One of only 780 built. Beautiful and well-maintained mostly original car with incredible leather interior. Runs and drives as a Rolls-Royce should. Extensively and recently serviced, ready to enjoy.
CRE26626 wears what appears to be its original coat of Brewster Green paint, a color worn traditionally by British race cars so frequently that it came to be known as British Racing Green. It’s lovely in person, a deep, rich green with just a hint of yellow to make it interesting, and the fact that it looks this good after four decades is testament to the quality of the workmanship. There may be a few touch-ups and we believe that perhaps the roof has been repainted, but there is little evidence of it to distract your eye. The bodywork underneath is excellent, with straight sheetmetal and excellent panel alignment that is representative of the world’s finest motorcar and the doors, bonnet, and boot lid all swing almost effortlessly on counterbalanced and well-oiled hinges. A simple gold pinstripe highlights the dramatic body profile, but it, too, is tasteful, not ostentatious. All the brightwork on this Corniche is in excellent order, including the bumpers, the wonderfully heavy-feeling door handles, and the tasteful “CORNICHE” emblem on the boot lit. Oh, and the iconic grille, of course.
Inside, fragrant hides, plush carpets, and real wood veneers surround you with sensory overload. The color is called “Olive” and is just that: not quite green, not quite tan, but olive. That is original Connolly leather on the seats, and it has not been replaced but rather restored as needed. The carpets are original and so deep that you’re afraid you’ll sink in up to your ankles, and things like the dash pad and headliner remain excellent. The burled walnut dashboard has been refinished at some point, as have the rest of the wood pieces, and aside from some small cracks in the varnish on the dash, the timber is in excellent shape. You’ll note that the original (and ugly) 2-spoke steering wheel is gone, replaced by a handsome three-spoke Moto-Lita unit with the Rolls-Royce emblem in the center. Recent service work ensures that the A/C system operates correctly and the original radio with accessory 8-track player still pulls in stations loud and clear. Even the clock keeps good time! This car also carries a rare sliding sunroof, which includes a retractable sun shade to help protect the leather. And, of course, you get a positively massive trunk that’s as beautifully finished as the interior, complete with an original carpet set that shows no evidence of neglect or outside storage.
Rolls-Royce never published horsepower numbers on the six-and-three-quarter liter V8 engine, but the Corniche engine is rumored to be perhaps 10% more powerful than those found in the Silver Shadow. Still fed by the more desirable twin SU carburetors, it starts quickly and easily, settling into an easy idle without any fuss, just as you’d expect from a car of this caliber. The engine has been properly serviced and runs superbly at any speed, and the low-end torque moves this large coupe with surprising vigor. The engine bay is clean and tidy and quite original, showing no signs of use in inclement weather but plenty of evidence that the car has been maintained over the years. What you may not realize is that Rolls-Royce used a General Motors TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, which was the only autobox capable of handling the torque of the 6.75-liter V8. Although this is a very clean, original car, the undercarriage does show signs of having been driven, so there’s grease and grime throughout, but no structural rust or other concerns. The exhaust system is correct, using not one, not two, not three, but four mufflers of varying sizes and shapes to deliver that hushed but muscular exhaust note that never intrudes inside the car. It has been patched and fixed over the years, but keeping a correct Rolls-Royce exhaust system instead of replacing it with some aftermarket piece is always the right choice. The Corniche coupe also used bespoke steel wheels with surprisingly modest hubcaps and trim rings, with this car wearing fresh 235/70/15 Michelin whitewall radials.
Rolls-Royces are unique cars for unique owners, and I suspect that if you are reading this, you likely already know more about this car than I do. However, as an automotive enthusiast, I find this car exciting because of what it represents: unparalleled dedication to an ideal. Forty years ago, this was the finest car in the world and the fact that you can own it today (and it is still quite fine indeed) for pennies on the dollar seems remarkable. It certainly will require a dedicated owner, but it will also reward that owner with an ownership experience like no other.
There is still only one Rolls-Royce.
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
