1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible

Please note the correct engine number is 23528.

The two-door convertible version of the Silver Shadow has been, without doubt, the most commercially successful convertible ever produced by Rolls-Royce. First introduced in 1966 as the 'Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Two-Door, Drophead Coupé', to give it its full title, the car was instantly in demand. When Rolls-Royce launched the two-door cars, the international jet-set began to clamour for attention at the dealerships. With waiting lists measured in years, these hugely desirable vehicles began to change hands at significant premiums over list price, and one can imagine the hushed negotiations over the green baize of the gaming tables at Crockfords, the Palm Beach and Aspinalls.

Customers who ordered the Drophead were not the same people who purchased the company's sensible saloons, with the cars frequently being specified in bright colours, and eventually it became apparent that this version deserved to have its own model name so, after a few cosmetic changes in 1971, the Corniche was born. The name originally comes from the French word for a coastal road, particularly along the face of a cliff, most notably the Grande Corniche along the French Riviera above the principality of Monaco, and it was thought at the time that this new name might convey some of the style and glamour of Monte Carlo and, 50 years later, it still does.

Rolls-Royce foresaw the time when RR owners would like to drive their own cars, and the Corniche continued to be developed with this in mind and even had a rev counter fitted as standard. Around 10% more power was coaxed from the proven 6,750cc aluminium-alloy V8 endowing the two-door with a top speed in excess of 120mph and sports car-embarrassing acceleration to match. Progressively developed, the Corniche received Rolls' advanced split-level air conditioning system along with a re-designed fascia in 1976 - the first Rolls-Royce model to do so. Despite its sky-high asking price, the model proved a major success for Rolls-Royce; periodically revised and updated, it remained in production well into the 1990s, the last (convertible) examples being delivered in 1995.

The splendid example we see here today is an elegant 1976 Corniche Convertible by Mulliner Park Ward wearing an Ivory livery with a Chestnut leather interior complemented by a Chocolate Brown mohair roof. Records on file show that Chassis no. #DRH23528 was originally registered on 2nd June 1976 and was subsequently enjoyed by five keepers prior to our vendor's custodianship, which began in early 2020. It has patently been used lightly all of its days as the current indicated mileage is 53,000.

The Corniche has recently benefited from some servicing and improvement work by Nottinghamshire based Rolls Royce and Bentley Specialist, Starmans. A detailed invoice can be found in the history file, and it's also been treated to a brand-new mohair roof.