In general, the Rolls-Royce Silver Spur of the 1970s is not the most sought-after collector car. This is partially its own fault, but more to do with the legions of owners who thought they could own a highline luxury car on a budget. The Corniche – the lesser seen convertible version – seems to have skirted the dregs of used car ownership to remain sought after and with strong values. This 1989 Corniche has average miles and driver-quality cosmetics but is pulling close to $40,000 here on eBay in a no-reserve auction.
The Corniche is a very pretty design. I find – in general – well-designed convertibles almost always have strong values, simply owing to the fact that so many convertible conversions are not all that attractive. The two-door body is also a great look for a Rolls-Royce of this vintage, certainly far better-looking than the four-door. The deep green paint over parchment interior, combined with that handsome woodgrain dash, is the icing on the cake.
Wow! You cannot beat a Rolls-Royce for opulence, seemingly no matter the vintage. Oftentimes, in beater-grade examples, the interior wood is a major source of restoration costs as it inevitably has perished, so it’s just an annoyance. But when you see a car like this with seemingly excellent wood trim, it’s a source of pride. This Corniche has 112,000 miles on the clock but it certainly doesn’t look like it, aside from some creases in the leather.
The seller notes there are no issues with the top or the windows, and that the car runs and drives without issues. There’s no denying that the operating costs of a car like this are an absolute factor in ownership, so even with the impressive condition for a driver, you’re still going to have to allocate accordingly. The good news is a high-mileage car that’s been loved usually has been kept up with, which likely helps to explain the strong bidding here.
Well written. This is a Corniche II, and was the flagship (most expensive product) when new. It is a 34 year old car, owned by three folks, so you don’t need to embrace the angst of other commenters. It was the premium car from a premium maker. The seller gets extra points for making it available for viewing.
The steering wheel looks like it came off a ’74 Vega. 40K? That’s mental.
I was thinking the same thing. Rolls Royce steering wheels are so UN-luxurious looking, and have had the same plain, basic look for many years. I think that’s an epic fail on an otherwise impressively-built car.
There are many blazai things on high end cars. The steering wheel is fancier in my 87 Caprice..lol
FYI: The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur, and Sprit were introduced in late 1980 as 1981cars. This beautiful Corniche in Brewster green over tobacco leather doesv have Spur seats. Some had the ritzy gold-down picnic trays. Our late great Queen Elizabeth2, and her son King Charles III have been known to travel by Rolls-Royce, and they were/are not “douche bags.” The Queen’s favorite private car was a c1971 Rover 3500/V8. Princess Grace was driving a similar car before her tragic, premature crash and death.
And slightly off topic, King Charles III (when he was a Prince) owned an MGC.
Does the definition of what constitutes ” douchebagism ” not depend upon which school one went to , Gavin ?
One school of thought maintains they’re a mob of privileged , inbred parasites……. In any case , I don’t think travelling in a R-R constitutes douchebagism unless the person’s nostrils are at a bad angle . But then , who would do that in ANY convertible unless the top was up , but that would defeat the purpose , wouldn’t it ?
OK Purple, which Iacocca book specifically? Thanks.
I couldn’t respond to your post about the men and women that have served this country in order to keep our freedoms because there is no reply option on it. I am a vet and take our freedoms very seriously and am sick and tired of the leaders in this country that don’t respect our military members and their families, they only care about the lobbyist that pay them to do what the 1% and the large corporations want. I’m also sick of the cowards that were too scared to serve this country but now they all wear camouflage fatigues and claim to be patriot soldiers. They are cowards and loudmouths. I’m sure this will also be deleted because it’s the truth.
Your original post was pretty toxic, Purple, that’s probably why it got taken down. Your other posts are pretty bitter as well. Just saying. This is a place for people interested in cars, not Marxist Theory and class struggle.
Decent folk drive Toyotas.
I really think a 24 carat gold-plated Toyota would be more offensive to more people than someone driving what many people would consider the best engineered and best finished car of all time. I am low income, but I can still appreciate the finer things in life. This is why the 10th Commandment exists. But in my younger days I repeatedly broke this Commandment when I coveted men who had really great women for girlfriends and wives.
