Rolls-Royce Corniche A/C & Interior Upgrade | Classic Obsession | Episode 36

Gary gets started on a list of jobs he wants to do to upgrade his Rolls-Royce Corniche. First he decides to take the leap and fits a new air conditioning system, before moving onto the interior and the windows. He also drops into to see a friend Dr Malcom Frazer Cox, to check out his 1985 Corniche convertible and take it for a drive.
Created with the support of Footman James, classic vehicle insurance specialists and founders of
Coffee and Chrome Collective: www.footmanjames.co.uk/
Created with the support of IntroCar, International Rolls-Royce and Bentley Parts Specialists:
www.introcar.com/
Use code “MAVERS” for site wide discount on Rolls-Royce and Bentley parts.
Air Conditioning Compressor Upgrade Kit:
www.introcar.com/air-conditio...
Suction Throttle Valve Kit:
www.introcar.com/kit-suction-...
Leather/vinyl paint product available from:
www.kolorbond.co.uk/

[@kurtbrueske]

Gary you’re always inspiring when taking on various jobs…you help us be more inclined to take on projects after seeing you do things. Cars are a system of systems…broken down into individual components, things can be fixed and restored given patience, the right tools and good references…thanks for all you do!

[@jesselepooh]

my apologies, i will think in future before i leave a comment,

[@grayfool]

The rear window mechanism is a perfect example of the over enginerring of these cars. Incredible.

[@davidcooks5265]

Even with an exhaust leak it's still quite!

[@edtaxi351]

Gary you drove past my old school in Parkgate love your videos from Brisbane Aust cheers

[@lawrencelieberman2278]

My favorite RR to date. I took a new 1985 Black w Red Connolly Corniche (US LHD) to my High school Prom. Best evening ever. Sticker on this car in 1985 was 164K. You never forget the Connolly aroma. Of course, my Girlfriend was so mad as the 90% humidity in South Texas was miserable and the top was down the entire night. During your video drive, brings back 38 years like it was yesterday....

[@JulianMerghart]

Gary is the first person to ever divulge this trade secret on video - as far as I know. Thank you for that generosity because no one was willing to say what product they used!

[@jerehada]

Amazing you don’t get red trousers.

[@davidadams007]

The Corniche is a real beauty

[@davidthegolfer]

Gary, really passionate voice overs on The Open broadcasts. Thank you for creating THAT wonderful atmosphere, every day. David

[@blxtothis]

Ok so the ‘Traditionalists’ look down their noses at the Shadow generation Rollers as not being “real Rolls Royces” but I love the styling and the Corniche variant is particularly elegant, lovely motors.

[@johnbennett7509]

Gary, many thanks for the excellent content. I own two Jag V12 Series 3's, one MGB 1972 roadster anď a 1958 Massey Ferguson 35 tractor. I really enjoy the care and attention you take with your beautiful classics. As others are commenting, you provide an excellent source of inspiration. Regards John Bennett

[@Simon-ry1lw]

That red Lotus in the background 😊

[@classic.obsession]

Hi Simon. Catch up on the earlier episodes when I first purchase it, regards.

[@axeljacobs9723]

You Are doing a real thorough job on your Corniche restoration! So happy to see, and even helping other Corniche owners with theirs! Can’t wait to see your next Corniche upload! A real treat! Thanks for the upload!👍😊😀

[@bigwu100]

Seems very straight forward working on the rolls.

[@scottmclennan6114]

That Intracar stuff is great Gary. No messing around, just bolt it in and go.

[@observations2011]

I'm a new subscriber and I really like your videos. Very well made and informative. I'm from Manila and there are people here restoring their Benz. I have my 190E. With the growing middle class here I'm sure many are starting to watch your videos.

[@martinboulden4388]

That’s a challenging colour scheme on the 1985 Corniche but a fabulous video. Thank you. ❤

[@classic.obsession]

I’ll be back on the Gt in August. I promise. Regards.

[@martinboulden4388]

@@classic.obsession I am chuffed you remembered my past comment. I find the Rolls Royce content fascinating too my dad bought one new back in 1980, he past away 25 years ago and I’ve been trying to track it down to buy it back and repeat our first family holiday abroad in France and Spain ! In it’s later years of ownership with my dad, Mr Keeble from Gordon Keeble used to service and repair it from his workshop in Titchfield, Hampshire. Keep well and look forward to future content.

