Owned from 1985 to 2018 by Jersey’s first billionaire
Amazing time-warp condition with genuine mileage of only 21,000
Expenditure since 2018 exceeding £20,000
Copies of Rolls-Royce factory build sheets
The Appeal
Appearing in 1965 as Mulliner Park Ward’s two-door version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, and given a separate identity in 1971, the Corniche heralded something of a change of character for Rolls-Royce when it launched although, of course, it ensured the marque continued to embody the height of automotive luxury through the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. The upright dimensions of older Rolls-Royces like the Silver Dawn and Silver Cloud were thrown out and replaced with a low, sleek profile which better suited the exuberance of the late ’60s without sacrificing any of the brand’s time-honoured dignity.
Under the skin, the Silver Shadow and Corniche were most sophisticated Rolls-Royces by a country mile. Inheriting the Rolls-Royce L-series V8 introduced in 1959 with Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission by from General Motors, notable advances includes four-wheel independent suspension with hydraulic self-levelling system and all-round disc brakes. In 1980, it benefitted further from the introduction of fuel injection.
The result was a car perfectly styled and engineered to appeal to both youthful rock stars and established businessmen, one which would look at home watching the Henley Regatta, cruising the French Riviera or arriving silently at a Malibu country club. Accordingly, it proved popular not only in Britain but in Europe and America, too, and 3239 Corniche convertibles were sold between 1971 and 1987, when it was given a new lease of life as the Corniche II.
Rare though they are, their survival rate is fairly high, but we don’t think you’ll find another one like this. A spectacularly preserved, low-mileage car, it could easily be mistaken for a fresh restoration, so immaculate is it. With thousands of pounds already spent on light recommissioning, there’ll not be another opportunity to acquire one as good as this.
Chassis DRH0050537 was originally completed by the Rolls-Royce factory in early 1980, finished in Caribbean Blue with Dark Blue roof, double Gold coach lines, Beige upholstery and headlining and Dark Blue carpets
Original specification included fog lamps, black radial tyres, Blaupunkt Frankfurt stereo and the dash trimmed in Dark Blue hide save for one section in Black Cirrus
Intended to be distributed through Grassick’s Ltd. of Leonard Street, Perth, for a customer called P. Wilsom, this order was reversed and it was ultimately sold through St. Helier Garages at 87 Bath Street, St. Helier, Jersey to one E. E. T. Young, carrying Jersey registration J997 issued on 2nd January 1981.
From 1985 to 2000, the Corniche was owned by businessman Kevin Leech, Jersey’s first billionaire best-known for his family trust’s ownership of Land’s End, John O’Groats, the Snowdon Mountain Railway, the Needles pleasure park and Reliant Motors
Ownership transferred to Leech’s company La Vignette Ltd, which placed the car into storage and retained it until 2018, when it was shipped to mainland Britain and sold to the vendor, and reregistered accordingly
The Corniche has been well cared-for in the vendor’s collection of classic Rolls-Royces, but must now be sold to make room for a new project.
Paperwork includes the current V5, a Jersey vehicle registration document from 2016, a 2018 letter from La Vignette Ltd. confirming the low mileage, MoT certificates from 2018 and 2020, a huge file of facsimiles of the original Rolls-Royce build sheets, and several invoices running to around £20,000 for work completed since 2018
Absolutely superb condition with upholstery believed to be all original
Beautiful walnut dash houses original radio, cassette player and digital clock
Complete original toolkit in boot
Door cappings relacquered in 2020
At 20 years old, an interior like this might be easy enough to believe but, at 40 years old, you just don’t find them like this anymore. To the best of our knowledge, though, this is an original 42-year-old interior which has never been restored beyond the wooden door cappings being relacquered two years ago.
The seats defy all the expectations we would have of a car at this age. Even the driver’s seat looks like it’s barely been sat in but then, with only 21,000 miles covered, it scarcely has. As much as we might like to say that the leather has matured with age, the fact is that it hasn’t really aged at all. There may be a few little creases in it that weren’t there when it left the factory, but there’s little else left to say other than that it is supremely good.
