Highlights
- Very smart Corniche II with lots of recent work
- Recent respray in original Vermillion
- New Everflex fully electric roof
- Over £20,000 of mechanical improvements since 2021
- Desirable and reliable fuel-injected Corniche II model
- New 12 month MOT just completed with no advisories
- Left Hand Drive supplied new to USA
The Appeal
Corniche was exactly the right name for Rolls-Royce’s Silver Shadow-based convertible. Long, handsome and thoroughly relaxing, these big cruisers were perfectly suited to the scenic, winding clifftop roads of the South of France.
The firm improved the theme with the Corniche II of 1988, which added desirable - and much more reliable - fuel injection to the big V8, in the process increasing power by 14% to make it ‘more than adequate.’ Just 1,234 left the factory.
This car is an early Corniche II that was first registered new in Texas in July 1988. It then moved to equally dry and sunny southern California in 2001 before arriving here in 2017. It has had just five keepers in its 37 years.
The condition is very impressive. That is thanks to considerable work since its arrival in the UK. Highlights include a fully respray in factory-correct Vermillion - quite a stand-out colour - and a brand new Everflex electric folding roof. The mechanicals and running gear have been treated to over £20,000 of investment since 2021 via a well-regarded marque specialist. Work has attended to the suspension, brakes, gearbox and engine amongst other areas.
Naturally the car arrives on the market in very good condition. This is a magnificent example that will be perfect for European tours.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in Texas 10th July 1988
- Factory built 30th June 1988 with factory paperwork confirmation
- Five registered keepers from new
- First keeper in Texas
- Second keeper acquired car in 2001 and lived in Encinitas, Southern California
- Imported to Uk and registered here in August 2017
- Three registered keepers since arriving in the UK
- Current keeper since September 2021
- CARFAX data report confirms mileage and shows service history in photos
- V5C in current keeper’s name
- New 12 month MOT just completed with no advisories
- Factory handbooks in very good condition as shown
- Handbooks for Motoroloa car phone and Alpine stereo included and in good order
- Typed list of maintenance from 2021 to 2023 shown in photos with highlights below
- Recent work undertaken by the same marque specialist as shown in photos
- Full respray since arriving in the UK and Everflex roof also replaced
- Remote control audio controller
- Several keys as shown
- Always garaged according to seller
- Various old invoies and MOTs as shown
- Californian Certificate of Title
- Last MOT expired 11th August 2024 with 98,083 miles on test and no advisories
- Showing 98,358 miles in photos
Recent maintenance highlights:
- Paint correction work in December 2021
- Brake discs and pads, exhaust manifolds, suspension work and hoses September 2021 totalling £9,819 miles at 94,447 miles
- Engine, gearbox and other work totalling £9,990 in June 2022
- Fuel pump replaced August 2023
The Condition
- Recently repainted in original Vermillion red and remains in very good order
- Well kept paintwork with few indications of age, helped by recent paint correction work
- Body panels are straight and well kept with no accident damage reported
- Steel wheels with chrome hub caps with body colour fillets, all well kept
- Underside in good order with no reported issues and no advisories on last MOT
- Cream Everflex folding electric roof recently replaced and in very good working order
- Paired with matching tonneau which appears to fit well
- Extensive exterior chromework is bright and well kept
- Very smart Parchment leather interior with red piping to matching exterior
- Paired with reverse colour scheme red carpets with Parchment piping in very good condition
- Smart veneers to dashboard and trim and all well-kept
- Original Motorola car phone in armrest and remote control Alpine stereo
- Features include electric front seats
- Factory tool kit and wheel replacement kit in very good order including factory gloves
There is something appropriately majestic about this handsome convertible. Likely that is due to the lovely Vermillion paintwork, which shines brightly thanks to a recent respray and paint correction process. It is in very good order for a car of 37 years with few indications, if any, of age. The panelwork is similarly well-kept.
Beyond the classic, be-chromed lines, a Corniche is really about the interior, a sumptuously, hand-crafted place that should be as good now as it was when it left the factory, Thankfully this one is, showing few signs of use across its stylish Parchment leather, which is piped in red to match the paintwork. The quality carpets reverse the colour scheme and, like the extensive veneers and remaining trim, are a testament to this car’s handful of keepers.
A brand new Everflex roof and matching tonneau complete the sense of a very tidy and highly presented car.
The Mechanics
- Classic 6,750cc Rolls-Royce hand-built V8
- Later Corniche II with reliable fuel injection and extra power
- 3spd automatic gearbox with column shift
- Extensive maintenance records including CARFAX report
- Serviced and looked after by same well regarded specialist in recent years
- His attentions include over £20,000 of work as detailed above
- This has covered engine, gearbox, suspension, brake discs and pads, fuel pump and hoses
- No reported running or driving issues
- No mechanical or running gear advisories on last MOT
- New 12 month MOT just completed with no advisories
Rolls-Royce’s V8 proved so good at delivering ‘adequate power’ that it powered the firm’s cars from the 50s until the new century. It continuously evolved, notably gaining more reliable fuel injection with the arrival of the Corniche II. The change also delivered a 14% hike to ‘more than adequate power.’ Thankfully, this early ‘II’ is so-equipped.
It has clearly lived a cossetted life. The mileage is very low for the year and its five keepers have attended to any work required - as a CARFAX report and subsequent UK invoices attest. Since 2021 it has been looked after by the same marque specialist who has undertaken over £20,000 of work across the mechanicals and running gear. You can inspect the details in the photos and we’ve summarised them above. The car has covered very few miles since the most recent attention.
There were no advisories on the last MOT - which expired in August 2024 - and no reason to suspect it wouldn’t easily pass another test. The vendor reports that the car is in superb mechanical order with nothing required of the buyer on purchase.
BEFORE YOU BUY
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