Bentley Corniche (1971-1984)

De Bentley Corniche is a rare, exclusive, classic luxury car that was originally designed as an aerodynamic prototype in 1939, but did not come onto the market until decades later as a production model, serving as a luxurious two-door coupe and convertible (based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow). Today, it is a highly sought-after classic car.

1980 Bentley Corniche

History and background

The name itself is derived from “Basse Corniche”, a scenic road on the Côte d'Azur, which reflects the continental flair of the model.

The model was assembled and finished in London by Mulliner Park Ward as a continuation of the 1965 Silver Shadow coupé and 1967 drophead, with the Corniche name being applied in 1971.

The Bentley Corniche evolved directly from the Bentley T-Series, adopting its technical basis but distinguishing itself through refined body lines and luxury features. The Bentley Corniche was noticeably more exclusive and priced above its series counterparts, emphasizing its unique status.

With the launch of the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit in 1981, production of both the Rolls-Royce and Bentley Corniche models was discontinued. In 1984, a thoughtfully revised version was resurrected as the Bentley Continental, marking a significant point in Bentley's path to greater brand standing.

1980 Bentley Corniche interior

Design and interior

The Rolls-Royce style department designed a beautiful, elegantly shaped two-door coupé derived from the Silver Shadow, which was developed and produced by Mulliner Park Ward. At launch, it was priced at 9.849 pounds, nearly 3.300 pounds more than the standard four-door saloon.

The car was mildly revised in 1977 as the Corniche II. Alloy and rubber bumpers replaced earlier chrome ones. An aluminium radiator was replaced and an oil cooler was added.

Inside, the Corniche was the most extravagant Bentley of its time — hand-stitched Connolly leather seats, a burr-walnut instrument panel, and the view of an open Côte d'Azur road for the driver that counted.

Model variants

Corniche Coupé (1971–1982) — the closed variant:

The Corniche coupe was discontinued in 1982. 63 Bentley Corniche coupes were produced.

Corniche Convertible (1971–1984) — the open variant:

77 convertibles of the Bentley Corniche were produced. After the discontinuation of the coupé in 1982, only the convertible remained available.

Corniche/Continental transition (1984):

The Corniche was sold as a Bentley, with that model becoming known as the Continental in 1984. A name change that held more significance than it seemed — the Continental name was Bentley's most prestigious legacy, and its rebirth signaled that Bentley took its own identity seriously.

The first vehicle to bear the Corniche name was a 1939 prototype based on the Bentley Mark V that was never produced due to the outbreak of World War II. The name that the Bentley Corniche bore premiered in 1939 — and had to wait 32 years before it finally appeared on a production car.

The Corniche was Bentley's only open model between 1971 and 1984 — during those thirteen years, it was the most exclusive Bentley for sale, and at the same time the most overlooked. Buyers who wanted an open Bentley almost always chose the Rolls-Royce Corniche. The Bentley badge made it rarer but not more popular.

1980 V8 Bentley Corniche

Competitors

The Bentley Corniche competed in the absolute open luxury segment. Direct competitors were:

• Rolls-Royce Corniche (technically identical — 44 times more built)
• Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC
• Jaguar XJ-S (sportier but less exclusive)
• Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 (comparable grand tourer character)

Successor model

In 1984, a thoughtfully revised version was resurrected as the Bentley Continental. Technically, the Continental was the Corniche but with its own Bentley identity — and thus the direct predecessor of the 1991 Continental R, which definitively confirmed Bentley's rebirth as an independent sports brand.