Stunning, quality low-mileage convertible. The best from Park-Ward Motors Museum
| Make: | Rolls-Royce |
| Model: | Corniche |
| SubModel: | - convertible by HJ Mulliner Park-Ward |
| Type: | Convertible |
| Trim: | - convertible by HJ Mulliner Park-Ward |
| Year: | 1972 |
| Mileage: | 54500 |
| VIN: | DRA-012026 |
| Color: | Champagne (very pale yellow non-metallic) |
| Engine: | 6.75 litre Rolls-Royce naturally aspirated V8 |
| Cylinders: | 8 |
| Fuel: | Gasoline |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Drive type: | RWD |
| Interior color: | Mushroom Connolly hides with Moss green carpets |
| Drive side: | Left-hand drive |
| Vehicle Title: | Clear |
| Item location: | Barrington, Illinois, United States |
1972 Rolls-Royce Corniche - convertible by HJ Mulliner Park-Ward Additional Info:
Rolls-Royce
Corniche
Convertible
1972
Elegant "Champagne" ~ A beautiful presenting example!
Here is a really fine and original example of a Corniche convertible. Finished in delectable Champagne yellow with handsome mushroom Connolly hides, contrasting moss green Wilton wool carpets and seat piping. The same moss green theme carries through to the boot. The coach-lines are elegantly matched to the interior green high-lights. A very desirable and mature colour of the era and not often seen here in the US.
The Corniche design ~ first introduced as the "Silver Shadow Drop Head Coupe" in 1966 ~ with its signature rear quarter "hip-line" is unquestionably one of the most elegant of coach-work designs provided by Rolls-Royce's coach-builder - HJ Mulliner Park-Ward. It has tested the time for elegance and style enduring no less than 30 years in production (1966-1996). It has often been chosen amongst the most beautiful cars ever made. This being a 1972 model with the early style full chrome bumpers combined with their lower poise, really make for a handsome motorcar and present amongst the best of Mulliner Park-Ward's offerings.
This is an unmolested example that has been nicely maintained and presents in excellent condition. With the exception of more modern radio player fitted (an original is available for the purist) she is primarily all original with no modifications.
The Corniche convertible presented here has been work-shop inspected with all work needed carried out. Important costly items such as the hydraulics and brakes are fully inspected and serviced as required. This includes checking of all brake hoses and system pressure tested and bled. It is ready to drive and enjoy. The odometer shows a low 54,000 and although this is not verifiable, the mileage is commensurate with the condition (particularly when you look at the condition of the interior, under-hood, brake pedal etc). It is very quiet and smooth on the road without any of the typical “thumps” and “rattles” typical of poor (or even averagely) maintained examples of this model.
The interior is in excellent shape. The mushroom leather is in lovely condition with no tears nor fading and true to its Connolly characteristics showing the perfect amount of patina. The burr walnut wood throughout the car is equally beautiful. The wood door cappings and centre console were redone by a leading California wood re-finisher at a cost of some $3,000 several years ago (possibly the dash as well which is excellent and yet difficult to ascertain if original or not). The process was done in accordance with the Rolls-Royce "multi-layer lacquering technique" which involves painstaking wet sanding and buffing by hand between all coats. The final finish on the wood throughout is simply stunning and is like glass. And, you have to thank Mother Nature for its beauty. The rich ochre grain and pattern makes it very warm and inviting.
The convertible top and head lining is original and in good condition. The carpets with leather binding are in good condition and have sumptuous matching lambswool moutons fitted. Likewise is the leather finish to the dash and top-roll. The boot (trunk) carpet with the same theme is also in excellent.
The body on this Corniche is very true and the paint is shiny and lustrous. The car was repainted some 15 years ago but all done extremely well. There are some very minor imperfections here and there but overall very, very nice and nothing objectionable. We simply point this out for clear disclosure. Rest assured the paint presents just as well as you see in the photos. When you look down the sides of the car, they are very straight. Certainly, the paint needs nothing other than a wax from time to time.
The car has Michelin MX4 white-wall tyres fitted with plenty of tread and the hubcaps are excellent with no imperfections in the stainless rings or caps. All remaining bright-work is in good condition. All electrics and operational features are guaranteed working to specification right down to the smallest and insignificant dash and courtesy light. Even the clock keeps good time!
Under the bonnet, the presentation is commendable to its previous caretakers. It has not been precision detailed but simply kept clean and tidy throughout its life. You must take the time to look at the photos of the engine bay as its presentation is like that of only a 10 year old example. Simply stunning!
As you would expect, this Corniche comes with its original jack, correct tools and operating manual.
The car is of very high standard and is an easy 10 out of 10 driver rating.
~~ This stately Corniche Convertible, presented with brochure appropriate 20TU number plates, is an excellent condition representation of the marque that is ready to be driven and enjoyed. She is indeed quite worthy of wearing her manufacturer's show registration with pride and complete confidence. Do nothing to her and take her to your next Rolls-Royce meet where you will attract considerable attention! ~~
~~ International bidders are welcome ~~
For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photos are of super high resolution so if you right click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see additional photos!
