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Details
1975 BENTLEY CORNICHE CONVERTIBLE
COACHWORK BY MULLINER PARK WARD
Registration No. KYL 18P
Chassis No. DBH 21464
Engine No. 21464
Dark metallic blue with magnolia leather interior
Engine: V8, overhead valve, 6,750cc, 225bhp at 4500 rpm; Gearbox: three speed automatic transmission. Suspension: front, independent, lower wishbones, coil springs, with anti-dive; rear by trailing arm and coil spring, automatic levelling; Brakes: power-assisted disc. Right hand drive.
The Corniche model was announced in early 1971, and began a new era for the company of using names to designate specific coachwork designs rather than just the basis of a chassis name: with unitary construction this no longer worked. The name and model in fact was a new identity for the existing, coachbuilt, two door design based on the Silver Shadow which had been available since 1967 from H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward. It also benefitted from improved performance over the standard Shadow, and for the first time cruise control was introduced, whilst the cosmetically the new car featured a revised interior dash layout.
There has always been a fluctuation in the popularity of the Bentley against the Rolls-Royce marque. At present the Bentley would seem to have the upper hand, but in the mid-1970s the Rolls-Royce, and this model in particular, outsold its counterpart by nearly twenty to one. The result was that very few cars were built in the Bentley guise, sources differ on the precise figures, but it is thought that a mere 65 Bentley Corniche Convertibles ever left the factory.
Many felt an opportunity was missed by the company to differentiate between the models and continue the Bentley as the latest in the Continental line, after all the sheer beauty of the design was a fitting replacement for the S3 Continentals. There can be little doubt of the success of the Corniche and its timeless lines which in updated forms remained in production into the 1990s, it is in essence the definitive open post-war Bentley.
This Corniche was purchased new by Elton John on 17th September 1975 from Jack Barclay Ltd. Originally supplied with Silver Mink paintwork and a beige interior with matching hood, 'Sundym' glass was fitted throughout and naturally a radio was included in the specification. At one stage it was sold to Elton's personal assistant, Robert Halley in whose custody the car was repainted to the present livery and also received updated model wheels. More recently in 1999 it was repurchased for the collection.
Offered for sale in very good order, throughout, on inspection by a Christie's specialist the only point of any note to the condition were two small scratches to the top edge of the passenger side front wing. At this time the power hood was also tested and found to be fully operational, and a hood cover that matches the upholstery comes with the car. A new MoT has recently been completed on the Corniche, the recorded mileage is just over 43,000 and it is sold with copies of the factory order.
The Corniche is ideal for all weathers and accordingly it has been used in the South of France. It is complemented in the collection by its final successor, the 1995 Continental [Lot 20].
Sir Elton John speaks highly of this Bentley, listing it amongst a handful of cars in the collection that he has used extensively. He remarked 'I've had a lot of people in it, Princess Margaret's been in it, everyone's been in it' and added that he took Princess Margaret to the cinema in this Bentley.
Both Elton John's driver, Derek Baulcombe, and his fleet manager, John Newman, commented that this car is lovely to drive. Baulcombe remembers taking Elton John and H.R.H. Princess Margaret from Kensington Palace to the Odeon Cinema in High Street Kensington, London. Apparently they used to go to the cinema together quite regularly at one time.
COACHWORK BY MULLINER PARK WARD
Registration No. KYL 18P
Chassis No. DBH 21464
Engine No. 21464
Dark metallic blue with magnolia leather interior
Engine: V8, overhead valve, 6,750cc, 225bhp at 4500 rpm; Gearbox: three speed automatic transmission. Suspension: front, independent, lower wishbones, coil springs, with anti-dive; rear by trailing arm and coil spring, automatic levelling; Brakes: power-assisted disc. Right hand drive.
The Corniche model was announced in early 1971, and began a new era for the company of using names to designate specific coachwork designs rather than just the basis of a chassis name: with unitary construction this no longer worked. The name and model in fact was a new identity for the existing, coachbuilt, two door design based on the Silver Shadow which had been available since 1967 from H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward. It also benefitted from improved performance over the standard Shadow, and for the first time cruise control was introduced, whilst the cosmetically the new car featured a revised interior dash layout.
There has always been a fluctuation in the popularity of the Bentley against the Rolls-Royce marque. At present the Bentley would seem to have the upper hand, but in the mid-1970s the Rolls-Royce, and this model in particular, outsold its counterpart by nearly twenty to one. The result was that very few cars were built in the Bentley guise, sources differ on the precise figures, but it is thought that a mere 65 Bentley Corniche Convertibles ever left the factory.
Many felt an opportunity was missed by the company to differentiate between the models and continue the Bentley as the latest in the Continental line, after all the sheer beauty of the design was a fitting replacement for the S3 Continentals. There can be little doubt of the success of the Corniche and its timeless lines which in updated forms remained in production into the 1990s, it is in essence the definitive open post-war Bentley.
This Corniche was purchased new by Elton John on 17th September 1975 from Jack Barclay Ltd. Originally supplied with Silver Mink paintwork and a beige interior with matching hood, 'Sundym' glass was fitted throughout and naturally a radio was included in the specification. At one stage it was sold to Elton's personal assistant, Robert Halley in whose custody the car was repainted to the present livery and also received updated model wheels. More recently in 1999 it was repurchased for the collection.
Offered for sale in very good order, throughout, on inspection by a Christie's specialist the only point of any note to the condition were two small scratches to the top edge of the passenger side front wing. At this time the power hood was also tested and found to be fully operational, and a hood cover that matches the upholstery comes with the car. A new MoT has recently been completed on the Corniche, the recorded mileage is just over 43,000 and it is sold with copies of the factory order.
The Corniche is ideal for all weathers and accordingly it has been used in the South of France. It is complemented in the collection by its final successor, the 1995 Continental [Lot 20].
Sir Elton John speaks highly of this Bentley, listing it amongst a handful of cars in the collection that he has used extensively. He remarked 'I've had a lot of people in it, Princess Margaret's been in it, everyone's been in it' and added that he took Princess Margaret to the cinema in this Bentley.
Both Elton John's driver, Derek Baulcombe, and his fleet manager, John Newman, commented that this car is lovely to drive. Baulcombe remembers taking Elton John and H.R.H. Princess Margaret from Kensington Palace to the Odeon Cinema in High Street Kensington, London. Apparently they used to go to the cinema together quite regularly at one time.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.