During its long life in production, from 1971 until 1995, the Rolls-Royce Corniche was inarguably the world’s foremost symbol of motoring excellence. Each of the luxurious convertibles was hand-built to individual customer order at the famous Mulliner Park Ward coachworks and took over a month to construct, with the multi-layered hood accounting for a full week of that time. Only the finest materials were employed throughout, with the result being truly one of the most sophisticated automobiles in the world.

The collection’s right-hand-drive example was built for Birmingham Rolls-Royce agents P.J. Evans Ltd. to the order of their client C.V. Nash Esq. of the Grange in Kington, near Flyford Flavell in Worcestershire, England. Detailed order documents kept by the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club, copies of which are on file, note that the car was originally finished in Ivory with Black fine lines, Black leather interior and carpets, Black hood with Light Fawn headliner, and accessories of a Pioneer radio, Sundym glass, fog lights, and GB letters “of the separate bright finished style.”

Subsequently the car is noted on British registration documents as having been purchased on 25 June 1992 by Sidney Roland Harmer of Worcestershire Park, then on 23 December 1998 by David Charles Evans of Betchworth. Mr. Evans undertook careful, regular servicing and improvements to the car at Royce Service & Engineering, as noted in invoices on file spanning the time between 2002 and 2010. Repairs include replacement of the side subframe mounts, fitment of stainless exhaust, various repairs to the fenders and wheel arches with professional paintwork to suit, installation of a tow hook, and fitment of Harley Bailey anti-roll bars. A Blaupunkt radio appears to have been fitted at some point, as well. Most remarkably, in 2006 the car was converted by Alternative Fuel Systems to run on either petrol or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), greatly improving its fuel efficiency; a switch enables the driver to select which fuel to use.

The Corniche has been part of the collection since 2013, and in that time has been among the most frequently driven automobiles in the stable; included in the file is a FIVA Passport from 2014. Overall, the car’s Bordeaux paintwork remains in very attractive condition, while the leather interior shows an attractive patina of age; the roof is more recent, finished in quality German cloth.

No Rolls-Royce collection is complete without a Corniche, and this example is well-suited to spirited use, precisely as it has been enjoyed by the current owner.