Rolls-RoyceCamargue 1986 A very rare piece of Rolls-Royce history - only 531 made with less than half in the USA (Autocheck report)*This is a rare opportunity to be part of motoring history. The Rolls-Royce Camargue. The most expensive production car of its time and certainly the most expensive Rolls-Royce. A pinnacle of luxury. designed by Pinin Farina and only 531 ever built. Take away those that "didn't survive" and you have a very rare car. This one being in such stunning condition makes her very special. Adding even further to her rarity. only North American specification cars had fuel injection so she is very special indeed (Rest of the World markets used SU carburetors in early cars and the Solex 4-barrell carburetors on all others). This beautiful 1986 is the last year of its manufacture Rolls-Royce Camargue - finished in Silver Sand with hand-painted chocolate fine-lines to the waist-rail. The interior is finished in its original chocolate Connolly hides with contrasting cream (light tan) piping. The rugs follow the same theme. This is a 1 owner* Canadian delivered example (exactly the same specification to the US) and so reads in kilometres; 103. 00 which translates to a low 64. 00 miles. A very clean. very straight and entirely original presentation throughout. As testimony. we did not even clean under the hood for the photos. This is how she came to us. As importantly. it has been maintained meticulously. The Camargue is a very special car and requires considerable explanation. so I kindly ask your indulgence in what may appear a rather long-winded description. We all know Rolls-Royces are hand-made cars. but what few know is the Camargue was the true bespoke manufactured Rolls-Royce. The body shells were hand-made in Italy and shipped to Rolls-Royce in Crewe where they were all re-worked to Rolls-Royces rigid standards. Because of the small production run. many of them vary in engineering specifications from car to car and in most cases. it is almost impossible to find two exact built cars. To the non-discerning eye this would not be detectable but the purist would note subtle differences between these cars – even if they were only one chassis number apart. Each car was built and fine-tuned in such a way to achieve the best possible ride. performance and operation specific to each build. Because of this very “unique” approach there is no wonder why these cars were so expensive when new. There is also no surprise that no 2 cars drive “exactly” the same. Mechanically. the car is excellent having been thru our workshop and fully gone over. Anything needed doing has been done to include the complex hydraulics and braking system fully serviced. In addition. like all of Park-Ward's cars. upon sale it is subject to our full predelivery commissioning (certification) process to ensure all is in top shape. When this car is driven. it truly glides smoothly and effortlessly. Even over rough road surfaces. it displays no knocks. rattles or thumps – it is very “tight” indeed. The presentation under the hood. NOT cleaned for photos. is excellent testimony to its well maintained and low mileage ownership. The body and paint on the car are lovely. It was repainted in recent times and presents completely consistent and deep in lustre without any blemishes. chips or dings whatsoever. The vinyl top is original from new and yet remains in perfect condition. The exterior presentation ranks a very clear 10 out of 10 driver quality and less than 1/2 a point behind for show standard. The interior of the car is completely original with all the leather untouched and factory original but still looking "like-new". The driver side seat squab does not even show the most minor of scuffing one would normally expect. The wood throughout is also all original and in excellent condition. As a bonus. through the grace of Mother Nature. the burl walnut grain on this wood set is very defined and rich with a lot of “knots” and deep grain. It looks magnificent. The door capping on the driver door is the only place showing some very minor lacquer fracturing. Certainly not in need of refinishing. The rest of the wood can be described as "virtually flawless". Carpets. head-lining. rear parcel shelf. controls and knobs are all in excellent condition. All features on the car work as they should. A/C is ice cold. heater is hot and climate control works as it should. Windows work correctly and the electric seats are operating well and are not “tired”. Being a late Camargue. this example has electric rear view mirrors. All gauges are working. as are all the dash lights and interior lights. The aeroplane inspired gauge and instrument surround pieces are all in excellent condition. So. with the Camargue not only being a rare car. this one is incredibly unique by virtue of its stunning condition. It was purchased new in 1986 and after being regularly driven for the first half a dozen years. nbsp;it was stored and care-taken by its enthusiast owner and professional Rolls-Royce collector since. Although rarely driven. the car was kept in a museum under the eye of a Rolls-Royce caretaker who regularly maintained the car. When it arrived to us. after recommissioning her. she fired up immediately and purred on our maiden test drive. As mentioned. it was a Canadian delivered car with the odometer reading in kilometers (103. 00 klms = 64. 00 miles). Should your market dictate. we can change the speedometer at your request. There is no question of the cars mileage by simply looking at her. She is clean as a whistle. With the car comes. as you would expect. its original hand-book and correct jack and tools. ~~ The car is as about as good as you would expect to find. It would rank as one of the nicest Camargues available. She is a clear 10-out-of-10 driver that needs nothing. One step better. you could take her as-is to your next Rolls-Royce meet and receive accolades for her originality and condition - and surely take home a serious prize. ~~Interesting information about the Rolls-Royce CamargueAt launch. the Camargue was the Rolls-Royce's flagship and the most expensive production car in the world. eventually selling in North America for approximately US$147. 00 (over $600. 00 in "current" dollars). At its official U. S. launch. the Camargue had already been on sale in the UK for over a year. The New York Times made much of the fact that the U. S. price at this stage was approximately $15. 00 higher than the UK price. In the 1970s. many European models retailed for significantly less in the U. S. than they did in Europe in order to compete with prices set aggressively by "Detriot's Big Three" and Japanese importers. The manufacturer rejected this approach with the Camargue. referencing the high cost of safety and pollution engineering needed to adapt the few cars (approximately 30 per year) it expected to send to North America in 1976. The recommended price of a new Camargue at launch on the UK market in March 1975 was £29. 50. including sales taxes. Rapid currency depreciation would greatly raise the price of the Camargue in the late 1970s. both in the UK and North America. The car was sold in very limited numbers in European. American. Canadian. Australian and Asian markets. At its 1975 press debut. Rolls-Royce highlighted automatic split-level climate control system. the first of its kind. According to Rolls Royce. the system's development took eight years. The Camargue shares its platform with the Rolls-Royce Corniche and Silver Shadow. It is powered by the same 6. 75 litre V8 engine as the Silver Shadow. though the Camargue is slightly more powerful. The transmission was also carried over — a GM turbo-hydramatic 3-speed transmission. The first 65 Camargues produced used SU carburetors. with the remaining using Solex units; whilst American specification cars utilising fuel injection as implemented in the Silver Spirit series. These are rare. The Camargue was fitted with the Silver Shadow II's power rack and pinion steering rack in February 1977. In 1979. it received the hydraulic and suspension system of the Silver Spirit. With a 3048 mm (120 in) wheelbase. the Camargue was the first Rolls-Royce automobile to be designed to metric dimensions. and was the first Rolls-Royce to feature an inclined rather than perfectly vertical grille; the Camargue's grille slants at an inclined angle of seven degrees. It is also the widest Rolls-Royce grille manufactured. For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below. The photos are of super high resolution so if you right click on any. you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect (if any!) in considerable detail.