About this vehicle
the Corniche was previously in a single ownership “for many years,” where it was maintained by a private mechanic. The contrasting upper half of the body was refinished by the previous owner over the original British Racing Green. All else cosmetically and mechanically is believed to be original.
Vehicle Details
The Rolls-Royce Corniche replaced the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow convertible and coupe in 1971, and was introduced in both closed and open body styles. Its name was derived from the Grande Corniche, the touring road high above the Mediterranean between Nice and Monte Carlo.
Essentially being the coupe and convertible versions of the Silver Shadow, the Rolls-Royce Corniche continued the use of the Shadow’s unibody construction. The car was smaller and squarer than earlier models, though the Corniche was aimed at buyers who insisted on coachbuilt bodies. The Mulliner Park Ward design took four months to build – two weeks alone were spent just creating the convertible’s top. Powered by a 6,750-cc, Bosch fuel-injected OHV V-8, the Corniche was hand-built, and despite its weight of almost three tons, topped out at 120 mph, with 0-60 mph reached in fewer than ten seconds. The self-leveling suspension was based on the Citroen hydraulic system and the Corniche employed power disc brakes, like the Shadow.
Exterior
The exterior finish is described as Green-Gold over British Racing Green by the seller who adds that it remains in “good to very good” condition. “No rust repairs” have been needed during the brief ownership of the seller, who points out “a few unidentified blemishes under the paint” on the top. The trim appears in the photos provided to be complete and highly polished. The glass is described as in “very good condition,” as well as the seals. No lighting issues are reported.
Interior
The original Olive green leather interior is “quite nice, in good condition with some creasing and light patina.” The left side of the driver’s seat cushion appears in the photos to have settled. The original carpet is described as “slightly worn, typical for the age of the vehicle.” No issues are reported with the dashboard, gauges, wood and polished interior trim. No sags are reported in the headliner. All lights are “present and functioning.” Both window lifts and door locks are power. The heat is said to work. There is no air conditioning
Engine
The engine that powers this 1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupe is the Rolls-Royce/Bentley 6.75-liter (a.k.a. “6 3/4 -liter”) OHV V-8 with two SU HD2 carburetors. The engine produced an estimated 200 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm when new, delivering that power to the rear wheels through a GM Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 three-speed automatic transmission.No issues with the powertrain. No smoke is reported on start-up, no leaks or weeps, and the transmission is said to shift smoothly.
