Description
Rolls-Royce had been busy selling the Silver Shadow for several years when it decided to create an open variant of the sedan. The Silver Shadow was six years old when, in 1971, its open sibling entered the market, going by the Corniche name. A very stylish convertible and essentially the pinnacle of open cars. A timeless car that clearly proven to have a long life, when only in 1996 the curtain did fall on the model.
The Corniche you see here is proof that things can always be more beautiful and improved upon. The owner of this ‘Rolls’ commissioned a Dutch brand specialist to fully restore this car to concours condition. To put it briefly: they succeeded. The end result of the restoration is stunning, and it is entirely fair to say that this is the best Corniche we have ever seen.
The Corniche was built on February 18, 1987, precisely to the specifications you see here. The official factory certificate accompanying it indicates that the car was delivered new in Royal Blue (FTA) Inmont. As extras, a ‘Double Magnolia Fineline’ was chosen for the flank. The interior was executed in matching Magnolia (A3977) leather, with a dark blue trim. Cumberland Stone was chosen for the carpet, and the convertible top is dark blue. You see: exactly the colours still adorning the Corniche today.
The body is therefore in like-new condition, as clearly seen in the photos. Stunning paintwork, and practically everything mounted on and around the body is in an equally beautiful state. Chrome, windows, rubber, lighting components, wheels: whatever comes to mind, one glance is enough to see that this car is absolutely perfect.
This qualification continues on the inside, with beautiful leather and trim, which, like the original, is executed in dark blue. Sitting on the formidable seats, you have a beautiful view of the largely wooden dashboard. The gauges and controls are simply as beautiful as the rest of the interior: nothing was left to chance during the restoration of this specimen.
Under the enormous hood is the well-known and reliable 6, 750 cc V8. A powerhouse with about 218 hp. Do not expect immediate supercar performance; the 5. 20-meter-long convertible has a weight of about 2, 300 kilograms, so there are a few kilos to carry. However, the smoothness is unparalleled; hardly any engine runs as smoothly as that of an 80’s Rolls-Royce. The torque of about 540 Nm, available at low revs, provides an abundance of power in every gear. The engine of this specific Corniche runs beautifully, as it one would have every right to expect, which is not surprising after a complete revision and restoration. Not only is the engine technically in fantastic condition, but it also looks the part.
A unique Corniche like this, with the original specifications, a very low mileage, and an incredible restoration with photos as tangible evidence: finding a second one like this will be difficult, nigh on impossible.
