Future Classics? Future classics from Rolls-Royce and Bentley
10/04/2012
The term "Future Classics" has emerged as part of the efforts of the major classic car show organizers to attract exhibitors of contemporary classics, which used to be called luxury used cars, for example. Two good examples of such "future classics" are the Rolls-Royce Corniche V and the Bentley Azure.
Timelessly elegant and breathtakingly beautiful, these two similar vehicles are reminiscent of their own ancestors.
A look back: even before the Second World War, in 1939 to be precise, Bentley created a prototype called the Corniche. The car was destroyed by a bomb. But even much earlier, the French had already described coastal roads as "Corniche". In 1966, Rolls-Royce presented a coupé and convertible version of the Silver Shadow, which was not given the nickname "Corniche" until 1971. Of this vehicle, which was sold under both the Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands, 6,233 open-top versions were built over several series (I to IV) until 1995.
Then the Bentley Azure, a derivative of the Bentley Continental R, replaced the series, which had been built for almost 50 years. At this point, there was no longer an open-top Rolls-Royce.
When the Volkswagen Group supposedly took over Rolls-Royce alongside Bentley, they again invested in an open Rolls-Royce version. The Bentley Azure was taken as the basis, which, unlike the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, was not equipped with a BMW but with the traditional 6.8-liter Rolls-Royce engine. The newcomer, which was presented in 2000, was again given the name Corniche and was given features similar to the Silver Seraph.
The two vehicles, Corniche V and Azure, were therefore built on the same basis, but differed in the radiator grille and above all in the interior. And, as usual, there was "enough" performance.
If you would like to see more pictures of these two future classics, please refer to our " hidden" picture magic "Future Classics" . Hidden because we will of course only be reporting on these vehicles in 10 to 20 years' time, when they have actually matured into youngtimers or classic cars. Then, at the latest, we will know whether the term "future classic" was applied correctly in the decade.
We do, of course, have a report on the original 1966 Corniche and many pictures/documents on Zwischengas.
