1979 Rolls-Royce Corniche
Classic Auto Mall
6180 Morgantown Road
Morgantown, PA
610|901|3804
MILEAGE
75000
YEAR
1979
ENGINE
8
LOCATION
Morgantown, PA
STOCK
6518
FULL SPECS
DESCRIPTION
1979 Rolls-Royce Corniche Fixed Head Coupe
For consignment, a 1979 Roll-Royce Corniche, a Fixed Head Coupe, or FHC. This coupe version of the Corniche is rarer than the convertible as production on FHC\'s ended in 1982 while the convertibles continued to be built through 1996. Per our consignor, this car spent most of its life in California.
Exterior
The car is finished in Porcelain White paint, a respray of approximately 20 years ago on a straight body and still gleaming today. A legendary grille takes center stage, flanked by dual round headlights in a chrome housing complete with a Rolls-Royce logo badge on each side. The hood is set back, between elegantly rising fenders and featuring contoured body lines that go from the edge of the grille to the back corner of the hood. Naturally, the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament presents with flawless perfection in line with the condition of the chrome and other front metal work on the car. The stately profile features a roofline with defined corners and a vertical C-pillar and rear window. Amazing door handles run parallel to the metal body trim piece over the rocker panels and a thin, pinstripe on the waistline accentuates the slight rise of the shoulder line of the car. 15-inch wheel covers bear the Rolls-Royce logo and twin exhaust pipes, slightly fluted, exit subtly from the back. Imperfections were limited to one paint bubble very low on the car.
Interior
The original Biscuit Connolly leather wraps the interior and blends with dark burlwood throughout, beginning on the door panel, robust and elegant material assemblages that include a plush carpet footer and chrome metal controls. Nothing but full bodied padding and plush leather on the front bucket seats as well, showing a bit of patina with hairline creases in the hide, while the rear bench is immaculate and adorned with armrests, head restraints, lighters, and ashtrays. Lacquered wood glistens on the dash where it surrounds gauges, light panel, and ignition port as well as vents, and covers the glove box and lower dash panel. There is no cracking in the glaze, no hazing or broken pieces and our consignor states this has been refinished to Rolls-Royce standards, and it shows. A leather wrapped storage box sits between the seats while the center stack features a Kenwood AM/FM/Cassette radio. As always, ultra plush brown carpet adorns the floor and in more casual circumstances we might say \"toe deep,\" and a quality almost as high end lines the trunk, walls and all, in brown carpet with tan piping. Wool from the luckiest of English countryside sheep is used on the headliner and visors, which are in immaculate condition.
Drivetrain
Pulling the bonnet forward, we find a very clean engine bay including the insulation pads on the bonnet itself. It\'s here we find the 6.75 liter V8 fed by 2 SU carburetors producing 170 horsepower that is routed through a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission which terminates at the rear axle with 3.07 gears. Power assisted disc brakes are equipped at all four wheels.
Undercarriage
Driver quality conditions prevail underneath where surface rust is present in typical areas. Most notably, there are areas of visible oil that includes caked quantities on a crossmember, oil sling around the pinion gear, some on the steering rack and boot, residual oil on the driver\'s side of the tunnel along with blowback on the heat shield over the left exhaust pipe. The dual exhaust meets stock style mufflers before exiting out back. Independent suspension includes rear coil springs and the Spirit/Spur series mineral oil hydraulics.
Drive-Ability
If the floors weren\'t covered with Wilton floor rugs, you could hear a pin drop in the car, even with the engine running. Truly the lap of luxury, the seats and environs are so relaxing, you almost don\'t want to be the driver. That said, around the loop we go to test functionality and are pleased to find most everything works as it should. The high beams are not functioning and that seems to be an issue with the switch itself. The brake fluid light is on the dash. Beyond that, jolly good test results, old chap! While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Porsche already coined the ad phrase, there is no substitute. But Rolls could have easily and confidently employed that line for their brand. Quality is still measured by Rolls-Royce standards to this day and try as they may, it\'s difficult to match the hand picked and hand prepared materials that go into these hand built automobiles. The grille has been copied a thousand times, but there\'s simply no substitute for the real thing. He\'s a fine example of a Corniche I with all the elegance you\'d expect. So pick up the horn, the blower, the dog and bone, and call
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