Rolls-Royce Corniche
Rolls-Royce Corniche | |
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Chronology | |
Predecessor | Silver Shadow two-door |
Successor | Corniche V Bentley Azure (Bentley Continental) |
The Rolls-Royce Corniche is a two-door, front-engine, rear wheel drive luxury car produced by
The Corniche was a development of the Mulliner Park Ward two-door versions of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. These were designated as the 2-door Saloon and Drophead Coupé,[1] introduced in 1965 and 1966 respectively. Production remained in London at Mulliner Park Ward; the new name was applied in March 1971.
A Bentley version of the Corniche was also produced. It became known as the Bentley Continental from 1984 to 1995.
The Corniche draws its name from the experimental
1939 experimental Corniche
The first car with the Corniche nameplate was a 1939 prototype based on the Bentley Mark V, featuring coachwork designed in collaboration with several third parties, most prominent of which acclaimed French designer Georges Paulin, built by Parisian firm Carrosserie Vanvooren.[2][3]
It undertook 15,000 miles (24,000 km) of endurance testing in Continental Europe before being blown up by a bomb at a dock in
Corniche I (1971-1987)
Corniche I | ||
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Kerb weight 4,816 lb (2,185 kg)[5] | |
The Corniche, available as coupé or convertible,
A three-speed
The car originally used a 119.75 in (3,042 mm) wheelbase. This was extended to 120 in (3,048 mm) in 1974 and 120.5 in (3,061 mm) in 1979. The Corniche was different from other Silver Shadows in that it had exclusive half wheel covers with stainless steel trim (for brake cooling), a 3-spoke steering wheel with a wood rim, and Rolls Royce's first standard tachometer.
The Corniche received a mild restyling in the spring of 1977. Difference included rack-and-pinion steering,
Corniche models received Bosch KE/K-Jetronic fuel injection in 1977.[8] This engine, called the L410I, produced approximately 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp) at just above 4,000 rpm for a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph).[9]
The Bentley version was updated in July 1984 with a new name, the Continental,[10] revised and color-coded bumpers, rear view mirrors, a new dash and improvements to the seats.[6]
Production totaled 1090 Rolls-Royce Corniche Saloons, 3239 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertibles, 69 Bentley Corniche Saloons and 77 Bentley Corniche Convertibles.[4]
The Corniche was popular with high income celebrities, with the possible exception of Jeremy Clarkson, who mocked James May's Corniche as "just a Ford Zephyr with a chrome nose" during a Top Gear competition between his Mercedes 600 Grosser and May's Corniche. [11]
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1971–1973 Rolls-Royce Corniche coupe (Europe)
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1974–77 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (Europe)
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1985 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (North America)
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1971 RR Corniche rear view
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1973 Bentley Corniche Coupe
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1974 Bentley Corniche Convertible (US Spec)
Corniche II (1986-1989)
Corniche II | |
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L410/L410I OHV V8 | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 120.5 in (3,061 mm) |
The Corniche II name was applied for the United States market from 1986 and for other markets from 1988.
1,234 examples of the Corniche II were produced.[4]
Corniche III (1989-1993)
Corniche III | |
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L410I OHV V8 | |
Transmission | 3-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 120.5 in (3,061 mm) |
Length | 207.0 in (5,258 mm) |
Width | 72.3 in (1,836 mm) |
Height | 59.8 in (1,519 mm) |
The Corniche III was introduced at the
Corniche IV (1992-1995)
Corniche IV | |
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L410IT turbo OHV V8 | |
Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 120.5 in (3,061 mm) |
Length | 204.6 in (5,197 mm) |
Width | 72.3 in (1,836 mm) |
Height | 59.8 in (1,519 mm) |
The car was reworked for 1992 as the Corniche IV, presented at the January
In October 1992 a 21st anniversary Corniche was presented. Twenty-five cars were built, all finished in Ming Blue with a cream hood with a silver plaque on the dash.[14]
In August 1993 engine power was increased by 20 percent.[citation needed]
Corniche S
The last 25 Corniche IV models to be built, completed in the summer of 1995, were unique turbocharged versions and were called the Corniche S. They came with a dashboard plate, individually numbered (out of 25).
Corniche V (2000-2002)
The fifth series to bear the Corniche name made its debut in January 2000. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive vehicle offered by Rolls-Royce, with a base price of US$359,900. 384 Corniche V were made with the last 45 being designated as "Final Series" Corniches and production ended in August 2002, after Bentley had become a subsidiary of
Production
- Rolls-Royce Corniche I: 4,332
- Saloon (1971–1981): 1,108
- Convertible (1971–1988): 3,224
- Bentley Corniche: 140
- Saloon (1971–1981): 63
- Convertible (1971–1984): 77
- Rolls-Royce Corniche II (1988–1989): 1,234
- Rolls-Royce Corniche III (1989–1992): 452
- Rolls-Royce Corniche IV (1992–1995): 244
- Corniche IV (1992–1995): 219
- Corniche S (1995): 25
- Rolls-Royce Corniche V (2000–2002): 384
- Corniche V "Final Series": 45
- Bentley Continental (1984–1994): 421
- Bentley Continental Turbo (1992–1995): 8
See also
References
- ^ The handbook of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T Drophead Coupé and 2-door Saloon, 1969, www.ebay.com Retrieved 18 April 2020
- ^ a b Wendler, Andrew (8 August 2019). "1939 Bentley Corniche with a Tumultuous Past Resurrected by Mulliner". Car and Driver. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ a b "New Rolls-Royce Corniche". Autocar. 4 March 1971. pp. 7–8.
- ^ a b c d e All 33 models, www.rrsilvershadow.com Retrieved on 10 August 2013
- ^ a b c d "Autotest: Rolls-Royce Corniche 6,750 c.c.". Autocar. Vol. 141, no. 4042. 6 April 1974. pp. 36–41.
- ^ ISBN 1-85960-692-X
- ^ Wood, p. 106
- ^ ISBN 3-444-00514-8.
- ISBN 3-444-00458-3.
- ^ Automobil Revue 1991. p. 174
- 11. Episode 04. Event occurs at 20:18. BBC Television.
- ^ a b Wood, p. 103
- ^ Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1992 (in Italian). Milano: Editoriale Domus S.p.A. 1992. p. 882.
- ^ Wood, p. 107
Bibliography
- Holmes, Mark (2007). Ultimate Convertibles: Roofless Beauty. London: Kandour. pp. 134–139. ISBN 978-1-905741-62-5.