Lot 268: 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible

Recalling its glamorous Grands Routieres of pre-war days such as the Phantom II Continental, Rolls-Royce’s final coachbuilt models - entrusted to the company’s in-house coachbuilder Mulliner, Park Ward - were limited to just two, a two-door coupé or similar convertible, the former arriving in March 1966 and the latter in September the following year. The cars were hand built in the best traditions of British coachbuilding using only materials of the finest quality, including Wilton carpeting, Connolly hide and burr walnut veneers, a necessarily lengthy process that took all of 20 weeks for the saloon and slightly longer for the more complex convertible. This painstaking attention to detail resulted in a price some 50% higher than the standard Silver Shadow’s. Nevertheless, demand for these more glamorous alternatives to the much more numerous Silver Shadow was strong right from the start, a state of affairs that resulted in them being given their own model name - ‘Corniche’ - in March 1971. Despite its sky-high asking price, the model proved a major success for Rolls-Royce; periodically revised and up-dated, it remained in production well into the 1990s, the last (Convertible) examples being delivered in 1995.

This right-hand drive Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible is currently in the hands of only its second owner, an elderly enthusiast, who advises us that it underwent significant refurbishment in June 1995 when the engine was rebuilt, the transmission having been overhauled the previous year. Finished in Old English White with red leather interior, the car is presented in generally sound condition and offered with sundry restoration invoices, service bills and French Carte Grise.


Cette Rolls-Royce Corniche cabriolet, conduite à droite, est entre les mains de son second propriétaire, un collectionneur français amateur de beaux objets. Il nous informe que la voiture a bénéficié d’un entretien méticuleux et soigné, notamment en juin 1995 avec la réfection complète du moteur et la révision de la transmission. Présentée ici dans sa livrée Old English White avec intérieur en cuir rouge, la voiture est présentée en bonne condition générale et sera accompagnée de diverses factures de restauration et de services ainsi que de sa carte grise française.