[@classic.obsession]

That’s amazing. The Gordon keeble! My favourite car. I’ve been trying to purchase one in terrible disrepair from a long term owner for years now. Fingers crossed. Would be great for the channel..

[@neilharrison7555]

A nice balalnce of fun and maintenance. The red seats looked pretty good after their treatment. And yes, a nice cool car in the summer is lovely!

[@margaretbehler4935]

You really made those seats look nice. The blue and red combo is one of my favorite.

[@SuperWayneyb]

Thank you Gary, I bloody love your videos 🤘😎🤘

[@markw4263]

It’s fun to watch (someone else…) do that sort of thing. I used to crazy stuff like that too, but I got treatment…. Good job, though, Gary, it will keep you young!

[@alancrisp1582]

Not to mention save you a very large amount of money 💵, the more work you can do yourself !..Although not always possible 🙆.

[@jf8315]

Great episode Gaz! The newer AC ‘sanden’ compressor will be more efficient and take less power to run than the older GM Harrison style unit. That’s a good upgrade mate you’ll notice the difference for sure. Just a few observations on your mates Corniche II. It looks way to low in the front. The front ride height is way down. This is usually because springs are shagged out. It should be like yours and have a few inches clearance between the top of the tyre and the front fender. In that cars case there is no clearance. Sometimes you can get away with putting some shims in to give some height but I’d say it’s well past this now and needs new springs ….how did it drive compared to yours Gaz? It looked ok but probably needs a fair bit of money spent on it to bring right back to immaculate. That corniche being and 85, will be running LMHO braking and have the Spirit suspension and steering systems. FYI RR used the 4 barrel solex carb to get some more HP out of the top of the range cars ie Corniche and yes Camargue. The thinking was you were paying double and triple the price of a shadow or spirit so they better perform better. When set up right the corniche and Camargue are about 10% more powerful than the engines running twin SUs. Did you know the first Bentley Turbo Mulsanne had a solex carb! It was put in a pressure chest ontop of the engine it looks terrific but it wasn’t the most reliable system…. The under bonnet heat and tricky setup used to warp the manifold plates and cause fuel leaks ….. thankfully by 1987 all our cars had EFI world wide though some countries had EFI from 1980.

[@classic.obsession]

Great info. Many thanks.

[@WheelchairWonders]

A couple of weeks ago I drove down Parkgate in my Rover P6 and thought how lovely the place was.. Many thanks for sharing this great video Gary.. (Phil - Lancashire)

[@stevedavies4299]

Gary mate , another great video, long live petrol

[@user-bo1yg3im5q]

Lovely music!

[@295walk]

Great video and takes me back .I remember,And it must of been 1985 era being 8years old , 2 of the blue cars in your video parked outside a standard 3 bed semi in my local area (Keith Way) of Southend On sea , CCTV also . Anyone else remember them? Did i spot some holograms on the bonnet , We cant be having that Gary 😃 Keep up the great work look forward to the next thank-you .

[@j14phe]

Gary allways a pleasure thought you were going to sing when you said a bit of improv brilliant allways good listening to two people who know the car's inside out. John

[@user-vm3tk6uj3s]

Hi gary great vid on all the work you do on your cars a little tip on your car a/c unit so as you will always know the system is fully charged fit a sight glass then if you start to lose gas you will see small bubbles in your sight glass a clear glass is a full system not many people do this but those in the know do all best mate.

[@jamesaherne2779]

Im learning from your videos, and the music is nice 👌

[@BMan100]

getting a work out to be cool afterwards...guess it's the Theme with these cars. " Ah just put it there for now"... then totally different place on another... shift changes..

[@andicog]

Can you imagine that rear window runner on something modern? It would be nylon running on a piece of steel channel , old fashioned engineering, I worked on a couple of RR Silver wraiths back in the 90's , I was in my 30's and just didn't get the way they were built, now I'm nearly 60 and I get it! Looking forward to the next episode with Cameron Lunt, remember them in Lark Lane, they were in the old Rushton Garage building.

