1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche

The Rolls-Royce Corniche Series 1A was a bridge between the original Corniche model introduced in 1971 and the new version that soon entered production to satisfy the revised United States construction and use requirements in 1978. Produced during 1976 and the early part of 1977, the weight had been reduced by 500 pounds in comparison to its predecessor, and modifications to its engine - including an increase in compression ratio, resulting in a minor increase in horsepower. With the help of a rack and pinion steering system, the turning circle was reduced from 38 feet to a little over 32 feet. The 1A retained the chrome bumpers of the early cars while the Corniche II models had rubber bumpers.

The design is simple yet elegant. The Corniche was the coupe and cabriolet versions of the Silver Shadow four-door Saloon. The coupe was later discontinued in 1982 with 1,108 examples produced, but the Corniche cabriolet was produced until 1996. Standard features included cruise control, wood trim elements, and ventilated disc brakes. Materials included Wilton Wool carpeting, Connolly leather, and burlwood veneer.

The Corniche was named after the roads along the Côte d'Azur in France. The finest quality materials and painstaking attention to detail resulted in a price that was approximately 50 percent higher than the standard Silver Shadow. The all-aluminum eight-cylinder engine displaced 6,750cc and was backed by a Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 three-speed automatic gearbox. With plenty of torque, the car had a top speed of about 118 mph.

With a steep price and a limited production lifespan, the Rolls-Royce Corniche Series 1A had a commanding presence, attractive presentation, were magnificent rolling status symbols, and the hallmark of British elegance and sporting style.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2016