Classic Obsession: Rolls-Royce Corniche | Rare Rolls-Royce Corniche Interior Found Plus Braking System & Spark Plug Fixes

Classic Rolls-Royce Corniche restorations often involve lengthy searches for original parts, but in this episode of Classic Obsession, Gary Mavers gets incredibly lucky—tracking down a fully restored Corniche interior. With seats, panels, and a center console in immaculate condition, the project takes a massive leap forward. But that’s just the beginning—Gary also tackles the braking system rebuild and addresses a damaged spark plug thread on his 1975 Corniche.

Finding a complete, restored Rolls-Royce Corniche interior is nearly impossible, but against the odds, Gary manages to source everything from front seats to door panels, armrests, and even the sun visors.

• Factory-quality restoration: The leatherwork and stitching are superb, making the interior look brand new.
• Perfect color match: Gary plans to paint the Corniche gray with a black mohair hood and gray headliner, making this interior a perfect fit.
• Abandoned project story: The set came from a car that was never reclaimed after restoration, allowing Gary to secure it for his own project.

With the interior in hand, Gary carefully stores it in the Corniche, transforming the cabin overnight.

With the interior sorted, it’s time to get the Corniche back on the road—starting with a full braking system overhaul.

• Identifying the issues: The brake discs, calipers, and hoses are in poor condition, requiring a complete refresh.
• Critical difference in brake fluid systems: Unlike earlier Corniche models that used DOT 3 or RR363, the 1983 Corniche uses mineral oil, meaning the entire brake system must be handled differently.
• Sourcing new parts from IntroCar: Gary orders:
  • New brake discs (rotors) front and rear
  • Full set of flexi hoses (12-13 in total)
  • New calipers and seals
  • Hard brake lines to accumulators and valves
  • Bearings, copper washers, and other rebuild components

Gary is once again impressed with the parts he ordered and the delivery received:

“I placed my order late afternoon, and by 9 AM the next morning, everything had arrived. Incredible service!”

With all parts in hand, Gary begins the painstaking process of replacing each brake component, ensuring the braking system will be fully dependable.

Just as the braking system rebuild is underway, Gary notices a misfire on his 1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche. After investigation, he finds that a spark plug thread is damaged, meaning it’s time for a helicoil insert repair.

Step-by-step helicoil installation:

1. Clean the thread: Using a scraping tool to remove burrs.
2. Use a special tap: Applying grease to prevent metal shavings from entering the cylinder.
3. Insert the helicoil: Screwing it in perfectly straight for a strong, permanent repair.
4. Snap off the tail: Ensuring nothing is left in the cylinder.
5. Final test: The spark plug now threads perfectly, restoring proper function.

After a quick test start, the engine runs smoothly once again—another job successfully completed.

“It’s an easy job, but you have to get it right. If the helicoil isn’t seated properly, it won’t hold under pressure.”

After starting the engine, the misfire is gone, and the engine runs smoothly once again.

With a new interior, rebuilt braking system, and a fully functional engine, Gary’s 1983 and 1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche models are significantly closer to completion.

Testing the Engine & RPM Stability

After the helicoil repair, Gary takes the black 1975 Corniche out for a test drive:

• The misfire is completely resolved, with smooth acceleration.
• The RPM needle is steady, no longer fluctuating under load.
• With brakes refreshed and engine firing properly, the Corniche restoration continues successfully.

“Now the engine is back to running smoothly, and with the new braking system, I can actually trust it on the road again!” 

With major progress made, the next steps for the Corniche project include:

• Final interior fitting – Installing the new seats, panels, and trim.
• Road testing & tuning – Ensuring the braking system is performing perfectly.
• Detailing & minor repairs – Addressing cosmetic and mechanical finishing touches.

Have you tackled similar classic car restorations? Share your experiences in the comments!

IntroCar is the leading international supplier of Rolls-Royce & Bentley parts, providing specialists and enthusiasts with expert knowledge and an unmatched range of original, aftermarket, recycled, and reconditioned components. We are proud to support Gary Mavers of the Classic Obsession YouTube channel, supplying the essential parts for his Rolls-Royce Corniche restoration projects. While Gary works on a variety of classic cars, his meticulous approach to maintaining and restoring Rolls-Royce models aligns with our commitment to keeping these iconic vehicles on the road.