Rolls-Royce Motors formed Mulliner Park Ward by the 1961 merger of Park Ward of Willesden and H. J. Mulliner & Co. of Chiswick. Mulliner Park Ward continues to operate as the vehicle customisation division of Bentley Motors Limited, the successor of Rolls-Royce Motors. The Mulliner Park Ward Coupe is a direct precursor to the Corniche; the Corniche name was subsequently applied from 1971 for all two-door coupes. The model was assembled and finished in London at Mulliner Park Ward as continuation of the 1965 Silver Shadow Coupe. It used the standard Rolls-Royce 6750cc engine with an aluminium-silicon alloy block and aluminium cylinder heads with cast iron wet cylinder liners mated to a three-speed automatic transmission from General Motors.

This 1968 Mulliner Park Ward was delivered new to Colonel Ronnie Hoare, founder of Maranello Concessionaires - the first importers of Ferrari to the UK - and an avid racer of Ferraris in the 1960s. First registered on 16 October 1968, KFX 666G was collected new directly from Rolls-Royce headquarters in Conduit Street, London. It was specified in an elegant, understated combination: 3 / 8 - Dawn Blue exterior - grey leather interior. Factory equipment included highly desirable options: - Chippendale fascia dashboard - Air-conditioning - Sundym tinted glass - Radiomobile radio - Front seat belts. The car was serviced early by Rolls-Royce Ltd at Hythe Road, Willesden, with stamps recorded at 2,940, 5,997, and 12,278 miles.

KFX 666G is accompanied by extensive history and restoration documentation, with over £30,000 invested through Frank Dale & Stepsons since our vendor acquired it in 2024. In 2018, the body was stripped to bare metal and comprehensively refinished in Midnight Blue, a process totalling over £20,000. The list of work carried out since then is dizzying, and available to view in the history file. Some highlights include:

- immobiliser system installed for security

- sympathetic Connolly leather cleaning and recolouring

- installation of four inertia seatbelts in matching grey

- full exterior machine polish and paint correction

- ceramic coating applied for long-term protection

- installation of discreet wireless Apple CarPlay

- reversing camera integrated for modern usability

- electric window mechanism repairs and rewiring

- dashboard wood removed and sent for specialist refurbishment

- paint repairs to door and rear wing

- chrome work refinished

Consigned by Charlie McCreery

Lot details
Year: 1968
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: Silver Shadow Two-Door Mulliner Park Ward
Registration: KFX 666G
Chassis No: CRH5030
Odometer: 72,342

* Extensively maintained by marque specialist Frank Dale & Stepsons
* Rare 'Pre-Corniche' example, with Chippendale dash
* Delivered new to Colonel Ronnie Hoare, founder of Maranello Concessionaires.