[@simonnorcliffe5877]

Hi Gary, excellent videos the Rolls Royce are absolute class. I used to own a 1976 silver shadow and also had a 1981 silver spirit. Definitely 😊looking for another one in a year or two. Keep up the excellent work 😊😊

[@tim205Mi]

Another great video, great format and always so calming to watch in this mad manic world we live in…… perfect, keep em coming 👍🍺

[@douglasgreen437]

I would convert that to chrome bumpers...

[@rosewood1]

Great video. I used Leatherque products on my Shadow. Very good products. Perfect colour match. Leather needs feeding and maintenance. Great job. The Rolls really require deep periodic maintenance. But no one else builds a ball bearing window lift mechanism. Mad but brilliant. With servicing it will last for ever! Great episode.

[@kenlord9018]

Thanks Gary for another great video, great way to start a Monday morning in NZ Take care now. 😊

[@Erwinhooi]

Great episode! My old neighbor had a black Corniche which he used for weddings!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻I remember the distributor with nine connections because I knew the Audi V8 used two distributors with 5 connections each. Awesome to have a look under the hood of the Corniche!

[@eddylauterback1312]

UK's mechanic with the nicest hair, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Never a hair out place. Plus no mineral oil on it from being under those old Rolls.

[@joshxkerrigan]

About to tackle some repairs on my 221 series Mercedes S class and I hope to achieve the level of peace & serenity you seem to have during your projects. I actually need my window repaired too, but Mercedes use special software to reprogram it. Even though it consists of less than 10 minutes of work, the special software isn't available for normal people like me. Sadly there's no sense in replacing a part that doesn't need a repair, just a reprogram, so I'm off to see an MB specialist with the software.

[@simonelliott5956]

Really enjoyed that, especially the Connolising, you made it look easy Gary!

[@martinclapton2724]

Another great episode of practical skills and advice

[@drmikettx4325]

Love the videos - from a displaced Brit in Houston.

[@rayborg7378]

You never fail to amaze me.Its the attention to detail the care of someone who first hand in what he does.I had an aircon fixed on Mercedes it took quite some weeks a heft bill and middle of the road order.was the result.

[@malfunction8165]

God save us from EVs.

[@rosewood1]

No need. If the Chinese keep building exploding EVs the revolution will be dead in 5 years. People really don't like their garages exploding! Already many buildings are banning EV scooters!

[@alancrisp1582]

😱 No God save us old classic car owners, from the greedy evil 😈 government Tax_Man !..

[@martinclapton2724]

@@alancrisp1582agree totally

[@Medicinis]

Neither of them were mine ! I only have Petrol or Diesel cars! Malcolm

[@wayneoriordan6749]

I work on electric cars there absolute scrap you wait until there older the amount off issues I am seing now

[@Bond2025]

I want to get shut of my nice new car and drive about in a Rolls Royce classic like yours. What sort of money would we be talking in the region of and who can i take it to for repairs and servicing? Where can I buy a decent one now? What sort of MPG would I expect as I do about 15 miles a day and that's it. The biggest problem for me with most cars is that I do not have a workshop, so can only do limited jobs. I can not trust main dealers. I knew I always wanted a Rolls Royce from the age of 9 when I used to see a blue Silver Shadow driving about in the area. It always used to go past me on the way to school and if I timed it right I could hear the engine and exhaust note as it moved out of the junction! Other memorable cars were a neighbour's Austin Princess 2200HL auto and a Jaguar JKB513L (number doesn't exist now on DVLA) which I saw many years later and it was still running. It was a red Jaguar XJ-12 and when I was very young I used to think "wow, a 12 litre engine, that must be fast". It was a lovely car and I saw it in the 80s, then again 2 years ago looking in much the same condition although it had turned from red to a dull red. In the 80s a family used it to drop their girls off at a private school each morning. I know ABS, traction control and electronic handbrakes and all the other bits and pieces are great, but do you ever get to drive a car in a way that needs all that on the roads today? I have always like older cars and don't have the time to restore it myself, I would prefer to pay someone for the effort and care they had put in to a restoration and know it was done correctly.

[@johnmcfall375]

Brilliant as always Gary. The music, well that’s another story 🤣🤣🤣

[@kennethdodd6680]

Great workmanship and problem solving working on these cars, well done.

