• AHRSENAL – The Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupé Collection
• One of 72 Rolls-Royce Corniches to be rebuilt by noted designer and artist Jay Ahr at his Atelier Mécanique
• Retains its period-correct 6.75-litre V-8 engine mated to a three-speed automatic transmission

For the designer and artist Jay Ahr, some objects are simply iconic. The Birkin and Kelly bags from Hermès. The SCAL bed designed by Jean Prouvé. The Keepall travel bag from Louis Vuitton. The Rolls-Royce Corniche Coupe.

These objects transcend their status as everyday items to become timeless cultural symbols. Drawing from the provenance of each piece, he imagines them imprinted with its own story, transforming them with craftsmanship and technology into unique works.

Born in Belgium, Jonathan Riss always had an eye for design and although he initially wanted to become an architect, he would eventually find a love for fabrics, garments, embroidery, and diamonds. His career has taken him around the world, working in Ukraine, India, and Angola before landing in his current home of Hong Kong. Renowned for his power of transformation in the world of luxury handbags, for the first time, Jay Ahr applies his philosophy of transformation to an object in motion.

Dubbed “Ahrsenal”, Jay Ahr has developed an Atelier Mécanique located near his home in Hong Kong, where these transformations take place. Described by the designer as his “Ninth Symphony,” Ahrsenal brings together artisans, engineers, mechanics, historians, and designers in a collaborative process rooted in precision and reverence. The transformation of each car takes over a year to complete.

From the engine to the smallest screw, every element is restored, recreated, or refined to contemporary specifications. The bodywork is resculpted to honor and enhance the original proportions of the Corniche, combining traditional craftsmanship with advanced technology. Stripped of their original function, these objects look jewel-like and sculptural in their own right, resembling industrial still-lifes.

Multiple layers of paint create exceptional depth and luminosity. Inside the cockpit, original design pieces by figures such as Jean Prouvé, Michel Boyer, Pierre Paulin, and Ubald Klug are integrated into the interior architecture. The driving space becomes a curated environment — a dialogue between automotive heritage and twentieth-century design history. Ahrsenal embodies Jay Ahr’s philosophy of sublimation through unique repetition: each car is both historically grounded and singular.

The Corniche, emblematic of the golden age of grand touring, remains a symbol of timeless elegance — driven by cultural icons and embedded in cinematic memory. Through restoration and transformation, Ahrsenal preserves and elevates this legacy, presenting the
automobile as a moving work of art.

THIS AUTOMOBILE

Arguably the most iconic and beloved Corniche body style, the Drophead Coupé adds an extra sense of occasion to what is already an elegant and refined automotive experience. Designated RR05 by Jay Ahr, this is the perfect car to enjoy in design-focused, warm-weather locales.

Keen eyes will note that the bonnet louvres of RR12 and RR11 are not present on RR05, making for a more streamlined exterior design. The side indicators and parking lights have been beautifully integrated into the car alongside new side mirrors and reinvented exterior branding.

Inside, the interior design falls under Jay Ahr’s design concept “Cockpit Act III” and is trimmed in full black leather interior. The interior harmonizes traditional Rolls-Royce luxury with an avant-garde architectural approach, creating an atmosphere that is both driver-focused and exquisitely refined. The seats have been redesigned to be lighter and more sculptural in from and modernized gauges surrounded by a Japanese lacquer dashboard have been installed in place of the originals. The trunk has been reinterpreted with vertical aluminum bars protecting a fully leather-lined compartment. The trunk lid features a unique Jay Ahr embroidered leather imprint, reinforcing the couture-inspired philosophy of the transformation.

Mechanically, this Corniche retains the correct-type 6.75-litre Rolls-Royce V-8 engine, estimated to produce 250 bhp, and is mated to a three-speed automatic gearbox. All mechanical components have been fully restored and upgraded to ensure reliability and performance while maintaining originality. Built on the basis of a home-market (U.K.) specification Corniche Drophead Coupé, RR05 is currently located in London and ideally suited to a U.K. buyer

To view this car and others currently available, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/ps00/.