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ROLLS-ROYCE Corniche Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 2
First production year: 1971
Engines: Gasoline
Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
ROLLS-ROYCE Corniche V photo gallery

It was the last Rolls-Royce built on the Crewe factory, and it was built for only two years before the argument between BMW and Volkswagen forced the car's ending.

When Rolls-Royce and Bentley were in the same group, the Flying-B took a platform from the Flying Lady and adapted to create the Continental R coupe. After that, it cut the roof and installed a canopy, and transformed it into the Azure model. Rolls-Royce, on the other hand, didn't have any open-top vehicles. So, the company's management decided to take back the reworked platform made by Bentley and create the open-top Corniche. The car was unveiled at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, two years after Volkswagen bought the Crewe factory. Unfortunately for the German carmaker, it didn't get the rights to use the Rolls-Royce brand. That was bought by BMW, who was also the engine supplier for the Bentley Arnage.

To make the Cornich look like a proper Rolls-Royce, the brand's designers transferred the design language from the Silver Seraph luxury car. Its dual headlights sported a chromed surrounding and a separate cluster for the turn signals and parking lights mounted vertically on the front fenders. A body-colored wrapped-around plastic bumper with a wide and narrow gap on the lower side completed the car's look. From its side, a sloped-down line crossed the large convertible towards the rear taillights. A power-operated roof covered the car at a touch of a button.

Inside, the combination of Scandinavian cow leather-clad interior and finest wood-veneers (not plastic) was completed by chromed door handles, vents, dials, and switches. The carpets were made out of wool.

Volkswagen built the Corniche as a rebadged Bentley Azure and used the older 5.75-liter turbocharged V-8 engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission built by GM.

full description and technical specifications
ROLLS-ROYCE Corniche I/ II/ III/ IV photo gallery

The Rolls Royce Corniche drew its name from the 1939 prototype Corniche, while the French word would translate into a coastal road along the face of a cliff.

The Rolls Royce Corniche was a 2-door, rear-wheel-drive luxury car, available as a coupe or a convertible, based on the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

As the Silver Shadow featured monocoque construction, there was no separate chassis to be given to the coachbuilders, thus Rolls had to produce a completely new model.

The Corniche was developed by the Mulliner Park Ward, a British coachbuilder. It was launched in 1966 and was later relaunched as the Corniche in 1971 with some technical improvements.

Under the hood, the Corniche featured a Rolls Royce V8 engine with twin SU carburetors, mated with a 3-speed automatic transmission as standard, carried-over from GM. The unit was a 6.75-liter V8 engine that could produce 218 hp, with a maximum top speed of 210 km/h.

Starting with the 1979 model, the Corniche has featured a 4-wheel independent suspension with a hydraulic self-leveling system. Four-wheel disc brakes were standard and in 1972 Rolls introduced ventilated discs.

The Corniche was also sold as a Bentley, namely the Bentley Continental in 1984.

In 1981 when the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit went on sale, both Corniche and Continental were discontinued, after a total production of 1,090 units.

full description and technical specifications