Car Purchasing Advice: Rolls-Royce Corniche

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The Rolls-Royce Corniche, introduced in 1965 as a two-door coupe and convertible, is an attractive proposition for those seeking a luxurious and quiet cruising experience. Over the years, the Corniche has undergone several updates, with the Corniche III unveiled in 1989 featuring colour-coded bumpers, fuel injection, and improved interior trim.

Under the hood, the Corniche is powered by the reliable and well-supported GM automatic gearboxes, which are straightforward to rebuild. Gear changes should be near-imperceptible, and clean and clear transmission fluid is expected in well-maintained vehicles. However, higher-mileage units or those overdue for a fluid change may feel grabby.

When it comes to suspension, the centralised hydraulic system powers the suspension, steering, and brakes in the Corniche. Fluid cleanliness is critical, and a noticeably jiggly ride on the move could indicate faulty spheres in Corniche equipped with Automatic Ride Control (ARC). Replacement spheres for the hydropneumatic system cost around £40 each.

Brakes should feel sharp and very powerful in the Corniche. Scored or warped discs and worn pads are simple to replace, but problems with the hydraulics themselves require specialist attention. Many gearbox troubles in the Corniche are electrical in nature, often stemming from the selector mechanism.

The interior of the Corniche is entirely hand-crafted, with a high standard of fit and quality of materials. Ensure all seat adjustments function properly, including fore-and-aft movement, recline angles, and the folding mechanism for rear-seat access. Many fascia and trim components in the Corniche are unique to the model, making them hard to source and expensive.

On later cars with seat memory, the electronic control units add further complexity and expense, with replacements proving particularly dear if faulty. If the seats fail to tip or latch as they should, new internals will be required, which is a costly undertaking.

The Corniche is not exactly sporty, but it cuts a dash in all situations. No common weaknesses are typically found elsewhere in the drivetrain, but any intrusive noise or vibration is a red flag. Steering ball joints wear quickly on these heavy cars, so check for wandering or wobbling through the wheels and listen for knocking sounds from the front end when driving over bumps.

Cracked, peeling, or delaminated veneer panels, scuffs, tears, or general wear in the leather interior are common issues in the Corniche. Juddering under way is usually the result of seized or poorly balanced driveshaft joints. The Corniche II was launched in 1977 with rubber bumpers, new grilles, and safety updates, while the Corniche IV was introduced in 1993 with a glass rear window, electric roof, and airbags as standard.

The Silver Seraph-based Corniche 5 replaced the Shadow-based models in 2000, and the coupe version was discontinued in 1995, leaving only the convertible. Parts and specialist support for the 6.75-litre engine and overengineered mechanics in the Corniche are still strong in the UK decades after its arrival.

In conclusion, the Rolls-Royce Corniche offers a luxurious and quiet cruising experience, with few common issues. Regular maintenance and timely repairs can ensure that this classic car continues to provide an enjoyable ride for years to come.