1982 Rolls-Royce Corniche

First registered in 1982, this wonderfully profligate Rolls-Royce Corniche has been in the care of the current keeper for the past couple of years, after having spent some time in storage prior to that. Finished in Ivory with a Tan hood and a Tan hide interior piped in Magnolia, the cherished registration number ‘NYG 1M’ will stay with the car.

Offering the sort of effortless elegance the new models simply can’t deliver, it goes well too thanks to a £8,500 investment in maintenance and servicing since he’s owned it, including a full set of new Avon Turbosteel tyres.

In need of some attention to bring it back to its former glory, this might be a very cost-effective way of getting behind the wheel of a genuine luxury car icon. The car runs, but we would recommend some attention to the mechanicals of this car.

As you’d expect of a car whose panels were massaged into place by time-served craftsmen and women, the Corniche has weathered the past four decades with impressive aplomb. Consistent and even shutlines are merely the introduction, with ripple-free flanks and almost flawless paintwork telling the rest of the story.

And, for a car that’s finished in various shades of brown, it looks sensational, doesn’t it? It helps that everything is made of top-quality materials but we salute whoever commissioned this one as they absolutely nailed the specification.

It’s got good chromework too, and while it might be minimal compared to similar cars of the era, it’s so beautifully judged so can’t imagine ever needing more.

(Of course, that iconic radiator grille is anything but minimal but your eye is drawn to it because of the design and quality of construction rather than any shortcomings in its condition.)

The cover for the folding roof is beautifully crafted out of tan leather and is trimmed to match the seats and the rest of the interior hide. Believed to be the original, it’s wonderfully OTT and all the better for being so; this is a car that wears its excellence unashamedly.

The roof itself fits every bit as well as you’d expect. It raises and lowers easily at the press of a button too, and the only real wear to it is the plastic rear window, which is lightly creased (#64).

The wheels, with their subtle chrome hubcaps, are in great shape and they’re fitted with matching Avon Turbosteel CR11B tyres. These were fitted in November 2020 by Wembley Tyres Limited and still have plenty of tread on them.

Plus, as we will never get tired of telling you, experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Flaws? Well, upon inspection, there is some rust on the rear bumper (#197 and #198), a mark on the roof (#246), and a small amount of rust starting on the hood frame (i.e. #251).

The front seats aren’t only exquisitely fashioned, they’re beautifully preserved with some light creasing caused by what seems to be minimal contact with expensively clad buttocks. The rear is even better and still looks almost new.

What little hasn’t been trimmed in butter-soft leather is generally wood, which is exactly as it should be. All the trim is in a great condition, and their various surfaces are delightfully tactile, something that is complemented by chrome controls whose precision of operation is matched only by a subtle heft that leaves you in no doubt as to their quality.

Speaking of which, the headlining is so taut and neatly stitched you’d swear it was a saloon, which is about as high as praise gets for a convertible, isn’t it?

The carpets, including the ‘MPW’ rubber heel section on the driver’s mat, are in a very good condition. The lamb’s wool overmats are present but could do with a little TLC to bring them back up to scratch (#210).

The door cards are also good and you’ve got to admire the amount of work that went into constructing such a complex shape, haven’t you?

In fact, the worst we can say about the interior is that there is some staining and a small tear to the base of the headlining (#106) and a mark on the offside door card (#136), which says it all, doesn’t it?

This car requires some mechanical attention being paid to this Corniche in order to return it to its former glory. Please satisfy yourself with the condition of the car by coming to view with us at The Market HQ, near Abingdon.

The Corniche was serviced in June 2020 at a cost of just over £2,000 but this sum did include some new brake pipes as well as a starter motor.

Introcar Limited overhauled the braking system in November 2020 and the resulting bill came to well over £2,000 but it did include new calipers, discs, and pads on all four corners plus new handbrake pads and rear dampers.

A new fuel pump was fitted in September 2021, with a new fuel level sender following a month later.

September 2021 also saw the carburettor overhauled at a cost of £629, and preparation for the MoT in December 2022 racked up a bill for around £2,500 from Heritage Racing and Fabrication for miscellaneous fettling and troubleshooting.

The engine bay could do with tidying up but that’s more because the rest of the Corniche is so nice than because it’s especially awful.

The underseal is starting to peel, so the Corniche would benefit from having the loose stuff removing, any underlying rust treated, and then the whole area re-sealed.

NB: The odometer has clearly failed at some point, so the mileage showing is that that has been accrued since it was replaced.

The Corniche’s MoT certificate is valid until December 2023 and it was gained, as you’d expect given the pre-test work, with no advisories. The online MoT history suggests it was in storage between 2010 and 2022 bar a brief foray to the testing station in 2016.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clean and the car comes with its original book pack.

Please also see the recent invoices for the work that’s been carried out in the past few years.

There is no more elegant transport available for the £37,000-£42,000 we estimate this Corniche will fetch, a sum so reasonable it represents only a third of the cost of having a Breitling Mulliner Tourbillon fitted in your new Bentayga.

And while specifying the latter for your Bentley would make you a laughing stock, buying this Corniche will engender nothing more than a knowing nod from the sort of folk who use ‘em to waft around the South of France.

Who says you can’t buy class?

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.