ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE FIXED HEAD COUPE, 1977

FACTORY SPECIFICATION INCLUDES:- METALLIC PAINT, HIDE PIPED IN DARK BLUE, HIDE HEADLINING, HIDE TRIM BELOW DASH, KNEE ROLL AND CENTRE CONSOLE IN HIDE, LIGHT WALNUT VENEERS, DARK BLUE WILTON CARPETTING, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, BI-LEVEL AIR CONDITIONING, CENTRAL LOCKING, PLAIN SUNDYM GLASS, BLAUPUNKT FRANKFURT UD 21099 STEREO, FOG LIGHTS, FRONT AIR DAM, TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES. 15” ROLLS-ROYCE WHEELS AND AVON WHITEWALL TYRES ALSO FITTED.

Of the many hundreds of firms trading pre-war, just two - James Young and the now combined firm of H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd - were left to meet the demand for a coach-built Rolls-Royce. The Corniche was a development of the Mulliner Park Ward two-door versions of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. Production remained in London at Mulliner Park Ward; the new name was applied in March 1971. The Corniche draws its name from the experimental 1939 Corniche prototype. The name originally comes from the French word corniche, a coastal road, most notably the Grande Corniche along the French Riviera above the principality of Monaco.

One such Rolls-Royce 2-door FHC was driven by Steve McQueen in the cult classic film, The Thomas Crown Affair. It provided Steve McQueen with one of his most memorable movie roles as the eponymous business tycoon turned bank robber. Cool and sophisticated, Thomas Crown is quickly established in the plot as a man of discernment: a polo-playing Ferrari owner with his own glider and a taste for hand-made suits and hand-rolled cigars, so what else would he drive on formal occasions but a Rolls-Royce?  Thomas Crown’s, however, was no ‘ordinary’ Rolls-Royce, but one of the even more exclusive, limited edition, two-door sedans specially built to individual customer order by the company’s in-house coachbuilder, H J Mulliner, Park Ward Ltd.

This Corniche FHC had a full re-commissioning by Rolls-Royce marque specialists in October 2019 at a cost of more than £14,000. Originally supplied new Mann Egerton & Co, Norwich in May 1977, this car retains all its original keys and tools, and owner’s handbook. The original factory order, period factory correspondence, R-R production quality control notes and warranty card are also with the car.  Available to view now at our London showrooms.