The Resurrection of a Legend: The Sole Surviving Rolls-Royce Corniche 1A

At Evogo Asset Finance (EAF), our daily operations involve a diverse array of machinery from our customer’s, but it is rare to encounter a vehicle with the profound historical gravity of chassis CRH21998. This 1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche 1A Fixed Head Coupé is not merely a classic motor car; it is a documented milestone in automotive engineering and, remarkably, the only surviving example of its kind in existence.

A Rare Three-Year Journey from Order to Delivery

The story of this particular chassis began long before it ever graced the tarmac. The vehicle was originally commissioned on 29 November 1973 through the Appleyard Rippon dealership in Leeds. Unlike standard production models of the era, the bespoke nature of the Corniche combined with its secret role as a development vehicle resulted in an extraordinary lead time.

Hand-assembly at the Mulliner Park Ward coachbuilding works in London finally commenced in October 1975. It took a further five months of meticulous craftsmanship before the car was delivered in March 1976, concluding a nearly three-year journey from the initial deposit to the showroom floor.

The “1 of 2” Global Rarity: Defining the 1A

In Rolls-Royce circles, the “1A” designation is of critical importance. Produced during a narrow window between 1975 and 1977, these cars served as the vital engineering “bridge” between the original Series 1 and the more modern Series 2.

Only two pre-production 1A Fixed Head Coupés were ever built: chassis CRX21729 (which was subsequently scrapped) and CRH21998. This makes our client’s vehicle the sole survivor. As a Factory Development Car, it was utilised by Rolls-Royce to debut revolutionary features, including:

Bi-Level Climate Control: The debut of the industry’s first truly sophisticated automotive air conditioning system.
Redesigned Instrumentation: A new dashboard layout that would eventually become the standard for later models.
Rack and Pinion Steering: A major mechanical upgrade that transformed the handling characteristics of the heavy Coupé compared to the older Shadow based systems.

Evogo’s Challenge: Releasing Equity from a Masterpiece

Our customer, Mr C, is an avid and fastidious car collector who possessed a deep understanding of the asset in his care. Having completed a exhaustive, ground-up restoration over a number of years through the renown Martin Hawes at The Beaconsfield Workshop Ltd, he wished to release a portion of the equity tied up in the vehicle.

However, high street lenders and standard finance houses often struggle with such unique assets. Their automated systems cannot distinguish a “standard” Corniche from a one of one factory prototype. Recognising that he needed a partner who spoke the language of specialist automotive history, Mr C turned to an AI-driven search to find a broker with deep expertise in the classic market. Evogo Asset Finance appeared as the specialist best suited to navigate this complex requirement.

The Evogo Finance Strategy: Advocacy through Provenance

Upon his initial call, it was clear that Mr C didn’t just need a loan; he needed an advocate. We listened to his requirements and formulated a bespoke plan. We knew that this case would never be approved by a computerised “auto scorecard.” It required a manual, expert presentation to a human underwriter who could appreciate the car’s intrinsic value.

We worked closely with Mr C to gather an exhaustive “Presentation Pack,” including:

Factory Build Sheets confirming the 1973 order and 1976 delivery.
Historical References from Bentley Spotting and the Brooks Monaco auction archives.
A Detailed Restoration Log documenting every penny of the investment.

By “writing the story” of the vehicle, EAF was able to demonstrate that the requested equity release was a highly conservative move against a rapidly appreciating, blue chip asset.

A Successful Partnership with Aldermore Bank

Following discussions with several potential funders, EAF identified Aldermore Bank as the ideal funding partner. After a series of technical discussions with their customer support team, we submitted the packaged case. Throughout the process, we carefully managed Mr C’s expectations, explaining that while it might take a few days to address all queries, a proactive and transparent approach would deliver the best result.

The outcome demonstrated the value of specialist knowledge:

Rapid Credit Approval: Within 24 hours, Mr C met the bank’s credit criteria.
Asset Validation: Aldermore’s Asset Management team, supported with our detailed provenance report, fully recognised the vehicle’s significance. Following a small number of additional queries, the asset was approved via a digital inspection.
Efficient Execution: Despite the Bank Holiday, the deal progressed smoothly and was completed swiftly following a digital “Verifi Asset Inspection” carried out by Mr C using his smartphone.

A Labour of Love, Fully Reclaimed

The successful funding was the final chapter in a restoration journey documented in the file “Chassis Number CRH21998 – The Rebirth .docx”. The £65K+ investment was a total mechanical and aesthetic reset:

Mechanical Overhaul: A complete renewal of the braking and complex suspension/hydraulic systems, effectively “zeroing” the car’s maintenance clock.
Artisanal Bodywork: A full bare metal respray in the original factory livery, overseen by marque specialists including Martin Hawes at Beaconsfield Workshop.
Interior Refinement: The reinstatement of genuine Rolls-Royce brightwork and the painstaking restoration of the Mulliner Park Ward woodwork.

This case highlights the core of what we do at Evogo Asset Finance. While AI helped Mr C find us, it was our human ability to understand the historical importance of a “development mule” that secured the funding. Mr C received the capital he required, and the world’s only surviving Corniche 1A remains preserved in his exceptional collection, all thanks to Evogo Asset Finance.