1979 Rolls-Royce Corniche FHC

Rolls-Royce dropped the standard 6.75L L410 V8 into the Corniche and mated it to a General Motors Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission. The suspension system is a design that originally belonged to Citroen, a hydraulic self-levelling setup that was combined with a more traditional independent coil spring format. The car has a 119.75-inch wheelbase which was later extended another quarter inch in 1974, and another half-inch on top of that in 1979. One factoid that makes the Corniche unique for Rolls-Royce is that it contained the company’s first standardized tachometer. Today’s example is a recipient of coach building by the good people over at Mulliner Park Ward.

Black is a difficult color because it makes it very difficult to hide damage, but as is the case with this Corniche, the black paint exposes very few flaws. There is no major damage on the exterior and there is also very little in the way of minor damage as well. The car also sports very subtle red pinstriping down both sides which is a nice detail that helps the car stand out from the crowd. The panel gaps appear to be mostly even, although there is some chipping in the panel gap between the passenger door and the body. Speaking of damage, there is also a small scratch on the hood of the car. Glass surrounding the vehicle is clean and free of chips or cracks. The hubcaps are tidy and show very little curb rash, and although the remaining amount of tire tread appears fair, we always recommend and new set. The black plastic bumpers have survived nicely as well and have barely faded at all in the sunlight. Overall, this Corniche’s exterior is in great condition, and there is very little rehabilitation work required outside.

Matching the exterior, the interior was completed with black leather, and again accented by red details. The black leather seats show a decent amount of creasing up front, and very little creasing in the rear. There are no major holes or tears of note in any of the five seats. The original carpets are fully exposed in the driver’s footwell, and although it could use a deep cleaning, the mat lays flat and shows no damage. In the passenger and rear footwells, a protective layer of thick red carpet has been laid over the original mats. The protective carpets do not lay flat, but have likely absorbed most of the common wear and tear. Condition of the remaining original floormats is unknown. The Corniche sports a host of gorgeous wooden inlays rife with a variety of colors. They line the perimeter of the interior and do not appear to be majorly damaged at any edge. There are a handful of small chips and scratches scattered about, but that’s really it. The wooden dashboard is still fantastically glossy, and all of the gauges mounted within it are both clean and easily readable. The vents and remaining knobs and switches are clean as well. The center console follows suit, showing no major damage, and minimal wear. At the bottom of the console, viewers should note that a previous owner has installed an aftermarket Alpine stereo. The door panels are multi-material, sporting wood, leather, and carpet, and both panels look relatively clean although the black leather on the driver’s door does show more fading here than in other areas of the car. Overall, we are happy to see that interior condition is in line with exterior condition. There is minimal damage to observe and the interior as whole has been nicely preserved.

Lifting the hood reveals a chaotic, but overall, clean engine bay. The battery is not present, but there is no major damage to observe and the remaining components all appear to be in their correct locations. Underneath, we are happy to report a clean undercarriage, and by extension there is no obvious major damage. The frame and floorboards appear solid, the exhaust shows minimal discoloration, and the suspension components all appear in order.

Since 2003, the car was titled in Miami, Florida. Later, it was sometime in 2008 when the seller acquired the vehicle. It has been on static display ever since until now.

The Corniche’s executive styling made it highly popular among celebrities and pre-internet influencer types, but the Corniche unsurprisingly didn’t reach a massive audience. Rolls-Royce ultimately built 1,090 coupes and 3,224 convertibles. Today’s example was coachbuilt by Mulliner Park Ward and sports a highly desirable black and red color combination. Limited damage both inside and out leave us feeling confident the Corniche will achieve its $25,000 - $35,000 estimate.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL BIDDERS

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.