Description
Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire Viewing: Tues 28th July from 1pm Auction 29th July, 2026 12:00 Location: Pavilion Gardens St John's Rd, Buxton SK17 6BE Registration No: T. B. A. Chassis No: SCAZD00A3KCH29271MOT: January 2027 The subject of much maintenance and improvement work in recent years including overhauls of the air-conditioning and brake systems 57, 000 warranted miles from new and said to drive extremely well Onboard drinks cabinet, period Blaupunkt stereo, original MPW footwell mat Cost the equivalent of circa £380, 000 in today’s money when new! “In most people’s eyes, it’s the absolute ultimate in cars” (Autocar magazine) The epitome of luxurious, open-topped motoring, the Rolls-Royce Corniche found favour with royal families and business tycoons around the world not to mention such A-list celebrities as Sir Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, David Bowie, Elton John, Dean Martin, Sir Michael Caine and Zsa Zsa Gabor. Often subject to a two-year plus waiting list, the model underwent its first major facelift in 1986 with the arrival of the Corniche II. Visually distinguished by colour-coded bumpers / door mirrors and chrome side trims that accentuated its wheelarches / sills, changes to the newcomer were far more than skin deep. In common with Rolls-Royce’s other so-called ‘20, 000 Series’ cars, the four-seater benefited from a vastly improved electrical system, better air-conditioning, more engine power, superior reliability, increased fuel efficiency, simplified servicing and ABS brakes. For example, the mellifluous 6750cc V8 engine gained a new inlet manifold, flywheel, firing order, throttle body, starter motor, cylinder heads and pistons plus Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection etc. The power steering, cooling / fuel / hydraulic systems, seats, automatic transmission and cruise control were all uprated too, while the final drive ratio was increased to 2. 69:1 (due to the extra bhp/ lbft). The changes even went as far as more potent electric window motors. Painted in a wide variety of colours and trimmed with the finest materials available, each Corniche II took the best part of 1, 000 hours to build. Only current from 1986-1989, the majority of the 1, 228 examples completed were to left-hand drive specification. Necessarily exclusive, the Rolls-Royce’s list price had risen to more than £120, 000 by 1989 (the equivalent of over £380, 000 in today’s money). The Corniche II and its short-lived Corniche III successor were also notable for being the last Rolls-Royce Convertibles to benefit from the attention of the artisan craftsmen at Mulliner Park Ward (where they were handbuilt alongside the special order Phantom VI limousine) with the Crewe manufacturer choosing to close the doors of its North London-based coachbuilding subsidiary in 1991. First registered in Leicestershire on 10th August 1989 (or so its ‘G99 VNR’ number plate would imply), chassis CH29271 is further understood to have had just four former keepers the last of whom retained it for twenty-seven years (1993 – 2020). Treated to some £1, 650 worth of expenditure by Grays of Hanwell, London shortly before being acquired by its current registered keeper, he in turn entrusted it to respected marque specialist D. E. W. Car Services of Witney, Oxfordshire for a major 24, 000-mile service and thorough going over during February 2021. As well as the rear axle oil being changed and the automatic gearbox fettled (fresh fluid, new gear selector shaft seal), the Rolls-Royce benefited from attention to its brake (callipers, accumulators, pipes), coolant (radiator, expansion tank, hoses) and ignition (distributor cap, rotor arm) systems not to mention new engine mounts, refaced exhaust manifolds, fresh rocker cover gaskets, renewed oil cooler / PAS hoses and even sundry replacement dashboard bulbs. Subsequent work saw D. E. W. Car Services overhaul the air-conditioning (new compressor, dryer, expansion valve). Sparingly used thereafter, less than 1, 500 miles have been covered since the Corniche II underwent all these improvements. Warranted by the seller to have travelled a mere 57, 000 miles from new, the ultra-luxurious soft-top is said to ‘drive very well indeed’. A stunning motorcar to behold especially on a sunny day when it seems to have a magnetic effect on fellow motorists and passersby, the Rolls-Royce has lost none of its power to impress. Ideal for touring especially with its hood, hood bag and air-conditioning in such fine order, this decidedly handsome Corniche II is seemingly ideally suited to the English, French or any other Riviera! Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document, maintenance / service invoices totalling circa £13, 000 and MOT certificate valid until January 2027. ** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply** Entry by catalogue and can be purchased for £20 (admits 2...
