Lot 224

Open Roads, August 2021

2000 Rolls-Royce Corniche

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$99,000 USD | Sold

United States | Danville, California

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language
Chassis No.
SCAZK29E1YCX68163
Documents
US Title
  • Believed to be one of fewer than 400 examples produced
  • Last Rolls-Royce model to be manufactured at the Crewe factory and the only new Rolls-Royce developed under Volkswagen's ownership
  • 6.75-liter turbocharged V-8 engine; automatic transmission
  • Presented with manuals and two sets of keys

The fifth Rolls-Royce to bear the Corniche name, this modern legend made its debut in January 2000. With a base price of $359,900, it was the most expensive vehicle offered by Rolls-Royce at the time. In 2001, when Bentley and Rolls-Royce once again became two separate companies, the Corniche production run ended. Bentley became a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG and its vehicles continued to be manufactured in the Crewe factory, while Rolls-Royce was owned solely by BMW and produced in an entirely new factory built by BMW. The Corniche is special as it was the only new Rolls-Royce developed under Volkswagen's ownership.

Befitting luxury automobiles of this stature, the Corniches were truly hand-built vehicles equipped with the best of everything. The 6.75-liter turbocharged V-8 engine was rated to produce 325 horsepower and gives this stately luxury convertible a top speed of 135 mph and a 0-60 acceleration time of eight seconds. Though it had styling cues sourced from the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph sedan, the Corniche shared little mechanically with the BMW-engined cars. Instead, the Corniche body was set onto the platform used for the similarly styled Bentley Azure; thus it was the first and only Rolls-Royce descended from a Bentley, rather than the other way around.

The Corniche offered here is finished in cream with a tan convertible top and a tan Connolly leather interior featuring matching Wilton wool carpets, chrome gauges, and exquisite burled wood trim. Dual automatic temperature control, a six-disc CD changer, automatic headlamps, and automatic ride control were fitted as standard.

The car appears to have been registered in Florida, New York, and California over its lifetime. It shows less than 38,500 miles on the odometer at time of cataloguing and is accompanied by manuals in a leather case and two sets of keys. Given its unique status as the last Rolls-Royce model to be manufactured at the Crewe factory, and the only new Rolls-Royce developed under Volkswagen's ownership, this low-mileage Corniche would be an excellent addition to any discerning enthusiast’s collection.