1979 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible
Chassis no. DRK50046
The Corniche was Rolls-Royce's coupé and convertible
version of the Silver Shadow produced between 1971 and 1996.
The Corniche was named "Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward
two door fixed head coupé " (alternatively - drop
head coupé ) before 1971 when the Corniche name was applied.
The exterior design was by John Polwhele Blatchley. (The independent
coachmaker James Young had already custom-made a two-door coupé
variant of the Silver Shadow, but Young's model proved less
popular and was soon discontinued).
The model was assembled and finished in London at Mulliner
Park Ward as continuation of the 1965 Silver Shadow coupe and
1967 drophead, with the Corniche name applied in 1971. The Corniche
was also sold as a Bentley, though that model became known as
the Continental in 1984. The first car to wear the Corniche
name was a 1939 prototype based on the Bentley Mark V which
was never produced because of the onset of World War II.
The Corniche was available both as a coupé and convertible,
with the former discontinued in 1982.
The car used the standard Rolls-Royce V8 engine. It had an
aluminium-silicon alloy block and aluminum cylinder heads with
cast iron wet cylinder liners. The bore was 4.1 in (104.1 mm)
and the stroke was 3.9 in (99.1 mm) for a total of 6.75 L (6750
cc/411 in³). Twin SU carburettors were initially fitted
with a single Solex 4-barrel carburettor introduced in 1975.
Export models retained the twin SU's until 1980, when Bosch
fuel injection was added.
A 3-speed automatic transmission (a Turbo Hydramatic 400 sourced
from General Motors) was standard. A four-wheel independent
suspension with coil springs was augmented with a hydraulic
self-levelling system (using the same Citroen system, but without
pneumatic springs, and hydraulic components built under licence
by Rolls-Royce), at first on all four, but later in the rear
wheels only. Four wheel disc brakes were specified, with ventilated
discs added for 1972.
The car originally used a 119.75 in (3042 mm) wheelbase. This
was extended to 120 in (3048 mm) in 1974 and 120.5 in (3061
mm) in 1979.
This car was the property of a deceased estate, this Rolls-Royce
Corniche Convertible is offered with Dutch / Eu papers from
second owner. First owner enjoyed it in the State of California,
34.000 miles from new.
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