Footnotes

• Recalling its glamorous Grandes Routières of pre-war days such as the Phantom II Continental, Rolls-Royce's final coachbuilt models - entrusted to the company's in-house coachbuilder Mulliner, Park Ward - were limited to just two, a two-door coupé or similar convertible, the former arriving in March 1966 and the latter in September the following year. The cars were hand built in the best traditions of British coachbuilding using only materials of the finest quality, including Wilton carpeting, Connolly hide and burr walnut veneers, a necessarily lengthy process that took all of 20 weeks for the saloon and slightly longer for the more complex convertible. This painstaking attention to detail resulted in a price some 50% higher than the standard Silver Shadow's. Nevertheless, demand for these more glamorous alternatives to the much more numerous Silver Shadow was strong right from the start, a state of affairs that resulted in them being given their own model name - 'Corniche' - in March 1971. 'The name Corniche has been chosen for the latest coachbuilt models because it symbolises their higher cruising speeds and their ability to cover greater distances with the minimum of fatigue for driver and passengers,' announced Rolls-Royce. The Corniche proved a major success for Rolls-Royce; periodically revised and up-dated, latterly in line with the Silver Spirit generation, it remained in production well into the 1990s, the last (convertible) examples being delivered in 1995.
  
  This particular Corniche Convertible was sold new via the world-renowned Rolls-Royce main agents, Jack Barclay Ltd. Purchased by the current vendor in February 2005 from Maxted-Page, the car was previously owned by one John Murray, who had purchased it in 2002; including Mr Murray, there are four former keepers. While in the present ownership the Corniche has formed part of a small private collection and been used sparingly for pleasurable motoring. The odometer reading when purchased was 12,350 miles and is now circa 21,463. During the vendor's stewardship the car has been serviced annually by West Hoathly Garage and a local specialist, it is understood that the car will have been freshly serviced for the sale, and will be offered with a fresh MoT. Finished in red with cream leather interior, this classically elegant Rolls-Royce is offered with sundry bills and a V5C Registration Certificate.

Saleroom notices

• Please note the chassis number for this car is SCAZD00A0MCH30445.