Rolls-Royce Corniche

The first car with the Corniche nameplate was a 1939 prototype based on the Bentley Mark V, featuring coachwork by the Parisian firm Carrosserie Vanvooren.[2] It undertook 15,000 miles (24,000 km) of endurance testing in Continental Europe before being blown up by a bomb at a dock in Dieppe while awaiting shipment back to England.[2] No production model was ever manufactured because of the onset of World War II, but the company registered the name for the future.

Corniche
1977 Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupé
Overview
Production	1971–1987[3]
Assembly	London, England
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door convertible
Related	Silver Shadow Bentley T-series Camargue
Powertrain
Engine	6.75 L L410 OHV V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1971–73: 119.75 in (3,042 mm) 1974–79: 120 in (3,048 mm) 1979–87: 120.5 in (3,061 mm)
Length	203.5 in (5,169 mm)[4]
Width	72 in (1,829 mm)[4]
Height	58.75 in (1,492 mm)[4]
Kerb weight	4,816 lb (2,185 kg)[4]

The Corniche, available as coupé or convertible,[5] used the standard Rolls-Royce V8 engine with an aluminium-silicon alloy block and aluminium cylinder heads with cast iron wet cylinder liners. The bore was 4.1 in (104.1 mm) and the stroke was 3.9 in (99.1 mm) for a total of 6.75 L (6,750 cc/411 cuin). Twin SU carburettors were initially fitted, but were replaced with a single Solex 4A1 four-barrel carburetor introduced in 1977.[6] De-smogged export models retained the twin SUs until 1980, when Bosch fuel injection was added.

A three-speed automatic transmission (a Turbo Hydramatic 400 sourced from General Motors) was standard. A four-wheel independent suspension with coil springs was augmented with a hydraulic self-levelling system (using the same system as did Citroën, but without pneumatic springs, and with the hydraulic components built under licence by Rolls-Royce), at first on all four, but later on the rear wheels only. Four wheel disc brakes were specified, with ventilated discs added for 1972.

The car originally used a 119.75 in (3,042 mm) wheelbase. This was extended to 120 in (3,048 mm) in 1974 and 120.5 in (3,061 mm) in 1979.

The Corniche received a mild restyling in the spring of 1977. Difference included rack-and-pinion steering,[7] alloy and rubber bumpers, aluminium radiator, oil cooler and a bi-level air conditioning system was added. Later changes included a modified rear independent suspension in March 1979. In March 1981, after the Silver Spirit had gone on sale, the Coupé version of the Corniche and its Bentley sister were discontinued.[5] For 1985 there were also cosmetic and interior changes.

Corniche models received Bosch KE/K-Jetronic fuel injection in 1977.[7] This engine, called the L410I, produced approximately 240 PS (177 kW; 237 hp) at just above 4,000 rpm for a top speed of 190 km/h (118 mph).[8]

The Bentley version was updated in July 1984 with a new name, the Continental,[9] revised and color-coded bumpers, rear view mirrors, a new dash and improvements to the seats.[5]

Production totaled 1090 Rolls-Royce Corniche Saloons, 3239 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertibles, 69 Bentley Corniche Saloons and 77 Bentley Corniche Convertibles.[3]

The Corniche was popular with high income celebrities (see below), with the notable exception of Jeremy Clarkson who mocked James May's Corniche as "just a Ford Zephyr with a chrome nose."[10]

• 
  1971–1973 Rolls-Royce Corniche (North America)
• 
  1974–77 Rolls-Royce Corniche (North America)
• 
  1974 Bentley Corniche

Corniche II
1989 Rolls-Royce Corniche II
Overview
Production	1986–1989[3]
Assembly	London, England
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible
Related	Bentley Continental
Powertrain
Engine	6.75 L L410/L410I OHV V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.5 in (3,061 mm)

The Corniche II name was applied for the United States market from 1986 and for other markets from 1988.[3] Anti-lock brakes were added for 1988, but air bags would not be available until the Corniche III. Also new for 1988 were some detail changes to the interior. Later in 1988 there was also a new reverse warning lens type and pattern around the rear license plate, as well as newly designed seats and redesigned instrumentation.[11]

1,234 examples of the Corniche II were produced.[3]

Rear view of 1988 Bentley Continental (US)

Corniche III
Rolls-Royce Corniche III
Overview
Production	1989–1993
Assembly	London, England
Body and chassis
Related	Bentley Continental
Powertrain
Engine	6.75 L L410I OHV V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.5 in (3,061 mm)
Length	207.0 in (5,258 mm)
Width	72.3 in (1,836 mm)
Height	59.8 in (1,519 mm)

The Corniche III was introduced at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show with new alloy wheels, color-coded bumpers, a more advanced suspension system, air bags and MK-Motronic fuel injections. Minor interior changes included a revised dashboard, console and seats.[11]

The revised, airbag-equipped dashboard (1990)

Japanese Emperor's parade car (1990)

Corniche IV
Overview
Production	1992–1995
Assembly	Crewe, England
Body and chassis
Related	Bentley Continental
Powertrain
Engine	6.75 L L410I OHV V8 6.75 L L410IT turbo OHV V8
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.5 in (3,061 mm)
Length	204.6 in (5,197 mm)
Width	72.3 in (1,836 mm)
Height	59.8 in (1,519 mm)

The car was reworked for 1992 as the Corniche IV, presented at the January North American International Auto Show in Detroit.[12] By this time production had moved to Crewe, in preparation for the 1994 closure of Mulliner Park Ward. Mechanically, the IV featured the four-speed GM4L80 automatic transmission rather than the previous three-speed GM400 unit. Adaptive suspension was also introduced. Visually there is nearly no difference between the Corniche III and IV except for a glass rear window replacing the previous plastic unit. The top mechanism was improved, no longer requiring manual latching. CFC-free air conditioning was specified, as were driver and passenger airbags. In October 1992 a 21st anniversary Corniche was presented. 25 cars were built, all finished in Ming Blue with a cream hood with a silver plaque on the dash.[13]

In August 1993 engine power was increased by 20 percent.

The Rolls-Royce Corniche S

The last 25 Corniche models to be built, completed in the summer of 1995, were unique turbocharged versions and were called the Corniche S. The photo was taken in the showroom of Vantage Motorworks, Inc., in Miami, Florida.

Rolls-Royce Corniche

The fifth series to bear the Corniche name made its debut in January 2000. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive vehicle offered by Rolls-Royce, with a base price of US$359,900. Its production was ended in 2001, as Bentley became a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG and continued manufacture in Crewe while Rolls-Royce became solely owned by BMW, manufacturing in a new factory built by BMW on the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, West Sussex.

• Rolls-Royce Corniche: 4,332
  • Saloon (1971–1981): 1,108
  • Convertible (1971–1988): 3,224
• Bentley Corniche: 140
  • Saloon (1971–1981): 63
  • Convertible (1971–1984): 77
• Rolls-Royce Corniche II (1988–1989): 1,234
• Rolls-Royce Corniche III (1989–1992): 452
• Rolls-Royce Corniche IV (1992–1995): 244
  • Corniche IV (1992–1995): 219
  • Corniche S (1995): 25
• Rolls-Royce Corniche (2000–2002): 374
• Bentley Continental (1984–1994): 421
  • Bentley Continental Turbo (1992–1995): 8

• Rolls-Royce Corniche (2000)
• Rolls-Royce 100EX
• Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé