Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars
Recently our 1973 Rolls Royce Corniche that has been at Bridge Classic Cars was featured on Car & Classic Auction. This is a superb example of a Mulliner Park Ward Rolls Royce finished in Willow Gold over Brown which was paint in-house by our paint experts.
Here’s what Car & Classic had to say about the 1973 Rolls Royce Corniche.
”A development of the Mulliner Park Ward two door Silver Shadow, the Corniche became a model in its own right in 1971, although the cars continued to be built by Park Ward, and draws its name from the French word corniche, meaning coast road and was first given to a 1939 prototype which was tested across continental Europe.
Available as a 2 door saloon or drophead coupe, both came with a 6.75 litre V8 under the bonnet with a three-speed automatic transmission and an opulent, handcrafted interior.
This car has been very well cared for over the years, with the Corniche having light use and regular servicing and maintenance, and the receipts show how any small jobs have been tackled as needed.
In 2007, when it was a popular addition, an LPG kit was added. It has not needed any big repairs over the years but has just had a full respray by Bridge Classics in the original colour, with the addition of a second colour lower half.
Included with this Rolls Royce is a pair of thick folders of receipts showing the care that has been lavished on this car over the last four decades.
There are decades of MOT certificates and receipts for parts from the well-known suppliers such as Flying Spares, BCI and Intercar, almost all for minor and service parts as no major work has been needed over the years, and there is a sheet of notes showing every service from March 1973 until 2002. The original Rolls Royce service book shows service stamps at 2273,3617, 6616, 12861, 21803, 26261, 28361, 40682 miles.
The Corniche’s interior is untouched and original, with a gentle and beautiful patina of time and care across the soft leather and fine wood. It even still has its original radio and Radiomobile Eight track player.
The magnolia cream leather seats have contrasting brown piping, and show very little wear, just some very light lines from use, while the thick, dark brown carpet has always been protected by the lighter deep-pile lambswool over mats, also in fine condition.
On the dashboard, door caps and through the centre is the fine wood that is to be expected in a Rolls Royce. There are a few age related marks on the surface, small cracks in the dashboard lacquer and around the dials the darker inner rim has flaked in places.
In the boot, the floor carpet has a few marks but the side carpet is very good and the trim under the lid is excellent. The spare wheel is present and has good tread.
The body has just been repainted by the Bridge Classics workshop in the original willow gold, but now in a two-tone combination with the addition of wendy brown lower panels. Any repairs needed to the metalwork were taken care of while the car was stripped so the panels should be solid, clean metal under the fresh paint with its deep gloss finish.
The chrome work is excellent, with the bumpers very good, the big radiator grill and of course, the flying lady is beautiful and the stainless wheel trims unmarked, and the wheels are shod in Uniroyal tyres with good tread. There is a brown vinyl roof matching the lower half of the car, in excellent condition.
The 6.75 litre V8 and GM automatic gearbox have a reputation for solid reliability, and we are told the car runs very smoothly and glides between gears.
The car was fitted with an LPG kit by Energyshift in 2007 at a cost of £1440 and most recently had a gas safety inspection certificate in 2013, although we have not tested this and this can be removed by the dealer where specialist where the car is stored.
Although not required as the car is well over 40 years old, it has just passed an MOT, so is covered until summer 2022.
The handcrafted wood and leather of the interior, the flowing lines of the body and that imposing grill create an impression like no other. When close up to one of these automobiles it’s hard not to be drawn into the allure of these fine country house drawing rooms on wheels.
This example has a full and detailed history, a fabulous condition interior and having just been treated to a high-quality paint job it looks superb. ”
This is a lovely example of the pinnacle 1970s luxury. The Corniche has been painstakingly worked on by the team here at Bridge Classic Cars and it’s always nice to see it being appreciated out there in the world.
To Read More, or see the full gallery of images on the 1973 Rolls Royce Corniche, Click the link below.
