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:
* Documentation including progress photographs from commencement are available upon request.
~~ 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
