Friday 4th November 2011

YKYWT: 1981 Rolls-Royce Corniche 'Paris - Dakar'

A Rally-Raid Corniche? Alcohol has a lot to answer for...

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The Rolls-Royce Corniche you see here came into being after what sounds like a boozy bet made during a boozy French dinner when a Safari rally driver was challenged with competing in the Paris-Dakar with a Rolls-Royce. But then this makes sense because surely no sober person would come up with such an idea?

Shortly after said dinner, Christian Dior (no less) stumped up the necessary cash and the project was underway. As with the Zakspeed/Whiting RS2000 though, there was actually very little of the original manufacturer's work left intact by the end of the build.

A lightweight mould was made of the majority of the body, which reputedly weighs in at a mere 80kg, and this was mounted on a custom-made frame designed to carry a Land Cruiser four-wheel-drive set-up and gearbox. To propel the whole lot along the torturous route a small-block Chevy V8 was selected and the final weight of the car was said to be only 1400Kg.

However, that must be a 'dry' weight because, with a fuel capacity of 330 litres, a full tank would have held 231Kg of fuel, which at current prices would cost in the region of - ahem - £450 to fill. Despite this the car must have been well built because it actually finished the event, albeit with disqualified status after taking too long to repair after a prang.

You'll need around £170,000 to prise it away from its current owner who, for an extra 25 grand will equip the car with modern axles and brakes. So it's a bit dear then, even if it is it is both road-legal and eligible for competition.

It's unlikely, then, that once the snow has fallen we'll see a video clip of it in an empty car park whirling around like a twenty-foot-long Dervish. Shame.

[OdramaSwimLaden]

Unless I read that wrong it it a Landcruiser with a plastic body on it shaped like a Rolls Royce; with an American V8.

Rolls Royce does Paris - Dakar; wild claims!!

[soad]

RR with off-road tyres?

[Bill]

Is it bad that I really want that? Although I'm not convinced about the price.

[Chris71]

Bill said:

Is it bad that I really want that? Although I'm not convinced about the price.

You could build your own (without the heritgae, of course) for a lot less than £170k. Winter project maybe?

[timewatch]

I'll give it 10 miles!

TW>>>

[Bill]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3363048.htm

£50 on machining spacers for the suspension.

£400 on off road tyres

The look on the wife's face: priceless.

[fourwheelsteer]

I love it, even if there isn't much Rolls-Royce left under the skin. Nice that the wooden dashboard was retained and the quilted leather bucket seats are a nice touch. Not the only rallying Royce I've seen, there was a Shadow converted for long-distance rallying. The exhausts were re-routed over the roof and it had a big, tubular bumper/roo bar on the front but I think it retained more or less standard engine, brakes, suspension, etc.

Someone must have a photo...

[VB]

Here is to good luck. May it all be mine

[Chicarito]

Bill said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3363048.htm

£50 on machining spacers for the suspension.

£400 on off road tyres

The look on the wife's face: priceless.

Brown velour in a Rolls?

That's so, so wrong.

[angry jock]

Rolls Royce does have a bit of rallying history. 1970 London-Mexico with a Silver Shadow and a Cloud.


Neither were classified!

[cookie1600]

OdramaSwimLaden said:

Rolls Royce does Paris - Dakar; wild claims!!

So much so that not just frowning upon it, I believe Rolls Royce tried to take them to court for it (as was their want in those days with the likes of John Dodd and the VW beetle bonnet conversions).

But now, everybody is doing it darling!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e34raV919ho

Edited by cookie1600 on Friday 4th November 12:54

[Bill]

angry jock said:

Have they used a fire guard as a makeshift roobar?

ETA Damn, wrong picture. Now sorted.

Edited by Bill on Friday 4th November 12:55

[chunkymonkey71]

Love the fact that it's still got a walnut dash!

[Blown2CV]

awesome. i want it

[BobbyMeeks]

I completed the Mongol Rally 2010 and remember a 1984 Rolls Royce making it the whole 10,000 miles.

[martynr]

Bonkers

[Numeric]

I'm with those of the not sure why but really want category - but I reckon you could get a lot more for less by doing a new version.... reminds me a bit of the Merc SLK 4x4 that went around the world, just kooky fun!!
http://www.jimrogers.com/

[tedzwedz]

Numeric said:

I'm with those of the not sure why but really want category - but I reckon you could get a lot more for less by doing a new version.... reminds me a bit of the Merc SLK 4x4 that went around the world, just kooky fun!!
http://www.jimrogers.com/

That was a Merc G wagen with an SLK body

At least was sticking to Merc theme

Anyone seen the Bentley Dominator 4x4 they made for the Sultan of Brunei..

[Crook]

VB said:

Here is to good luck. May it all be mine

Exactly my thoughts!

Proper desert RR

[12gauge]

Why did people buy rolls royces in the 70s?

They just look like big old american tanks

Probably didnt handle any better.
Probably were even less reliable.