1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II

A white 1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II leaving Cars and Coffee at Crystal Cove Shopping Center.

In a time when most cars were shaped like something you could easily assemble in your garage using cardboard boxes, the Corniche, which traces its roots back to the Silver Shadow introduced in the mid-60's, shamelessly maintained the Shadow's styling cues in convertible form with only minor revisions until production ended in 1995. With tried-and-true proportions, quad headlights like those first used on the Silver Cloud III (gotta love the tiny RR logos on the headlight bezels!), and the ever-so-familiar temple grille, Rolls-Royce proved that some of the best things in life are those that have stood the test of time. If you had the money in the 70's and 80's and wanted top-tier treatment at every valet, this was certainly the car to get.

Unfortunately, one of the easiest places to spot Rolls-Royces and Bentleys of this era today is at repair shops, so it's safe to say they're not exactly Toyotas when it comes to reliability. Even though you can easily find a used Corniche on the market now for around the same amount of money your friends would spend on a new BMW or Mercedes-Benz, the ongoing service and repair bills will remind you that Spirit of Ecstasy bragging rights don't come cheap.

This well-kept Corniche appeared to be for sale when I saw it almost two years ago. Many Rolls-Royces of this era have been with their current owners since new, and it's unfortunate that anyone would have to part paths with it, especially now that it's over three decades old and becoming increasingly valued as a classic. I hope this car finds its way to a good new caretaker and enjoys many more years on the roads.

What do you think - Is the Corniche a car worth investing in? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!