1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupe

1975 Rolls Royce Corniche.   Seychells Blue with Dark Blue Everflex roof Covering and Beige leather upholstery. headliner and carpets.   Factory fitted with FIAMM air horns. Stone Lambswool carpet overlays. front headrests. and subtle gold coachlines.   Sold new by Cornes & Co. Limited. Tokyo Japan.   Copies of Factory construction. test. and shipping records are included.  

The car is in excellent condition. having received a 2nd in Class award at the 2011 Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance during the year Rolls Royce was the featured marque.     At some point. the car received a Nardi wood rim steering wheel and Ronal 7 ½” alloy wheels with locking covers [as fitted to Rolls Royce cars in the early 1990's].   The current odometer reading is 87. 94 kilometers.   The car has a clear California title.  

In my opinion. this is the ‘sweet spot' of the Silver Shadow series.   The lines of the coupe are certainly more graceful than the sedan.   This car also retains the elegant chrome bumpers and modest side marker lights of the early cars. yet enjoys the mechanical refinements and evolutionary changes introduced during the prior 10 years of the models life.   Later cars are hobbled by rubber impact bumpers. less attractive instruments. and are subject to bi-annual smog testing here in California.

As evident in the photos. the interior is in lovely condition.   The wood is in excellent condition.   There are no cracks in the varnish and no evidence of fading or delamination of the veneers.   The leather is supple and in excellent condition.   There are no creases. scrapes. tears. or split seams in the leather.   The original Britax seat belts are fitted.   The headliner is in excellent condition with no water staining. tears or sagging.    The carpet. overlays. and rubber mats show virtually no wear.

The interior amenities all function as intended.   The electric windows raise and lower rapidly with pushbutton limiters to control the final 1” travel for safe closure.   The rear windows swing out with their own motors.   The front seats adjust via door mounted joysticks.   The dual zone (upper. lower) heat. A/C adjusts via controls in the center console.   The heat. cooling and fan speeds all function.   The cruise control works and maintains a steady speed when set.   All gauges work properly. including the clock.

Overall. the paint is excellent. with no orange peel. drips. or indications of poor preparation.   The interior and exterior chrome is excellent.   The bumpers are unblemished. The grill. mascot. and door handles all have excellent finishes.  

The undercarriage is clean and without rust or corrosion. rare for a RHD car.   Components show evidence of repair/replacement consistent with the service records.   The engine compartment is clean and maintenance/repairs appear to have been carried out carefully with correct parts.

This Rolls Royce Corniche is one of approximately 1. 90 Fixed Head versions built between 1971 and 1980.   The original build sheet for CRH20286 is dated August 20. 1974 with actual construction taking place November 1974 – May 1975.   Ordered for the Japanese market. specifications include RHD. kilometer speedometer. and Fiamm air horns.   It was shipped to Yokohama after completion aboard the merchant vessel “Hong Kong Express” in June 1975. and took to the road with its first owner [Showa Kigyo of Tokyo] on July 25. 1975.  

Unfortunately. no further documentation is available until a fairly substantial cosmetic restoration was performed during 1993 – 1995 at which time the paint. chrome. and Everflex top were renewed at a cost of JPY 2. 87. 30 [roughly $24. 00 at the time].   Photographs show a comprehensive effort including substantial disassembly and stripping to bare metal.   The odometer reading from this invoice is 71. 69 kilometers.    

The car was shipped to San Francisco in May 2000. now owned by Tadakazu Makabe and the odometer showing 71. 06 kilometers.   Mr. Makabe owned the car until 2007 during which time the car covered another 1. 00 kilometers.   This low accumulation is supported by regular repair bills including an engine rebuild [due to clogged cooling passages]. front/rear suspension rebuild. and attention to various electrical and hydraulic faults.  

In June 2007. the car again found a new owner – passing through Cars Dawydiak in San Francisco.   Gavin Coombs had the brake accumulators. load leveling. climate control. and cooling systems rebuilt.   He also installed a McIntosh audio control unit along with trunk mounted CD changer and amplifier.   During his 2-year ownership. another 2. 00 kilometers were added.   Together. owners Makabe and Coombs spent over $35. 00 on mechanical work while adding a mere 4. 00 kilometers.   The resulting car is cosmetically excellent and mechanically sorted.

I purchased the car in July 2009 and have enjoyed the benefits of the prior owners' considerable expenditures.   The 10. 00 kilometers under my watch over the last 7 years have been relatively drama-free [and typical of any 40 year old car].   I've replaced the A/C compressor and receiver drier while upgrading the system to R134.   The rear brake calipers. hydraulic reservoir unit. and one of the accumulator valves was also rebuilt.   A new battery. routine fluid changes. and a few hours chasing a couple electrical gremlins is all that has been required.  

This is a comfortable. easy to drive car that regularly receives compliments and admiring glances far out of proportion to the cost of ownership.   It's done everything from carrying my newborn daughter home from the hospital to charging around Highway 1 on the New Year's Day “Anti-Football Run”.   Along the way. it has done the occasional work commute. “road trip” to Palm Springs. Concours d'Elegance. tailgate party. and always receives a prominent parking space from the valet when “out on the town”.

Experts in the Collector Car field agree; buy the best you can afford and if possible. buy a car that has already been restored.   In doing so. you generally pay a mere fraction of the restoration cost. and essentially get the car for free.   This Corniche represents just such an opportunity.  

Also published at eBay.com

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