Elsewhere, the upholstery is in almost-new condition, although it has picked up a few tiny marks in places. There are some very small nicks in the hide covering around the radio, and some almost unnoticeable marks on the door cards. There is the slightest patina just beginning to show on the beautifully sumptuous walnut dash, at the rims of the gauges but, again, ‘almost new’ would sum up its general description. There is a small water mark at the rear base of the headlining, although we are of the understanding that the hood fits tightly and securely.
The carpets, naturally, have been kept wonderfully clean and, of course, there are the additional sheepskin carpets for extra luxury. The boot carpet is almost as good, although unfortunately it has a very small tear. It contains the original Rolls-Royce toolkit, which is all complete bar one light bulb, and the larger tool bag containing the jack, wheel brace and tommy bar.
Needless to say, power windows, a heater and air-conditioning are de rigueur in a car like this. Bidders may note that the seatbelt holder on the driver’s seat has been modified to allow for the seat to be positioned further back in order to accommodate the vendor’s tall frame.
When English Automotive Services undertook some renovation of the car in 2020, which included refurbishing the door cappings, other work done to the interior included replacing the cigar lighter and rectifying faulty glovebox and courtesy lights.
Power-operated hood in superb order, with matching beige tonneau cover
Visibly clean and solid underneath
Magnificent condition all-round, close to concours-standard
Did ever a car look more suited to the high life than this Corniche convertible in Caribbean Blue, a rather ethereal hue which makes play with the sunlight however it falls? The ‘coke bottle’ waistline, so in vogue through the 1970s, trails elegantly away with a feminine grace. The shining Parthenon radiator completes the picture of aristocratic motoring.
The entire car is in the very best state of preservation, with the roof and most of the brightwork and paint all understood to be almost entirely original. Having been used so sparingly and placed in storage for so long, we shouldn’t think it has seen more than a handful of rainy days.
We do know that a few small bodywork jobs have been completed in the present ownership, with an rear of corrosion around the rear parcel shelf rubbed down and treated, one of the rear quarter-frames rechromed a small indentation in the driver’s door repaired and expertly repainted. All this formed part of work completed by English Automotive Services in 2020.
We have looked all over the car and really struggled to find a single thing to fault. Even underneath, the car is remarkably clean, and it was given a thorough Waxoyling in 2018 as part of recommissioning by Liverpool Rolls-Royce specialist Cameron Lunt.
Extensive works undertaken in 2018 and 2020 including top-end rebuild and brake, suspension and carburettor overhauls
This Corniche runs just as a Rolls-Royce should – quietly and smoothly. An automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering take all the hard work out of driving, and in terms of ease of use it is really on a par with any similarly-sized modern car. The hydraulic self-levelling suspension ensures a virtually unparalleled ride quality. The power steering elicits particular praise from the vendor, who has owned several classic Rolls-Royces and considers the Silver Shadow and Corniche’s steering to have been a major improvement over earlier systems.
This is an extremely low mileage car which has only recently been recommissioned, so it should still really be like driving a new Corniche. When Cameron Lunt overhauled the car in 2018, it carried out a top-end rebuild which involved the replacement of two pushrods and total refurbishment of the cylinder head by a specialist. Cameron Lunt proceeded to replace both rear struts and dampers, all the brake pads and the front brake calliper hoses, and then rebuilt the Solex carburettor. At the same time, the fuel tank was flushed and a new sender unit and oil-pressure switch installed.
English Automotive Services completed further mechanical work in 2020, including stripping and reassembling the front upper suspension arms, replacing both rear gas springs and a more thorough carburettor rebuild with oversized needles used.
While the car doesn’t have (or require) a current MoT, it was tested in 2018 and 2020, both times with no advisories, so we’re sure it’s all ready for you to enjoy this summer.
The Corniche represented the very best of Britain’s motoring output in the 1970s and ’80s, and this is perhaps the very best one you could buy. It isn’t quite a concours car in the sense of being wholly unblemished, but it’s still a potential concours award-winner in the preservation category – it’s possibly the best and most original first-generation Corniche around.
While we don’t think the fun of classic cars necessarily lies in trophy-hunting, it might be worth attending a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club rally this summer just to see if you can pick up a pot or two…
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
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1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible
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