Click HERE to see additional photos!
A note from RRMOTORSINC:
For those Rolls-Royce enthusiasts who have followed my auctions in the past I welcome you all. For those who are new to my adverts and/or the marque, please note that as a serious collector of some 30 years, all my cars are truly described examples. I have my own private Rolls-Royce workshop (not open to the public but dedicated to my own cars and fellow RR enthusiasts) with trained Rolls-Royce craftsmen who are proficient in all aspects. As a team, we are dedicated to the preservation of the marque and as such, any car that leaves the stable is completely inspected and work-shopped to ensure mechanical and operational items are maintained appropriately. We adopt a “keep it original” mentality with pride and confidence, offering after sales technical support and assistance well beyond the sale. Because most of my cars are offered for the pleasures of driving enjoyment it is not always possible or practical to seek perfection (in the true sense of the word) but we do always uphold excellence in whatever we do. Our cars are by no means cheap priced cars but we like to think they are amongst the best. To this end, I firmly believe in the famous adage; “Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.”
We hope you do too.”
RRMOTORSINC is a division of Park-Ward Motors and The Park-Ward Motors Museum. We can always be reached at +1-312-320-6996.
We at Park-Ward Motors – the things we do.
When our Rolls-Royces are commissioned for resale, they are indeed professionally and correctly “fully work-shopped”. No corners are cut. And it is all addressed in true Crewe tradition. There is way too much to list here but to give you an example of our commitment to excellence of the various processes, this is one such example of what we do:
Doors and windows:-
Every car has its interior door panels removed. If the wood is in need of repair (as most are) it is refinished in-house by trained and talented craftsmen at Park-Ward Motors. This is a detailed process of stripping the wood of its old lacquer, repairing the veneer if there is damage, staining the top surface as per Rolls-Royce methodology and refinishing with no less than 25 coats of clear lacquer. Hand wet-sanded and polished between all of its last 15 coats. New window felt guides and wood-to-glass foam seals are fitted. All window mechanisms are checked and serviced for smooth and efficient up and down movement. This includes an electrical modification to rectify the typical “slow window syndrome”. All tracks, chains and gears are lubricated. Where central locking is fitted, these are all serviced to ensure no “solenoid sticking”, another common problem. Units are repaired and or changed as required for refurbished units. Door wiring and door-to-body wiring is checked, repaired and/or replaced as required. The splash plastic on the inside of the doors to protect the leather panels from rain splash from inside the door is replaced with correct specification black plastic as used by the factory. Cut to shape and glued in position as per original. All door hardware is checked and repaired as required including locks, handles and scuttle finishes. The door is reassembled with all items cleaned and polished. The wood refitted and the leather panels are re-Connollised before final fitment.
Take this example and apply it to the many, many different aspects of Rolls-Royce restoration, service and maintenance and you have our dedication to correct and professional vehicle pre-delivery preparation and commissioning.
**PLEASE read auction terms and conditions below BEFORE bidding.**
~~oo00oo~~
This Rolls-Royce is part of a private collection. Although licensed and bonded, I am not a main-stream retail car dealer or broker; I am a professional car collector of some 30 years with considerable experience and knowledge of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars. I have a long standing reputation being associated with the marque which I take seriously. I take pride in my cars and have fun in collecting and restoring them. However, auctions are not a game so when you place a bid or offer, and you are the winning bidder, please understand you have entered a binding contract. You cannot bid and win the auction and expect not to meet the terms and conditions. Bidding and/or winning does not mean you are expecting me to “hold” the car until you have the opportunity to inspect it. Any inspection contemplated should be undertaken BEFORE you bid or make an offer and I openly welcome any potential buyer to come and personally inspect the car. Once you bid or make an offer, you are doing so to buy WITHOUT conditions. Your bid can not be subject to anything. A $2000.00 deposit (non-refundable) is required within 24 hours of the close of the auction and payable by PayPal. The balance of funds are required within 7 days of the close of the auction and must be provided by cashier’s check or bank wire. I cannot accept PayPal for the balance unless you are willing to meet the cost of transfer fees. Full payment must be made (and payments cleared) before the title and/or the vehicle is released. All payments are non-refundable. Payments as described above form an important part of this purchase contract and so, if all the funds are not received as outlined above, I reserve the right to terminate the transaction without notice. If there has been any deposit or other part payments received and I elect to terminate the contract, I reserve the right to keep any such deposits or payments and resell the vehicle to another bidder or interested party or re-list the vehicle at any time. To be clear, if you change your mind for ANY reason and do not complete the transaction in the time-frame required, you will forfeit your deposit. I am happy to assist with shipping arrangements on a national and worldwide basis but the winning bidder takes full responsibility for pickup and/or shipping and at his cost.
