Rolls-Royce's adoption of unitary construction for its new Silver Shadow and T-Series Bentley necessitated the reorganisation of in-house coachbuilder H.

J.

Mulliner, Park Ward to meet the challenge of producing new designs on the Shadow floorpan.

The variety of body styles offered was limited to just two; a two-door saloon or similar drophead coupé - the former arriving in March 1966 and the latter in September the following year.

Some of the frontal panels were shared with the standard four-door saloon but otherwise the new bodyshells were unique featuring a distinctive dipping upper wing line with parallel crease and a revised, more rounded posterior.

Despite the price being some 50% higher than the standard saloons, demand was strong right from the start and led to the introduction of the outwardly similar Corniche in 1971.

Sales were greatly reduced during this period resulting in a Bentley being a much rarer car than the equivalent Rolls-Royce.

A Bentley Corniche fixedhead...