I take offense to your prejudgemental remarks and worse yet claiming one’s intentions for having certain things. If your self esteem is that low to knock another man’s achievements then that’s a fault you need to correct and work on. I happen to own a few super cars along with a few collector cars. That I worked for. So shame on you for criticizing another person assets just because you have low value.
Couldn’t have said it any better, Purple defender’s glass is always half empty!
Purple D.
Seems that you’re bitterly painting all folks with a pretty broad brush.
Yes, the economy is downright harsh and oppressive currently, but I could take your first sentence or two and apply it to most of the car buying world today.
Not saying they didnt go unto debt in doing so back then, but what’s “truly being said” about the motivation of the guy who had and dropped $200k on a Rolls like this compared to the many “average people” today going into debt to the tune of $500-$800 a month for 60-84 months on a $70-$100k latest gotta have pick-up truck on a $40-$50k income?
Beautiful, and ever so British.
Dudley Moore drove one in “Arthur”.
Sounds like you have a hard time accepting your life did not work out as you would have liked.
Boy, OH, Boy, toxic here on this poor Brit. Well I like these but not the convertible for the simple reason that when the top is down, the car isn’t as clean as a 61 to 67 Lincoln or the 71 to 76 big GMs. I would like the 4 door and will have one at some point. Now true car story. I rescued a wrecked 78 Lincoln convertible from a junkyard in 1995. The car is an Andy Hotten conversion. A very nice running car that took a hard T-bone to the left side and ultimately landed in a guard rail on the right. 3 months of work turned out a super straight, super nice car. It is one of my favorites by far. Years later I walk out of a store and behind my Lincoln is a white Rolls convertible with tan leather simular to the Lincoln’s interior color. There’s an older fella walking around the Lincoln and as I walk up he says I’m sorry I am not doing anything to the car just admiring it. He then says was this car black at one time and replied yes, “I redid it in two tone green with a hartzcloth tan roof”. He then says HOW, I looked at him puzzled. He then says this car was destroyed in an accident and I couldn’t find anyone that would fix it and I reluctantly gave it to a junkyard. I said we’ll this is your old car. It was black and wrecked and I rescued it from the junkyard and did all the work myself.He bought the Rolls to replace the Lincoln. He couldn’t find another Lincoln convertible to replace his. He had bought my car new and told me all about it. He also said the Lincoln was a better car than the Rolls as it never gave him a problem. That guy said some of the nicest things to me that day. We must have bs for two hours. Not everyone with these are snobs, in fact I have had several friends over the years with them and eccentric falls more into the category than snob. Ride on people.
I love it! I’d love driving around in it. I never go thru the drive thru window but if I had that, I would.
It’s funny that you mention a drive through because in the 1980’s I owned a mobile electronics business and the owner of a beautiful (white with red leather interior) Rolls Corniche Convertible had his butler bring the car in for a K40 Radar Detecter System and the butler asked if I would like to drive the Rolls a bit and I drove with him to McDonald’s and went through the drive through and that car drew every worker to the drive through window. I could resist asking for “The Grey Poupon Mustard” at the window. Good times.
I had another interesting encounter while working on Mike Tyson’s Purple Lamborghini but that’s another story.
Typo- I could not resist asking for Grey Poupon Mustard.
You’re a bitter boy, aren’t you?
I like it. 😬
Needs a Big Block Chevy conversion.
Only if you wanted to destroy a perfectly good Rolls Royce motor car would you want to do that to knock 95% off it’s current value!
I understand Purple’s comments – to a degree. However, there are those of us who truly have a love of fine automobiles, and are really not trying to impress others. It makes me feel proud that I can be in a position, which I feel that I have earned, to both afford and enjoy the hobby of collecting, and restoring, and occasionally driving my cars for my own enjoyment of fine automobiles. I admire my cars, which give me a feeling of the self worth, just as giving help to those that I feel are in need of my help and concern, give me that same feeling. Stereotyping people is always a mistake….
I remember when owning a Ferrari was something to aspire to. A dream, a goal, something to Work towards for the car enthusiast. Then came the “Divider in Chief” and his ilk setting Americans against each other with stoked hatred for the “1%” (who pay the majority of the taxes by the way). Now if you drive a Ferrari Purple Defender is right- you get flipped off, rocks thrown at you or maybe even your car spray painted or trampled on.
I have worked with people who have made it big by working hard and people who have very little because they didn’t and are jealous of those who did.
