1979 Rolls-Royce Corniche

The Rolls-Royce marque registered the Corniche name in the 1930s and assigned it to a prototype based on the Bentley MK V. Due to the onset of World War II, the model was never progressed. The moniker lay dormant until it was first employed in 1971 on the Coupe and Convertible versions of the Silver Shadow. It wore styling penned by in-house designer John Polwhele Blatchley and the underbody and floorpan crafted by Pressed Steel Fisher. By this point in history, Mulliner Park Ward of Willesden, London was a wholly-owned division of Rolls-Royce and was tasked with an initial assembly including the alloy bonnet, doors, and bootlid. The cars were then transported to the main factory in Crewe for the installation of the running gear before returning to London for the trimming, painting and finishing.

The company's long-standing 6.75-liter V8 was backed by a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission. The suspension was independent by coil springs at all four corners, augmented by a Citroen-originated hydraulic self-leveling system.

A mild update occurred in 1977 when the chromed bumpers were replaced by alloy and rubber units, and new style wheel rims and reversing lights were fitted. An aluminum radiator and an oil cooler could be found under the bonnet, and the passenger compartment received newly-designed seats and refashioned fascia.

A total of 1,226 examples of the Corniche II were produced prior to the Corniche III being phased in 1986.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2011