Modern Classic: Rolls-Royce Corniche
This 1978 Rolls-Royce Corniche sold for $161,000 in 2019. Photo: Webb’s
Rolls-Royces have featured several times in Modern Classic and have also visited many times at Parihoa – the Ghost, Phantom, and Cullinan. Many will remember that it’s via Rolls-Royces that I first met Liz.
I have a sweet spot for Rolls-Royces as I feel they represent “the ultimate” vehicle. Today’s feature is on the beautiful two-door Corniche whose origins we can trace the way back to 1965. Ironically the venerable design stretched on almost a remarkable 30 years until 1995 with the final Corniche S). Amazingly an all-new also Corniche V appeared for just one year from 2000 to 2001.
It’s fitting to think of the Corniche as the spiritual predecessor to the current Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible, which came into existence in 2016 and replaced the Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe that was sold from 2007 to 2016.
The Rolls-Royce Corniche V was in production from 2000, to2001. Photo: Supplied
The Corniche officially came into existence in 1971. But it existed in “shape” since 1966 when, one year after the four door state-of-the-art monocoque bodied Silver Shadow was released, a two-door Silver Shadow came onto the scene.
Mulliner Park Ward, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce, would build the two-door coupe and in 1967 a convertible also appeared. From 1971, these would become known as the “Corniche”, based on a coastal road in the south of France which Sir Henry Royce had enjoyed driving. They were 5.2 metres long and the appearance had overtones of a yacht, a design feature that still rings true today on the Dawn.
Confusingly, from a history standpoint, from 1966 to 1967, James Young, a London coach building business, built its own iteration of the Silver Shadow coupe and convertible that had a more upright look at the rear, and 35 of these became Rolls-Royces and 15 became Bentleys.
The Corniche had the 6.75-litre V8 from the sedan, which was said to be more powerful in the coupe. But like always, Rolls-Royce’s power figures were a source of mystery and described as “adequate”. With 2.25 tonnes to shift, acceleration was around the 11 second mark from 0-100km/h.
The interior was, in its day, a place of perfection, with the finest Connolly leather, wood trim and an electric hardtop that was very sound proof in its day. Even the gear lever for the three-speed automatic had servo assistance.
The coupe’s production came to an end in 1982, but the convertible soldiered on until 1995 with the final Corniche S. Production switched in 1992 from Mulliner Park Ward to Crewe. Bentley also produced its version of the Corniche known as the Bentley Continental convertible from 1984 to 1995.
This 1986 Rolls-Royce Corniche boasted beautiful leather interior. Photo: Supplied
The Corniche had various updates along its way, which were categorised into “I” (until 1987) “II” (1988-1989), III” (1989-1992), IV” and “S”. The “IV” from 1992 to 1995 and the “S” (1995 only) gained a turbocharged V8 with a four speed automatic and these are the most sought after cars, along with the Bentley Continental version at the time. Just 25 “S” models were produced and only eight of the Bentley turbocharged version.
With the demise of the original and aged Corniche in 1995, the “second generation” Corniche landed in January 2000. With a base price upwards of US$360,000 in world markets, it wasn’t cheap, although the Corniche had always been expensive.
A 1973 Rolls-Royce Corniche coupe didn’t sell at an Auckland auction. Photo: Webb’s
The new Corniche was powered by a 240kW 6.75-litre V8 made by Rolls-Royce. Although it looked like the Rolls-Royce Seraph sedan it actually had a body based on the Bentley Azure coupe. It holds the accolade of being the only Rolls-Royce being made on a Bentley body, rather than vice versa (although, again confusingly, the Azure was developed on a Rolls platform initially!).
While the 2000 Corniche was developed under Volkswagen’s ownership of Bentley, Rolls-Royce was then under the ownership of BMW Group and the Corniche only lasted two years under the Group, finishing on 30 August, 2002 with just 374 built.
For collectors, it is truly a global market for prized examples of Corniche or Bentley Continental. Few examples exist in New Zealand and none are currently listed on TradeMe, although a beautiful Bentley Continental did remain on TradeMe for a long time in 2020, but may have sold recently, and the green Rolls-Royce Corniche (above) sold for $161,000 in March 2019 by Webb’s Auction house. Later that year, the blue Corniche coupe (above) didn’t sell at Webb’s auction.
If you are in New Zealand and hold any examples of either, we would love to hear from you.
The Rolls-Royce Dawn is a modern version of Corniche convertible. Photo: Rolls-Royce
