Lot details

Year: 1974
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: Corniche Convertible
Registration: XGF 317M
Chassis No: DRH17105
Engine No: 17105
Mileage: 60,607
•: Maintained to the highest standards
•: Has had two famous owners

Introduced in March of 1971, the Corniche was a revised version of the H J Mulliner, Park Ward-bodied two-door variants of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T-Series saloons, themselves notable as the Crewe factory's first unitary-construction cars. They featured the finest engineered technologies of the day, such as independent suspension, disc brakes in all four corners, and fuel injected power plants. In Corniche form, Rolls-Royce's well-tried 6.75-litre V8 produced around ten percent more power than standard and proved capable of propelling the car to a top speed in excess of 120mph with sports car-beating acceleration to match. The model proved a major success for Rolls-Royce, and although its exterior style remained recognizably Silver Shadow, the Corniche benefited from the regular updates and improvements made to the contemporary Silver Spirit range. Remaining in production well into the 1990s, the last convertible examples were delivered in 1995.

This stunning, right hand drive, 1974 Rolls-Royce Corniche offered today was initially sold in the UK by H.A. Fox to a Mrs Khashoggi, the wife of one of the world's richest men (worth $4 Billion in 1974) finished in Le Mans Blue with black leather interior, but was later shipped to the US. In 1996 the car was repatriated into the UK, where it was registered with all taxes paid. Between 1996 and 2013 the car was looked after and maintained by marque specialists Colnebrook and Chelsea Workshops, during this period the car changed hands in 2000, and at that time the buyer was attracted to the car, not only by the condition, but also because of the extra chromework on the 1974 model and the classic smell of the leather and triple black colour scheme; namely black coachwork, black leather interior and the black power hood. In 2013 Historics had the pleasure in offering this lovely Corniche and it was purchased by renowned motoring journalist and enthusiast Quentin Wilson, which can only indicate the desirability of this Rolls-Royce. In his ownership he has kept the car fully maintained and has written several articles including this Rolls-Royce and put together a substantial history file which accompanies the car. With recent auction results showing that very good examples the prices on the rise of late, this handsome Corniche represents an ideal opportunity to enter Rolls-Royce ownership offering excellent value, given the estimate. Consinged by John Tomlin