As a collector and experienced restorer of the marque, I make every effort to bring my cars to a high standard. By comparison, my cars are generally superior to others available but they are by no means perfect. You must expect some issues. Unless specifically stated, the car is not of show standard but of nice "driver" condition. Please understand, show cars of this model cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve and sell for prices commensurate, so the sale price of this car reflects its relative condition. You are buying "condition" accordingly. Buyers should not expect to receive concours quality or "perfect" cars at these prices. Please also understand, the very nature of these classic Rolls-Royces is such that it is not always possible to attend to every item, or perhaps I may have inadvertently overlooked items. Further, and very importantly, these cars are classic cars also because they are old. So this means a 47 year old car is predominantly comprised of 47 year old parts. And old parts will fail. All buyers must understand and expect that things can or will wear out, break and/or stop functioning without notice. This is even more likely with hand-built English cars of early technology when compared to the typical American car of the same vintage. Please note, fitted radio/stereo systems are usually subject to upgrade by purchasers so I do not ensure operation of these. Similarly, cruise control systems fitted to these classics were of an inferior design and I do not check or warrant the operation of these. Suspension and brakes on these cars are complex. We thoroughly check them and replace things that are identified faulty. But please understand, by example; if we change a brake line because it appears aged or faulty, we do NOT at the same time replace all other hoses because they are of similar age. This is considered "preventative maintenance". We do not do this unless specifically requested and is not included in the purchase price. Feel free to ask for this additional service. Further, a feature or function that is working perfectly one moment, may decide to play-up the next. After all, it is some 47 years old. This is the nature of any classic car and especially a Rolls-Royce which was very "complicated" for its era. For this reason it is necessary for the following condition:
The vehicle is being sold "as-is/where-is" with no warranty expressed, written or implied. Any descriptions or representations are made with reasonable judgment and all efforts are made to ensure fair assessment and accuracy but they are for descriptive and identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. The seller shall not be responsible for errors in description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein and makes no warranty in connection therewith. If any aspect of the description contradicts what can be seen in the photos, then the photos shall prevail as the reference point. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness, unforeseen imperfection, defect or damage. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have satisfied himself as to the condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment solely. The seller shall and will make every reasonable effort to disclose any known defects at the buyer’s request prior to the close of the auction. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs regardless of any written or oral statements about the vehicle. Being a classic car in excess of 10 years of age, in mostUSstates, the mileage may be recorded as “exempt”. In this regard the seller makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown and accepts no responsibility for any discrepancy with independent reports such as Carfax, AutoCheck, etc.In this regard the seller makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the mileage indicated or shown. I can hold the vehicle up to 30 days while you arrange shipping but you must immediately insure it. I will not bear any responsibility for any additional costs including storage, transportation, or repair after the close of the auction. Whereas I am happy to store the car in excess of 30 days from auction end, a cost of $35 per day shall apply beyond 30 days of auction end. Also, you must remember that this is a classic +/-47 year old vehicle, and while it is up to you, I do not recommend that you just “hop in and drive it across the country”until you have familiarised yourself with the car. At least, I have never done that. I have always professionally transported the cars in enclosed carriers from where I bought them to my home.
PLEASE; IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ABIDE BY THESE TERMS, CONTACT ME BEFORE YOU CONTEMPLATE DOING SO AS, RESPECTFULLY, THERE CAN BE NO EXCEPTIONS.
I am sorry if these terms seem harsh but there seem to be some very unrealistic buyers out there - fortunately, only few of these people exist but those that do can make life difficult, so it appears EVERYTHING needs to spelled out. Very simply put, this is an old car being offered for sale. It is not new and is subject to the perils of age. Further, Rolls-Royces are not without nuances, idiosyncrasies and they are renown for a host of design issues which can make them not inexpensive to maintain. This is well documented in many circles. You need to be a special and considerate type of purchaser to own a Rolls-Royce. Their down-side is part of the fun in owning them! As the old saying goes; "we love to hate them and hate to love them!" So, please respect the terms and conditions when you bid.
~~oo00oo~~
VALUES: Rolls-Royce values vary wildly, entirely dependent on their condition. There are, of course, other aspects that add or subtract from their values – Long Wheel Base versus regular, the year which dictated certain technical changes, etc. The colour alone, for example can make a big difference. So for the benefit of new-comers to the marque please see the approximate guide to values based on a particular model below. Please remember, these are “plus-or-minus” figures:
Year: 1970-1973
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: Corniche Convertible
Show car: $100,000+
Exceptional: $60-100,000
Excellent: $50-60,000
Good: $40-50,000
Average: $30-40,000
Fair: $20-30,000
Basket case: < $20,000
Hopefully this will provide a reference point for the Rolls-Royce being featured in this listing as it compares to the range of different condition examples.Please note, a very poor condition example that is tired and not maintained can easily demand some $30,000 in restoration to make it a "nice" example but remember, it will be no longer original. So don't be fooled by "cheap buys". For any specific questions about this unique example of a Rolls-Royce, please do not hesitate to contact me.
According to the London based investment research firm; Historic Automobile Group International, classic cars have appreciated on average, 13% per year since 1980, whilst overall stock values averaged an 11% gain over the same period. The following graph charts the value of collectible cars vs. the S&P500.
