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Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible


Full name

Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (based on the series II).
The Corniche convertible based on the Silver Shadow series I carries the name Corniche convertible too but is shown on another page.

 

Production

- Production years: from 1977 up to and including 1987, in the US up to and including 1985
- Production number: 2.017
- Percentage of the complete production: 4,9%

 

Chassisnumbers

1977 - 1980
- The first character of the chassisnumber of every Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (series II) is a D and the second is a R.
- The right-hand drive Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (series II) has on the third position always a H, the left-hand drive has a X, F, G, K or L.
- Examples: DRH32947 and DRL50756.
- The first Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (series II) is DRH30003, the last one is DRH35878.
- In 1979 some technical modifications were effected that were marked with chassisnumbers above 50000. The first one is DRH50003 and the last one is DRH50757.

1981 - 1987
- The Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (series II) was added to the chassisnumber system of 17 positions. The first chassisnumber of the Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible (series II, 17 digits) is
SCAYD0009BCH01557. The last American Corniche convertible is SCAZD42A8FCX10366 (1985); the last Corniche convertible for other markets is SCAZD0001HCH21668 (1987).

 

What makes this model unique

- Two doors
- Black rubber bumpers
- Special Corniche wheel covers
- Fog lights in the front (not on the American cars)
- Rectangular reversing lights
- Twin exhaust
- Uplifted waistline above the rear wheelarch
- Modified, lower rear side (with regard to the 4-door saloon)
- Electrical convertible top
- No side trim strip
- Identification plate "CORNICHE" on the boot lid (so not Corniche II)
- From 1979 onwards, mineral oil and a modified undercarriage

 

Further details and special features

- The Corniche convertible could also be delivered with a two-tone paint scheme.
- From mid 1979 the Corniche got an important modification that was introduced officially only on the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur (late 1980). The rear suspension was modified and the hydraulic system was prepared for mineral oil. These Corniches got a chassisnumber in the 50000-series.
- In 1985 the B-pillar was lengthened through which the safety belts could be better reached.





In 1985 finally a solution was offered for the hardly reachable safety belts in the 2-door convertible. Especially for that the B-pillar was lengthened.
Picture: the SCAZD42A8FCX10285 from 1985.



Standard on this Corniche convertible are the Corniche wheel covers and the black rubber bumpers. Because this car is an American copy it has no air dam and no fog lights. The car has a two-tone paint scheme.
Picture: the DRF30829 from 1977.



The Corniche convertible of the series II is called Corniche and not Corniche II. The only thing that points out that this is a series II is the twin exhaust.
Picture: the DRF30829 from 1977.



The Corniche convertible of the 50000-series can be recognised by a spread twin exhaust.
Picture: the DRK50134 from 1979.



The Corniche convertible based on the Silver Shadow could still be bought after the introduction of the Silver Spirit (1980).
Picture: the SCAZD42A3DCX06741 from 1983.



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