Bentley Corniche Coupe Road Test - The Forgotten Luxury Classic!

[@martinclapton2724]

This is what Rolls Royce and Bentley , as made in Crewe, were about. Sheer class.

[@brookesivo]

I was so fortunate to own A 1979 RR corniche fixed head coupe , stunning nothing comes close to such a rare beautiful coach built car . I always said these are rolling Art . I miss it tremendously. The new BMW Rolls will never come as close to these

[@ranjanaluwihare1511]

How lovely, true motoring at its best! Wonderful with understated elegance!

[@commandertopgun]

These are so beautiful & stunning classic works of art, words are impossible to describe them, on my bucket list.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

Very smart and lovely to see being driven and enjoyed.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

That’s utterly gorgeous! Must admit, I’d have a Bentley over an RR any day. Ironically one of my favourite Corgi models was an RR Corniche!

[@tomcat7525]

Beautiful colour combination, fabulous condition. 👍

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

It really is!

[@georgeskiener7709]

All the information given shows an excellent knowledge of the marques

[@Ashfielder]

This would be the daily driver option in my dream 3 car garage.

[@marcusott2973]

I'd have a Lancia Flaminia PF coupe taking up this position, but I completely understand your sentiment. 3 car garage is a good idea, I've got a friend with 8 cars, doesn't use any one of them enough.

[@simonnorcliffe5877]

Absolutely stunning 😊 i used to own a silver shadow and a silver spirit. On the look out for another one in the next year or so 😊

[@roygardiner2229]

Thanks for a truly memorable review. I am no car expert and don't own a car. But I know excellence when I see it. I adore this car ♥.

[@walterplant2957]

As a very young man my partner saw a fixed head two door Shadow ; he couldn’t believe a car could cost that much . Many years late he was able to buy a Bentley Continental R . Twenty plus years later it’s still with us . And anyone who thinks the coach built cars are the same as the regular cars is mistaken in my opinion

[@berwhaletheavenger]

Now that is proper. No VW stuff there! The Mulliner Park Ward versions like this were a masterful rework of the slightly odd looking James Young 2 door Shadow. The MPW Corniche and Camargue are my two ultimate Rolls Royces. Nice review.

[@Bod8998]

Stunning motor

[@BobBentley-cn8fy]

The total production of this model in 1974 was four cars only. Built by HJ Mulliner with the assistance of Park Ward, these cars are rarer than the 1950's Mulliner fastback, and extremely more usable.

[@robertlloyd7493]

Thanks Keith 😊

[@garryhulme2125]

Parked between an X5 and a Q7 they do look small. That's progress.

[@Treviscoe]

Lovely car that one.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Yes indeed!

[@stephen9869]

I'd be tempted to put a Turbo R engine and gearbox in one :P

[@mrjohncharlesbrown]

I own a 1973 Mulliner Park Ward Corniche 2 door Saloon in Boudreaux it cost £14,000 new

[@markhooper1352]

How lovely! I have a '76 Shadow, therefore wonder what the Corniche must be like in comparison to drive. I have always assumed better again. Judging by this great driving video they must be. I'd love to know if other owners who have experienced both can comment? SSII naturally is a different experience again, I refer to the 1st series cars.

[@albertperks3476]

Noticed the dials have the Bentley logo not RR as is usual - was that part of the restoration. RR did try to come up with their own self-levelling suspension, I understand they spent a small fortune but could not better that from Citroen so licensed the technology.

[@jajamuc]

This is a Bentley.

[@andrewthacker114]

Beautiful car

[@garethhanna9173]

I would happily waft around like Lord Snooty in that, proper motor car.

[@ruk2023--]

Is that true about the suspension? I always thought these early corniches were Pre-Citroen and ran on coils. And by always thought I of course meant googled a hunch.

[@alexanderstefanov6474]

The silver shadow platform always incorporated modified Citroen hydraulic suspension

[@alexandrecouture2462]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think all Shadow-Corniche-Spirit, well, Rolls-Royces from 60s to 1998 or so have coil spring suspension, but the hydraulics are there to assist the shocks, so not completely like a Citroen DS, but more of an hybrid.

[@ivanfernyhough3851]

​@@alexandrecouture2462that is completely correct.👍

[@coocool67]

I prefer the shadow as doors are shorter and thus more practical to park. Also the finishings of the front windows on the inner side in the corniche are ugly because of the difference on 1 cm in level on both sides of the glass.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

The 2 door coach built car is more elegant, better constructed with greater attention to detail as you would expect for the considerable additional cost. I'm always amused by how small and light Shadow front doors are, but it does make them easier to get in and out of.

[@BobBentley-cn8fy]

You do not go supermarket shopping in a Corniche.

[@rjdavies1982]

Lovely looking motor and definitely a cut above the usual Shadda

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

They were a lot more expensive too.

[@EvanBarr-uk3vk]

Would like to see a power curve with torque and hp.

[@fasthracing]

Father had a Wraith with coachwork by Hooper back in the day. Parents P/X a Renault 4 in against it.

[@stephanfourie6879]

Could you plz explain the Wraith to me ? What was the difference between the SS and the Wraith? All i know is that princess margaret had one. Many thanks

[@fasthracing]

@@stephanfourie6879 My father's was I think about a 1952 Wraith. almost exactly the same as one that appeared in one of the more recent James Bond films. the one where JB and female side kick is picked up in a desert and driven to a base.

[@stephanfourie6879]

@@fasthracing thanx for replying,i really appreciate. what i think is that the wraith of margaret was basically a long wheel base of the ahadow

[@fasthracing]

@@stephanfourie6879 RR reused the name Wraith it would appear.

[@LesterLovesWatches]

So what kind of mpg would you be looking at as you waft at three digit speeds to your villa in the south of France?

[@htimsid]

What is 'mpg'?

[@brianw289]

8-10 if you're lucky.

[@ianbower7756]

Hydraulic suspension? Hydro-pneumatic surely?

[@anastassiosperakis2869]

Beautiful exterior design, great restoration. Not much of a driver's car though, despite the 'personal coupe' styling. Not only because of the (barely) adequate HP, but more because of the poor handling.

[@User-wollswoycegawage]

The 75 is the one

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

The nicest car is always the one. I have a 75 Bentley T.

[@User-wollswoycegawage]

@@jjefferyworboys8138 I also have a 75 lwb that model from mid 74 untill 77 But in the corniche the best one is the 75 because has the round rear arches and nice dash Pre 75 doesn't have the round rear arches Post 75 has the series 2 type dashboard So in my opinion the 75 corniche is the best ones nicest rear arches and dash Look at Garry mavers classic obsession his is a 75

[@ThePaulpope]

You want a rare car ...get a Bentley Fixed head Mineral oil car from 80/81

[@brianw289]

Yep, but you'll get a Solex carb that won't perform well and a digital clock on the dash.

[@ThePaulpope]

@@brianw289 17 built in total.....No Solex cars imported to the USA ....

[@axeljacobs9723]

I’ll take the Cloud 3 over this Bentley! Sorry, just a personal Preference. ✌️

[@TG-pd3ft]

Really off putting thin and plastic steering wheel - looks so cheap and nasty. I can see why the guy can barely bring himself to touch it.

[@axeljacobs9723]

There’s nothing more expensive Than a cheap RR/Bentley!🤣😂