it wasn’t until 1971 that the model officially became known as the Corniche.

It was, at the time, Britain’s most expensive car and, of course, echoed the mechanical layout of the saloon. The monocoque body sat on independent suspension, while the same 6.7-litre engine drove the rear wheels through a GM three-speed automatic gearbox, operated via a steering column-mounted shift lever.

While the Shadow developed to its MkII stage in 1972, the Corniche, built only in convertible form from 1982, had to wait until 1977 to receive the same upgrades. At that time, rubber and alloy bumpers replaced the chrome items, fuel injection took over from carburettors and much-improved rack-and-pinion steering was adopted. Colour-coded bumpers and better suspension followed in 1989 and the Corniche’s final year, 1995, saw a Bentley-esque turbocharged Corniche S.

This fine example of one of Rolls-Royce’s more valued newer classics was supplied new in 1978 by Armstrong Massey Ltd of Beverley in Yorkshire. Finished in Pewter with a light green Everflex roof, the car boasts an unusual, special-order Westmoreland striped cloth interior, much more comfortable than leather, especially on very warm or cold days.

The car has had four previous owners and has been part of the Stondon Museum Collection since 1986. It has only covered 65,800 miles to date with five service stamps in the book and various old MOTs to warrant this total. All the original handbooks are still present and the car is said to drive beautifully with a current MOT.

Please note that the private plate shown is not included and will be replaced with an age-related number prior to the sale, probably BYP 525T.