I had a friend who asked if he should buy a Mercedes because some people might resent his success. I advised him that as a per cent of income, it was no more than a Chevy or Ford for other people. He bought it, totaled it out in a wreck and walked away. Cheap insurance.
On the other hand, boys toys can be very expensive even for those who didn’t make it big.
There are no U-hauls in a funeral procession so enjoy all you can, life is short.
A bit harsh, don’t you think? Not sure what happened to you to have such a negative view of folks who think this Rolls is a very cool ride. I have been through tough times as well as good times but I don’t take it out on the autos.
Take it out on the politicians, bureaucrats, educators, and finance folks.
If you have the bucks to maintain this Rolls, you will have a hell of a ride!
Sounds like sour grapes to me. Did you ever think that some people just like the finer things in life. If you can afford it there should be no reason you can’t have it.
Sorry life hasn’t worked out for you.
Comment from someone who purchased a Corniche II new and drove to 100K miles..I just finished reading all the comments.. and they all speak the truth as seen by the writer. I can attest that in December 1985 when I took delivery of my 1986 Corniche II it was in Florida and I was quite young in my early 20’s..yes I had a new Ferrari and several Porsche’s.. (Dad was on Forbes- you can hate me).. I loved that Rolls and kept it until 911 happened..at that time I was living in France and had the Rolls at my home in Los Angeles, I flew back a few weeks after 911 hit and started driving my Rolls.. it was terrible.. I have olive skin a mixture and boy did I get Racially profiled as a middle eastern terrorist..people were yelling at me and trying to run me off the road.. (no fun)..I put the car up for sale and sold it.. drove my 911 turbo with tinted windows and never had a problem again. Today in 2023 I own simple cars for daily drivers (toyota’s/ honda’s)..I still have a Bentley but stopped driving it last year when a guy put a gun to my head.. in the end I love cars I don’t drive them to show people I have money or status.. I just love them..today classic cars are what I own and drive.. you can drive them anywhere and people don’t get “angry”..I chuckle when I go on bring a trailer and see a Dino for example sell for 300k and someone comments “I would drive it daily”.. I have a dino.. try taking it out of the garage..someone will try to jack you in two minutes.it’s just not the environment to own certain cars.. will it ever change?.. who knows.. I would love to go buy a Rolls Royce Ghost but could I drive it?.. Not today, in this environment.. nah not worth it..I don’t even want a Tesla.. I will take a 10yr old toyota all day long.. I can drive anywhere no one even looks at me..
You need to move if you would get carjacked in minutes. I have no problems driving my more exotic collector cars.
Around here, potential carjackers have a better than even chance of being left dead on the road. Plus, we just don’t have the scumbag problems.
Carnut – Thats because you live in L.A., and that is precisely why after being born there and living there for 66 years, I gave up and relocated to another state. Growing up in S. CA was a fantastic time, but now not so much.
Hey, I want a Tesla! It would look great next to my 59 Caddy. I had a fine gentleman that wanted my car at one time. Yup I lived in one of this country’s great cities, so I gave it to him…..just not the way he wanted. Yeah, I took a chance but that was one windshield and paint blend I enjoyed doing. If you live in fear, fear will consume you. piss on have nots, Enjoy the your accomplishments. I’ll be darn if I will live in a prison because of miserable individuals. Just wait until the climate clowns start gluing their hands to these awful cars. The one that picks one of mine better be good at track and field…
My neighbor has one of these , what a piece of junk. It never stops leaking oil . He tried for a year or so to unload he finally sold it to a broker at a big loss.
I still like it. But I’m still poor, so…
16 Candles
Geez….. it’s just a car. Nice? Yes. Expensive? Yes. Does it vote or run for office? No.
I really think this is beauty! Where would I drive it? Every damn where I please and I would enjoy the ride!!
Didn’t see that comment.
This is a site where BARN FINDS are discussed, not political foul ups over many years. We all support anybody and everybody that has served in the armed forces and are truly grateful but this is not the site on which to have arguments on how America is governed.
Sold, for 40k. Gret deal for the buyer, still wish it ‘twere me.😡
If I the extra cash I’d buy it in instant. Put the horn on from Caddy Shack, get custom plates with Chervk1 and work on replicating Rodney’s outfits