Lot 295 - 1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible 1A
| Lot Number | 295 |
| Registration | NYF 574P |
| Chassis Number | DRH 22988 |
| Engine Number | 22988 |
| Odometer reading | 75,210 miles |
| Estimate | £48,000 - £56,000 |
Rolls-Royce's final coach built models were entrusted to the company's in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner Park Ward. The exterior design was by John Polwhele Blatchley and the cars were hand built in the best traditions of British coachbuilding, using only materials of the finest quality, including Wilton carpeting, Connolly hides 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 Shadows. 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 well tried aluminium V8 engine was adopted, displacing 6,750cc, driving through a Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic gearbox. For the Corniche model, power output was enhanced by about 10%, providing greater torque and giving the car a top speed on the order of 118mph with sports car-beating acceleration to match. 1976 was the year of change from Corniche 1 to the rubber bumper shod Corniche II, during the change over a few cars, unofficially known as the 1A, retained the chrome bumpers of the early cars but had the Corniche II rack and pinion steering, twin exhaust and the later interior.
This rare Rolls-Royce Corniche 1A, one of only 48 righthand drive convertibles built, was supplied new by Lex Mead in Maidenhead to Mr. Mark C Spedding, who was chairman of Torquay United FC in the 1960’s. After changing ownership, a number of times, in 2014 the car was purchased by Mr. David Siegal who over the next four years spent over £20,000 with Rolls-Royce specialists N Sandell in Isleworth, Middlesex on recommissioning, work on the brakes and servicing. This year, with the new owner, this Corniche has been repainted in the original colour of Silver Mink, the walnut veneered woodwork re-polished and the original blue leather interior lightly connolized. This lovely Corniche 1A is supplied with a V5C registration document, an MoT test certificate which expires in May 2019, copies of the chassis cards from the RREC, a full tonneau cover, matching blue hood bag and a file containing the invoices from N Sandell, MoT history, copies of all the registration documents and spare key. This is an opportunity to buy one of the rarest and most desirable Corniche’s built having the classic looks of the early chrome bumper models with the better, later mechanics of the Corniche II.
Interested parties should satisfy themselves as to the description and condition of each Lot prior to the sale. Accordingly, buyers are on notice that each vehicle is offered ‘as is/as seen’ subject to the Terms and Conditions for the auction. All registration numbers, engine and chassis details are sourced from registration documents provided to Historics by the client or representative or HPI checks and buyers are to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of these details. Buyers are advised to inspect the vehicle in person or use a professional to carry out this service. Historics will not entertain disputes over descriptions.