1988 Rolls Royce Corniche 6.8L Petrol · PAP 123

A clear mechanical theme emerges from the MOT history of this 38 year old Rolls Royce Corniche: the front suspension and parking brake are the chronic weak points, with the brake system showing the only genuine safety failures on record. The most recent test on 2026 07 21 was a pass, but it carried a minor item for a severely deteriorated nearside front upper suspension arm ball joint dust cover, alongside advisories for a minor exhaust gas leak and a non excessive engine oil leak. Going further back, the 2023 test recorded advisories on both sides of the front upper Macpherson strut pin or bush and both front upper suspension arm pins or bushes, all flagged as worn but not yet resulting in excessive movement. The pattern is one of accumulating front suspension wear that has now progressed from advisory wear to a deteriorated gaiter, and the parking brake has failed outright twice, once as a Major in 2022 and again as a Dangerous failure in 2024, indicating a brake system that has struggled to hold efficiency against the required value across multiple attempts. The recorded mileage of 92,381 against a 1988 registration gives an annual average of roughly 2,431 miles per year, which is notably low for a vehicle of this age and points to extended periods of light use or even standing. The MOT records themselves are reasonably evenly spaced from 2021 onwards, with tests annually in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (two entries, including the failure), 2025 and 2026, so there is no multi year lay up that would raise specific concerns about seized components or major fluid degradation from inactivity. However, the low annual accumulation means that rubber components, particularly the suspension bushes, gaiters and gaiter seals that are already showing deterioration on the record, will have aged significantly through calendar years rather than through use cycles, which is consistent with the cracked dust cover and worn front strut and arm pins observed. For a prospective buyer, the priority areas are the front suspension and the rear parking brake mechanism. On the front end, the minor finding for the nearside upper arm ball joint dust cover in 2026 should be followed up by physically inspecting the joint itself for play, as a perished cover will allow contamination in and accelerate wear of the ball joint, and the 2023 advisories on the opposing side suggest both sides will need attention. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocks from the front suspension over uneven roads and on speed bumps, feel for any vagueness or judder through the steering wheel, and pay particular attention to whether the car tracks straight under braking, as worn strut pins and arm bushes commonly allow the geometry to shift slightly under load. The parking brake is the more serious concern: with a Major failure in 2022 and a Dangerous failure in 2024 both for parking brake efficiency, the rear caliper mechanisms, cables, adjusters and rear brake friction material should be regarded as the most likely source of ongoing rectification work until proven otherwise, and the car should be hill tested to confirm the handbrake holds on a steep incline rather than relying on a brief check. Finally, the advisories noted in the 2026 test for a minor exhaust gas leak and a non excessive engine oil leak are both consistent with a vehicle of this age and low mileage, but they warrant a physical inspection underneath to identify the source of the oil weep, whether from the sump, rocker cover or front or rear crankshaft seals, and to check the exhaust joints and gaskets for active blowing rather than just surface staining. Given the rarity of the Corniche and the cost of replacement panels and trim, any corrosion findings on the subframe, jacking points and suspension mounting areas should be examined closely with a torch and ideally on a ramp, as these areas are not flagged in the current MOT record but are typical hidden corrosion hotspots on a 38 year old motorcar of low annual usage.