[@scottstrails9369]

Lovely to see some reconnelising again here at Malcolm’s place ,a service I offered my customers back in 83 mainly for car traders looking to spruce up Rollers like yours using the Crofgate products at the time .Ten years earlier in the early seventies I had watched the RR technicians at Watsons in Liverpool performing leather trim renovation at Watsons workshops in Roscoe lane that went on to be Rapid hardware car park,sadly building gone and the famous WW (William Watson) logo’s railings torn down and scrapped a couple days before I could salvage a set .Keep up the good work .

[@qazyuiop]

Keep the videos coming Gary! Big fan from Australia

[@pedrosalas4460]

Another job welldone A classic car its always a unfinished work Plenty things to repare and take care. Your skills are amazing

[@jerehada]

Bet that RR club love you telling stories of your restoration jobs. Learning a bit about the Wirral from You Tube, always knew it as only the posher suburb of Liverpool. Harry Metcalf also from the area. Farmers and actors.

[@andicog]

Don't forget Iain Tyrell of Tyrells classic workshop is also from the Wirral. 👍

[@stewartevans3875]

Nice epsidoe this one Gary - Good to see how straight forward the connolising is and what great results. I loved the chat around the Corniche too - a lovely car but would have yous over ths one anywday of the week ! Keep up the great werk ! cheers stew

[@BangerFleet]

Is that one of those fancy aluminum body A6 compressors? Some of them have a Sanden compressor hidden inside the A6 case. Could be one of those too.

[@joemcaleer3521]

Thanks again Gary,for another great podcast.

[@andrewp634]

Another brilliant video

[@johnmonks6079]

I wonder if the vinyl spray was the same product I used on my stag interior in the late 80s, can't remember it's name but was from liverpool Gary, took it from tan to cream , looked the same as in the cornich, I also knew a freind who had the contract for Rolls to polyester the facias etc, he took mine from the stag and gave it the "Rolls" treatment, not to far from yours Gary in the old bear brand estate Woolton, sadly him and the place have now gone but great memories come flooding back watching your motors mate.

[@classic.obsession]

It probably was john! I used it 40 years ago from a guy on County Road when it was called Vinylcoat. Regards.

[@robertclarkson5101]

Adding a touch of class.

[@leepilkington6498]

Thanks again, Gary

[@Mick-Kahl80]

Best channel on KZbin 👌🏼 Your attention to detail is 💯.

[@MrBlaugeist]

Love your love for cars

[@TheLeeattwood]

Absolutely stunning, Classic .

[@kevincollins1060]

That is a gorgeous colour 👍🏻

[@Dg-zj6jo]

your the best MR make it look easy brilliant episode the seats look amazing

[@ronniewilson6597]

Great video Gary. 👍🏻😀

[@marcusd2380]

See a lot of black o rings on the system. Air rings are usually green and perform much better than the blacks one. But rolls Royce will now better than me. Love these videos

[@classic.obsession]

Hi Marcus. On the rear of the compressor you can actually see two green o rings in the video. I’ve also temporarily fitted the black ones that came in the kit, whoops!! Doesn’t matter as the compressor has to come off again anyway to empty the oil out and measure in the correct amount before gassing. I think the ratio is 17% oil. Regards.

[@jimfoo-6041]

Painting the Seats😂

[@jimfoo-6041]

Did you throw the Motor out to the curb.😂

[@wthwing]

I was REALLY disappointed that you promised showing the " bar " in your friend's door, but you didn't.

[@mrjohncharlesbrown]

Hello Gary in the winter I'd like to remove my wood work to be refurbished can you provide the name of the polisher you sent your veneers to ?

[@SilasChapman]

Much prefer this piano background music Gary, I was at work had the old tune in my head it was very very annoying and distracting to your commentary. Great improvement thanks fo the RR updates, going to any shows this summer?

[@classic.obsession]

Might go to the ‘great British motor show’ classic car show st Chatsworth on 30th..

[@RobertMoseley]

Thanks Gary, I just ordered the AC kit for my 67 Silver Shadow! I need it working here in Las Vegas where they predict the temps at 117F this week! Do you have a link to the paint you used on the seats?

