One of the chief attractions of the Rolls-Royce Corniche is that everything about it seems just right. Its concept as an exclusive version of the normal Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, with an accent on the pleasurable aspects of driving, is not only thoroughly laudable but highly commercial even at a substantially greater price. It is hardly surprising either that the drop-head version has proved twice as popular as the fixed-head and continues in production today. There are few convertible cars available, let alone genuine four to five-seaters. There is the point also that air conditioning is fitted as standard, so that with the hood erect none of the comforts of a luxury saloon are lost. The Corniche was also introduced at a time when continuing development of the Silver Shadow had resulted in considerable improvements in straight-line stability and handling and sophistication of transmission operation. So every Corniche ever made is something of a classic. For the same reasons, it is impossible to isolate it from its place in the history of the Silver Shadow. This means that the story of the Corniche as we know it today is also the story of the Silver Shadow in its ultimate form as one of the most desirable Rolls-Royces ever made.