On March 30, 1994, a week after breaking the NHL’s all time goals record, Wayne Gretzky was presented with a lavish gift: a black Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible. The car, one of only 200 produced, was a surprise gift from King’s owner Bruce McNall.
The extravagant gesture, however, was met with controversy due to McNall’s questionable financial dealings. Known for his humility and down to earth personality, Gretzky expressed his embarrassment and disbelief at the gift.
In a speech delivered at the ceremony, he stated, “I really do feel a little embarrassed standing here getting this car this evening. It’s overwhelming, but I’ll take it.” The sentiment echoed his genuine surprise and discomfort at receiving such a luxurious and expensive gift.
Despite the controversy surrounding the gift, the Rolls-Royce remains a symbol of Gretzky’s historic achievement and the extravagant culture of the 1990s. The car’s rarity and association with one of the greatest hockey players of all time have made it a highly sought after collector’s item. While the circumstances surrounding the gift may be controversial, the Rolls-Royce itself stands as a testament to Gretzky’s legacy and the enduring appeal of luxury automobiles.
Jakub Marek, a detailer and YouTuber from Costa Mesa, California, was entrusted with giving the Gretzky Rolls a million dollar look. In a touch of fine humor from the Cosmos, the car that once belonged to the greatest hockey player to have ever ice-skated got its underside ice-blasted to perfection. That would be dry ice, but the irony is still strong. Cool transformation, wouldn’t you say?
The body and interior don’t need much work, with just a regular pressure wash followed by a thorough polishing of the fading body panels. Apparently, this car which is said to have 9,200 miles on the clock (some 15,000 kilometers) needed a paintless dent removal job in the driver’s door jamb. The interior is a whisker away from perfect the detailer gives it a brush cleaning before the burlap wood inserts in the doors and dashboard get polished to mirror-shine.
The Rolls Royce Corniche IV that Wayne Gretzky humbly accepted as an honorary acknowledgment of his achievements in hockey is one of the 194 examples built between 1992 and 1995. 244 copies of the model were assembled, but 50 were divided into two distinct batches, with twenty-five examples in each batch.
The first Corniche IVs were an Anniversary Edition production run in 1992-1993, celebrating 21 years of the moniker. The last ragtop luxury cars Corniche S were assembled for the 1995 model year, were turbocharged, and all were sold on the U.S. market. The highest value reached by a publicly sold example currently sits at $412,500, with the second to last example (no 243 of the 244 ever built) changing hands in March 2022.
All Corniche IV Rolls-Royce examples were powered by the famous 6.75 liter V8 an iconic powerplant that debuted in 1959 and saw its final curtain drop in 2020. Its 61 years of assembly make it the longest running production of any engine worldwide. The detailers don’t show the engine bay of this historic automobile on camera, but it’s clear that the car runs and drives.
In 1994, the convertible Corniche was rated at 241 hp and 406 lb-ft (244 PS, 550 Nm) in its naturally aspirated form. The motor was linked to the rear wheels via a Hydramatic four-speed box sourced from General Motors.