[@classic.obsession]

Hi it’s a company in Birmingham England www.kolorbond.co.uk regards.

[@inovahightechltd]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@andrewthacker114]

What was the new refrigerant- R 134 a ?

[@garymellis1775]

Gary ,could you please give details of supplier for leather seat restoration

[@classic.obsession]

www.google.co.uk/search?q=kolourbond&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari# Techno spray paints Catherine street Birmingham B65RS 0121 326 8020 Kolorbond pvc and leather paint.

[@johnmorrow7080]

I was restoring a Roller at the RR place I watched him pull out a interior put a big sheet on the floor started prepping them , fascinated with it had to find out what the crack was , he said re-connolising them he sprayed them in the middle of the workshop , the car I was doing was a mk2 Silver shadow , he gave me a pair of wings to fit , when I started to fit the wing it was not the right shape , after a long discussion with him as to why they did not fit he said just make them fit so I ended up cutting and moving the wheelarch back , while I was doing this a old fella came in and asked why I was fitting a mk1 wing to a mk2 car he blasted me for doing this in front of the old guy , not very impressed with that later he asked if I would restore a Austin Healey 3000 yep no problem , strip it to a bare shell I will start it after this , I got paid took my tools home and never went back the Healey was in bits at the time , sorry to say I've done that twice to people who upset me , as far as I was he was taking the mick , same as a place that restored MG's , I was doing right off's for a place they were slaughtered scrap he would get someone to buy the car from the salvage yard , I did a E30 325 BMW the thing was rolled probably 3 or 4 times totally destroyed he bought a second had roof , I was drilling the roof skin off he said just join it at the pillars I cant because you bought a 2 door roof for a 4 door car , the owner came in to check on the car and I told him what a pile of scrap he had bought , he was not impressed with the guy , he got to repair a Frog eyed Sprite a total battered scrapper just fill it full of bodge , took my gear home after that .

[@scottfuller6063]

I am absorbed by the Corniche series! Forgive my ignorance, but is the leather spray paint a special modern day leather coating or a vinyl paint? Does it disguise the leather's smell? Did I see you then use a lotion to nourish the leather after painting? Could you elaborate on the reasons to use the paint please.

[@classic.obsession]

Hi, it’s both a leather and a vinyl paint. Perfect for bringing lifeless , scuffed or scratched leather back to new looking. Then fed with any leather moisture treatment or balm to keep it soft and protected. Regards.

[@cyrussataravalla6731]

Ma786sai Dua Absolutely wonderful as always bless u

[@SuperWayneyb]

🤘😎🤘🇬🇧

[@adamwort7160]

Did you buy the 600 I pointed out to you?

[@classic.obsession]

Hi Adam. Which one? Refresh my memory. Regards.

[@adamwort7160]

@@classic.obsession replied twice disappearing comments, I've joined the dots up got yar 👍

[@Allmentux]

I would actually never spray Vaumol leather! This one is good enough to receive conolly hide food. The new dye will he very hard to keep clean and actually dye onto your clothes easier...

[@jimfoo-6041]

No, need for Dying Connelly London Leather....Lose of $5000.

[@johnmorrow7080]

Back in the 80's I worked for a coachworks that looked after the owner of Spanish city's cars , his wife had a 60's 230 SL Pagoda , his manager wanted one for his wife I got the job of restoring it , he also had a RR Camargue did some work on that , he bought his daughter a black 1980 500 SEL she wanted all the chrome painted gold including the wheels we sent them out , the car went out on a friday on monday the car was back with us the side wiped out a wheel had fell off , turns out they painted the mating surfaces the wheel nuts came off , not our fault . In the late 70's I was asked to look at an old Merc that had belonged to Jimmy Tarbuck still had his plate on COM 1C , I said no as it was too rotten for me , in the early 00's I was asked by another guy to restore the same car without looking I said no , I had restored a few car's by then , I was even asked to do chassis work for a Aston Martin place up in Beamish , did not take the offer up though (long story) . Did some work for a RR and Bentley repairers when I was freelancing , I used to do one restoration a year and crash work the rest as too much like hard work , retired now I have kidney failure due to breathing in all the fumes , still would not change a thing though , never heard of you until the other day , I like what your doing .

[@petepure3387]

Well done Sir!