THE LONGEST-LIVED MODEL

If success is measured in longevity, the Corniche in its many forms was the most successful car Rolls-Royce ever made. From the first Mulliner Park Ward coupé in 1966 to the last Corniche S in 1995, it lasted 28 years – longer than the 40/50hp ‘Silver Ghost’ (20 years) or the Phantom VI (22 years). The combination of luxury, performance, image, handtooled quality and a full four-seat configuration was still compelling 15 years after the Silver Shadow saloon was replaced, despite the tremendous expense. When Blair’s car was new in 1980, the first owner could have had a Ferrari 308 GTB, a Mercedes 450 SL, a Porsche 928 and three Minis for the same sum.

But there was never much competition. Many other prestigious marques offered convertibles, though very few outside America offered comfortable seating for four or five people. Even there, a fear over imminent law changes against full convertibles thinned the pack a great deal during the 1970s. Rolls-Royce kept production with Mulliner Park Ward in London until all but the last examples in the mid-1990s, and by that time the model had been through many iterations. When you examine them, it’s remarkable how little was changed to keep this car attractive to buyers. The first convertible, completed in early in 1967, set the pattern that was to follow: electrically operated, lined convertible roof; mechanical parts that duplicated the contemporary Silver Shadow; trim levels perhaps even higher than in the saloon thanks to MPW’s selection of the choicest hides and veneers. The Corniche name arrived in 1971 as detail changes continued to evolve alongside the saloon, though when the Silver Shadow II came along in 1977, the Corniche convertible kept its name, and is now usually described as being Series I (up to ’77) or Series II (’77 onwards) specification. Confusingly, a Corniche II then arrived for 1986 with colourkeyed bumpers and mirrors and a third brake light on the boot lid. The Corniche III followed with only detail changes to dash and elsewhere, then the Corniche IV finished things off (almost) from 1992 with ABS, a four-speed gearbox and two airbags. Almost, because a Corniche S tied off the run in 1995 with a turbocharged engine from the Bentley Turbo R, producing a limited run of Americanmarket cars with a startling turn of pace. This was probably the first step-change in the way a Corniche felt to drive, showing how right it was from the very beginning. for the SY generation cars and their cosseting suspension, but a mile from the screwed-down feel of modern cars. But its difference from modern cars is precisely what Blair likes about it.

‘I didn’t buy it for the “look at me” aspect, though if people pay attention to it, that’s fine – I’m always flattered by these unexpected compliments to the car. I wanted a Corniche because it’s classically elegant, and elegance is something that’s gone missing on almost all our modern cars.’

What with the lengthy repairs, the establishment of Blair’s classic car business and the pandemic, the Corniche hasn’t yet been used for any long-distance adventures, though these are on the cards.

‘The dream drive would be a trip to »

ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE

Italy, I guess,’ says Blair. ‘Or we get most of the way there and think “Let’s go to Monaco!” because you would, wouldn’t you? I’m not yet convinced I’d be happy with the reliability for big European trips, so perhaps a run down to see relatives in the south of England might be a good first step, come the summer.’ He admits fuel costs have been off-putting, something many readers will identify with. But travelling first class has never been cheap. Who knows how long we’ll be able to enjoy glorious cars like this on the roads they were built for, and in the case of the Corniche, named after? But Blair needs no encouragement to get the best from this beautiful machine – it even goes to the supermarket if the weather’s nice, though Blair is careful to park it well away from the crowded end of the car park. And British weather being what it is, that might be a day in July or a day in January…well, maybe March. But the point is that a car like this Rolls-Royce doesn’t really have to wait for a fine summer day, it is a fine summer day in four-wheeled form. Need cheering up? Take a ride in a Corniche.

Specification

1980 ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE CONVERTIBLE

LENGTH: 5190mm / 17ft

WIDTH: 1830mm / 6ft

WEIGHT: 2280kg / 5027lb

ENGINE: 6750cc OHV V8

POWER: 220bhp (est)

TORQUE: 300lb ft (est)

0-60MPH: 9.6s

TOP SPEED: 120mph

COST NEW: £66,366 (1980)

Learning On The Job

Since we photographed the car for this article, Pipe Dreams Classic Cars has taken on an apprentice. Ollie is 20 years old and for one week in every five, attends classes with the Heritage Skills Academy in Bicester, Oxfordshire. This was founded in 2015 to train the next generation of heritage engineers and to promote opportunities within the heritage industry. If you worry about the depletion of traditional skills from coachbuilding to trim to mechanical knowledge, have a look at www. heritageskillsacademy.co.uk to see what’s available to keen youngsters.

‘The idea is that Ollie will finish this course after three and half years knowing more than I’ll ever learn,’ says Blair, ‘and he’ll be qualified too. We’re already offering more mechanical restoration services to our customers, including a full rebuild of a Land Rover Defender. When that’s done, we’ll be moving on to a 1988 Mercedes SL, which we’ll build up from a bare shell.’