Monumentally restored to a virtually as new example. Rare FHC Corniche.
Price: | $100,000 |
Year: | 1975 |
Miles: | 14,000 |
Make: | Rolls-Royce |
Model: | Corniche |
Engine: | 6.75 litre Rolls-Royce V8 |
Colors: | Chalice Silver (metallic) / Black leather with red piping and floor rugs |
Vin: | CRD-020340 |
Rolls-Royce
Corniche
Fixed Head Coupe (“FHC”)
1975
Detailed restoration by Rolls-Royce experts
This is a incredibly well restored
Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupe (“FHC”) finished in Chalice silver, black
leather interior with contrasting St James red Wilton wool carpets and accents.
The body waist-rails are accented with a single deep red hand-painted fine-line
delightfully finishing off this refined elegance. In any setting the car takes
on a very formal appearance. But once you open the doors, the rich interior combination
makes her striking in a very regal manner. She is simply stunning.
This Corniche was originally built on May 29, 1975 and purchased
in California by the very same family who commissioned us to restore the car 2
years ago. It makes for a wonderful story. The car was owned from new for 12
years before being sold. A very typical and quite normal story of Rolls-Royce ownership
from the 70s. However, 32 years later on, one of the family members found the very
same car sitting in a rather sad state, in storage and unused for some 10 years.
She had been repainted black, and only a very average job at that, inoperable
and in need of great love. The family rescued the car by purchasing her once
again with the view of having her restored and to relive the memories of all
those years ago. This was our charter that took two years to complete.
When Park-Ward received the car, it was straight and dent free. The “new” paint
was blistered and faded. The interior was dirty and dusty but complete. The
engine did not run. It was an all-together example but this did not matter as
our job was to “redo everything” and make her look new again. She did receive
the full treatment which included a bare metal repaint, all new interior to
include leather, carpets (in the boot as well), new headliner, wood refinished
and making sure everything worked both mechanically and operationally
throughout.
The paint job is stunning. The
car was stripped of all its fittings to include all windows (including side and
door window frames) out and then paint-stripped to bare metal. This revealed a
rather straight motor car with only some minor rust in water ingress areas such
as the rear glass channel, right side headlamp brow and the door steps. These
were all cut out and steel welded in. The car was meticulously repainted using
modern 2-stage paint technology in her original Chalice silver and the existing
(and factory fitted) Everflex top replaced with a new one. Some of you with a keen
eye will see the car has 1979-1980 door mirrors fitted (ala Silver Shadow II
style but also Corniche). These were actually fitted in her original ownership to
overcome the lack of dual mirrors and so the owners requested these remain. They
look very “at-home” and quite acceptable. Upon reassembly we fitted all new body
gaskets, clips, window seals and felts, boot seal, and edge finishers. All the bright work was removed
and machined polished and then hand polished upon finally reassembly. This
includes the grille, headlight brows, bumpers, side mouldings, rocker
mouldings, door handles, hub caps, inner sill mouldings and door entry scuff
plates including the fitment of new rubber treads. Some items, like the door handles
and C pillar demarcation mouldings for the Everflex top were rechromed. The
finish is as good as you would hope for. To complete the "new-look", new
tail lamp lenses, front turn signal lenses and headlights were fitted! The final
touch being the pin-striping down the side of the car applied by the original hand-painted
technique using only the finest squirrel hair brushes and performed by an
artisan with the steadiest of hands. The
fine line was done in deep red just as she sported when new.
The interior was almost all replaced. All new leather seating in black with
dark red piping, as per original specification. The leather door panels were
retained with cocktail requisites fitted to each door. Specification correct light grey broad cloth wool was used for the headliner
and all new Wilton wool carpets with leather binding were fitted. This process also
included new underlay. All the Italian burl walnut wood inside the car was
stripped and refinished with no less than 20 coats of clear lacquer, each
hand-rubbed between coats to provide a final finish like glass. This includes
the dash, front doors, rear seat inner waist-rails, door and window surrounds,
rear ash-tray surrrounds and centre console. The final finish on the wood
throughout is simply stunning.
Before interior reassembly, everything
was serviced to be fully operational; windows, seats, lights, gauges, etc.
Every single instrument, switch, knob, handle was cleaned and polished before refitment.
In some case, replaced if scratched or marked unacceptably. The radio system currently in the car, which
is not factory original, was installed by the first owner. It was left for that
reason but we believe should have the correct factory 8-track and push-button
combination with correct wood finishers. Please let us know if you agree or would
prefer to have something modern to replace the existing units. We can provide
either. Please also note, the moutons currently displayed in the car are not the correct type for a Corniche and are simply shown for effect. Should you wish to have a correct new set supplied, please enquire.
The interior is stunning and its only down-side is the fear to sit in it!
The boot carpet was also replaced including the underfelt. There was none of
the typical rust scaling in the trunk so minimal refinishing was required.
Mechanically, the car was gone through top-to-toe and I could not possibly list
everything here. Engine was top-end rebuilt, carburetors, all electricals, cooling
system and the entire hydraulic system and brakes completely redone. For those
who know this era of Rolls- Royce, this is a huge exercise and included; brake
pumps, accumulators and valves, all brand new hoses (both high and low
pressure), reservoir cleaned out with screens replaced, brand new rotors,
calipers, pads, emergency brake and height control. The system is the fed new
363, pressure test and bled several times. The hydraulic/brake work alone was
some $15,000.
Nothing was left unattended; exhaust, suspension, steering, ignition, the electrical
charging system, fuel tank, pump, filters and lines, I could go on for paragraphs.
Of course, brand new whitewall tyres were fitted. Everything done has been
documented. The car is ready to be driven and enjoyed.
As you would expect with a
detailed restoration, all features and functions are working; electric windows,
electric seats, central locking, etc. The air conditioning blows icy cold with
new hoses and valves having been recently fitted.
This Corniche drives very
well, considerably smoother than you would normally expect for this model.
Mileage is not verifiable but, given the monumental amount of work carried out,
what does it matter?!
Every single feature and function is operating as it is supposed to and
electrics have been checked right down to the smallest and insignificant dash
and courtesy light. A total of some $100,000 has been spent. The summary of expenses are:
~~ The Rolls-Royce Corniche is a rare and collectable motor car
as few were made in comparison to the convertible. This particular example is
one of those super rare finds where a
huge amount of money has been spent on restoring her to correct and original
specifications. It is an excellent purchase for a buyer who simply wants a top
level example that is completely turn-key; ready to "go and show". ~~
International buyers welcome!
For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photos are of super high resolution so if you right click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see some 150 high resolution photos
Click HERE to see some 150 high resolution photos