Lot 206 - 1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible to Bentley Continental Specification

• Converted by Meads of Burnham
• Owned by hotelier Andrew Davies of the Von Essen Group

The Corniche was a development of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, with the two-door variants of that model marketed as the 'Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward two-door fixedhead coupé & drophead coupé' until March 1966, when the Corniche name was applied. The exterior design was by John Polwhele Blatchley. The model was assembled and finished in London at Mulliner Park Ward as a continuation of the 1965 Silver Shadow coupé and 1966 drophead. A Bentley version was also sold, becoming known as the Continental in 1984. From its production in 1921, the finest Bentleys of the post war period were all designated ‘Continental’; a title which was reintroduced in 1984 when the name Corniche was dropped by Bentley. Both Bentley Continental and Rolls-Royce Corniche sold side by side in various guises until 1995, with the choice being purely the buyers preference for specification and badge.

This 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible was first registered on 7th May 1982. Our vendor states that this example was fully converted to Bentley Continental specification in the 1980's by Meads of Burnham. We presume the then owner did not want to part with his beloved Rolls-Royce however was impressed by the newly rebadged Bentley Continental released in 1984, thus commissioning the conversion. We are informed that the conversion was done with an open cheque book and the instructions were to have this car identical to a Bentley Continental including wheels, badges, steering wheel, bonnet, grilles and headlight surrounds. The work to convert the bonnet and grille alone has clearly been completed to a very high standard. Some years later in 2006, impressed with the car, it was purchased by Von Essen Aviation Limited. Flamboyant and successful businessman Andrew Davies who formed the Von Essen Group including Von Essen Hotels, PremiAir and the London Heliport, clearly took a shine to the beautiful convertible and then purchased the car from his company in July 2011, he then housed the car in his private collection. The car has recently undergone trim work and is offered today in superb condition. The beautiful coachwork is presented in a one-off metallic blue with contrasting full cream leather with blue piping interior. An incredibly interesting example of a very desirable luxury car, owned by a prominent collector and in beautiful condition, this is a car we believe will be very well received by collectors and enthusiasts alike.