Style - Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible	Elegance - Rolls Royce 20/25	Glamour - Bentley Series 3

STYLE - 1979 ROLLS ROYCE CORNICHE CONVERTIBLE

This is a stunning car – whisper quiet as all Rolls Royces are, and with the benefit of a power hood to make the most of summer afternoons.  There is plenty of room in the rear for all but the largest wedding dresses, and the hood can be raised or lowered in a matter of seconds, allowing you to dodge any showers, or preserve makeup and hair whilst still getting those all important photographs as you arrive at the wedding venue.  The car is also equipped with efficient automatic air conditioning, which can be absolutely vital on hot summer days.  The car is painted in flamboyant Caribe Aqua, a marvellous metallic shade which is perfect for catching the light on bright days.  You can be assured of a stylish arrival and wonderful photo opportunities in this car, and it is perfect for summer weddings, a civil ceremony, or parked outside the best reception hotel.

The Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible

Rolls Royce had offered a convertible version of the Silver Shadow since the late 1960s, with the car having a 2 door bodyshell and power hood.  In 1971 the 2 door models were given a separate name, the Corniche, recalling the famous road in the South of France.  When the Silver Shadow II was introduced in 1977, the Corniche was also updated, with Rolls Royce tending to use the 2 door models to experiment with new technology which was later introduced into the 4 door models.  The Silver Shadow is so familiar now that it is easy to forget what an impact this car made in the mid 1960s – Rolls Royce’s first monocoque design was a world away from the tradition of the Silver Cloud model, and the car was brimming with cutting edge technology, including its famous Citroen-like hydraulic suspension and braking system.   The Corniche was further differentiated with a more powerful engine and exhaust system, making it a true Grand Touring car. Each Corniche took 5 months to build by hand at the Mulliner Park Ward coachbuilding subsidiary of Rolls Royce, and they were significantly more expensive than their 4 door siblings.  By 1977 the car had already been improved over the original, but the Mk II version was a better car all round.  The original rather vague steering was replaced by an excellent rack and pinion system, but perhaps the most significant change was the superb automatic heating and air conditioning system.  Deceptively easy to operate, the system was very complex with a multitude of sensors and motors which all combined to offer a marvellously cool, dehumidified atmosphere inside the car.  Our car was built in 1979,  and is a desirable '50000 series' chassis, having the new hydraulic rear suspension designed for the then still secret Silver Spirit model, which was to replace the Silver Shadow in 1980.  Still painted in its original and rare colour of Caribe Aqua, our car has been looked after for many years by the well known specialists Hillier Hill, and is in fine condition..

















Technical Specification

Engine:	6750cc all alloy V8
Transmission:	General Motors GM400 3 speed automatic
Length:	17ft 3.5in
Width:	5ft 11.7in
0-60 mph:	10.1 sec
Max speed:	119 mph
Average fuel consumption:	14.5 mpg
UK price in 1979:	£48338.78p