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1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupé
Price on Application
Description
There is a point at which mileage becomes academic. It happens when a car has been continually renewed to concours standard over decades, maintained without regard to cost, and upgraded only where reliability and enjoyment are served.
This Corniche is that exception. Restored and refined over more than 30 years by its fastidious long-term owner, with significant work entrusted to RR&B and most recent specialist care by Hillier Hill of Olney, it presents in a condition that borders on the unbelievable: panel fit, paint depth, veneers, leatherwork, chrome and mechanical integrity are all of a standard usually reserved for museum pieces, not for a car that has covered roughly a quarter of a million miles.
The original Nutmeg Brown over Silver Sand livery, re-veneered burr walnut, Connolly hide and Wilton carpets are complemented by Hooper stainless arch protectors, original Corniche mud-flaps and discreet drivability enhancements ie. Turbo R anti-roll bars, later rear levelling system, more reliable SU carburettors, Lobro drive shafts and upgraded Silver Spirit mirrors, making this a Corniche to be driven and admired in equal measure.
The Corniche Fixed Head Coupé is the rarest expression of Rolls-Royce grand touring. Hand-built by Mulliner Park Ward, inspired by Riviera elegance and prized by discreet owners, it remains a quiet masterpiece of craftsmanship and effortless luxury.
The current owner reports "...The car was bought new by Lord Bamford, of JCB fame, by his mother since 1992 and for the last 32 years the car has had £400,000 spent on it and is a unique and exceptional example, winning first place in concours events.
The present owner also owns "...a 1972 Series 1 Bentley Corniche Convertible which has done 365,000 trouble free miles over the last 40 years proving that with extremely extensive maintenance by Rolls Royce and Bentley specialists, with engine and bodywork restoration taken care of as required and with some choice mechanical upgrades, a high mileage Rolls and Bentley will always be more reliable and better value than a low mileage car left parked for long periods with little maintenance."
The reason why the car is for sale is due to old age of the present owner (not the car)...!
Model History
Conceived as Rolls-Royce’s most luxurious coach-built two-door, the Corniche evolved from Mulliner Park Ward’s hand-built Silver Shadow derivatives and was given its own identity in March 1971. Named for the dramatic cliff-edge corniche roads above the Riviera, it was designed for fast, effortless touring on Europe’s most glamorous coastline, the same lifestyle that made the Corniche a period favourite of Sinatra, McCartney and Elton John.
A grand tourer for those who know precisely where they are going, and feel no urgency to prove it
Every car required around five months of hand finishing, with Connolly hide, Wilton carpet and burr walnut contributing to a list price nearly 50% higher than a standard Silver Shadow, and close to the realms of Italian exotica. Beneath the elegance lay subtle performance gains, with around 10% more power from the 6.75-litre V8 and, from 1977, the adoption of rack-and-pinion steering and bi-level air conditioning. Fixed Head Coupés were always the rarest and most discreet expression of the Corniche, and this mineral-hydraulic 50000-series car sits at the very end of production, representing the most resolved development of the line.
Provenance
Multiple RREC award winner including 1st in Concours, Most Elegant and Touring, supported by extensive folders and boxes of trophies, photographs and documentation. Understood to have been supplied new to Lady Bamford (mother of JCB’s Lord Bamford). Over £400,000 spent on restoration and mechanical renewal during the last 30+ years, all recorded in detail, and most recently maintained by marque specialists Hillier Hill of Olney.
Mascot Detail
Particular attention has been paid to the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. A trained goldsmith, the previous owner found the factory finish lacking and undertook more than 40 hours of meticulous hand work at his jeweller’s bench, removing all casting seams and refining every surface. The facial features were carefully redefined to avoid the over-polished appearance often seen on later mascots, with subtle detailing to the headband inspired by earlier examples. The result is an exceptional finish, both visually superior and considerably easier to keep clean and gleaming than the standard factory item.
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1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupé
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