Four-seater convertibles were already on the verge of dying out when the Rolls-Royce convertible based on the Silver Shadow coupé, which had been in production since 1967, was re-launched in 1971 with the sonorous name “Corniche”. That euphonious name of a French coastal road simply fitted perfectly with the noble and open-hearted appearance. Its workmanship and, last but not least, its stately size still draw admiring glances to this day. Cared for and further developed over decades, it lived until 1995 and became a symbol of success for celebrities and media stars.

A new era began with the Silver Shadow in 1965, it was the first Rolls-Royce with a modern, self-supporting body. In 1966, alongside the four-door sedan, a coupé version with two doors and a shortened roof line, manufactured by Mulliner Park Ward in London, was introduced, followed a year later by a convertible. In 1971, both variants received the sonorous designation “Corniche”, i.e. the name of a coastal road in southern France, where Sir Henry Royce spent a large part of his life. Basically, it was the paraphrase of the perfect spot to ideally see this particular Rolls-Royce gliding along, preferably at the wheel of all those stars and celebrities who graced the covers of magazines at the time. The Corniche embodies the best Rolls-Royce virtues, which include the fact that you forget the price after a few years, but the car is a lifetime joy.

Like all Rolls-Royce, the Corniche has a stately appearance, measuring almost 5.20 meters and weighing 2.25 tons empty. Openly, it evokes the appeal of a magnificent luxury yacht. Of course, this also includes the corresponding service “below deck”. The V8 in the Corniche is said to offer a little more power than the sedan. In 1975, a Solex quadruple carburettor was introduced and improved the thrust, the factory specifications in 1980 gave around 11 seconds to a hundred and almost 200 km/h top. A rather rhetorical value for a car that invites you to glide and enjoy like no other.

Anyone who has ever had the privilege of sitting behind the wheel of one of these Rolls-Royce knows the overwhelming impression that its noble equipment and meticulous workmanship make. The scent of the Connolly leather, the grain of the wood panels, the clicks of the switches, the smooth operation of all functions – even the lever for the three-speed automatic is servo-assisted – all of this is amazing and can best be experienced by looking at and touching a work of art be compared. A Rolls-Royce may inspire respect and perhaps even awe from the outside, but on the inside it spoils its owner with its almost playful ease of use.

The soft top is in itself another masterpiece of great craftsmanship. Densely lined, it naturally opens and closes at the push of a button, although the tarpaulin needs to be buttoned by hand. For that she fits perfectly. Of course, there is no question that it is rainproof, but the coupé is a little better at noise insulation due to its design, but it was discontinued in 1982.

All Corniche were built by Mulliner Park Ward in London until 1992, two former independent coachbuilders that Rolls-Royce bought and merged in 1939 and 1961. As Corniche II, III and IV and Corniche S, the original version was further developed over the years, from 1992 production took place in Crewe, 1995 sales ended after 5,146 units (Rolls-Royce Corniche Cabriolet, including II – IV and Corniche S)

Overall, the Rolls-Royce Corniche I was a luxurious, powerful, and advanced car that represented the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce engineering and technology in the 1970s. With its impressive performance and advanced technology, it was a true flagship model that set the standard for luxury cars of its time. However, only around 1,000 units were made, making it one of the rarest models from Rolls-Royce.