1971 Rolls-Royce Mulliner Park Ward DHC

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We always try to have one of these coachbuilt Rolls-Royce in stock. they are the best value for money in the current market.

The motor industry's almost wholesale switch to unitary construction and. in particular. Rolls-Royce's adoption of the method for building its new Silver Shadow. meant that by the mid-1960s the market for traditional coachbuilt automobiles had been severely curtailed. 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 coachbuilt Rolls-Royce or Bentley. though these might be more accurately termed conversions rather than 100 percent bespoke creations. Recalling its glamorous Grands Routiers of pre-war days such as the Phantom II Continental. Rolls-Royce's final coachbuilt models - entrusted to the company's in-house coachbuilder H J Mulliner. Park Ward - were limited to just two. a two-door coupé or similar convertible. the former arriving in March 1966 and the latter in September the following year.

The cars were hand built in the best traditions of British coachbuilding using only materials of the finest quality. including Wilton carpeting. Connolly hide and burr walnut veneers. a necessarily lengthy process that took all of 20 weeks for the saloon and slightly longer for the more complex convertible. This painstaking attention to detail resulted in a price some 50% higher than the standard Silver Shadow's. Nevertheless. demand for these more glamorous alternatives to the much more numerous Silver Shadow was strong right from the start. a state of affairs that resulted in them being given their own model name - 'Corniche'- in March 1971.

Interior: Our car is finished in Red leather and it is very original with a lovely patina although it would bebfit from feeding and restoring. it would also benefit from new carpets but the interior is very period indeed.

Exterior: Our car is finished in Old English White and the paintwork is very nice but not perfect. The wheels and tyres are good as is the glasswork. The brown hood is quite recent and the car presents very well. it has been cosmetically upgraded to Corniche Specification externally.

Mechanical: The car starts and drives exactly as it should and needs nothing but a service for your own peace of mind. It has a new MOT and is ready to go.

Summary: These early MPW Convertibles are great value at the moment and cannot stay at these low levels for much longer. The colours are perfect on this car and at the asking price there cannot be a cheaper one on the market today.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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