America "Press Car" - A very rare piece of Rolls-Royce history.
Year: | 1981 |
Miles: | 38,000 |
Make: | Rolls-Royce |
Model: | Camargue |
Engine: | 6.75 litre Rolls-Royce fuel injected V8 |
Colors: | White / Navy blue Connolly hides with cream piping |
Vin: | SCAYJ42A2BCX02620 |
Rolls-Royce
Camargue
1981
A very rare piece of Rolls-Royce history
North American Press Car; 1981 ~ 1983
This is a rare opportunity to be part of motoring
history. The Rolls-Royce Camargue was the most expensive Rolls-Royce in its
time, and also the most expensive car in the world. Pininfarina of Turin was
commissioned to design Camargue, with their chief stylist Paolo Martin being
responsible for the final result. A total of 526 cars were delivered to
customers, with the
She is in stunning condition.
Despite
being a 1981 model year car, chassis number BCX02620, was delivered in
September 1983 to Rolls-Royce Motors Inc in
This
elegant coupé is finished in Acrylic White with hand-painted twin
finelines to the body swage. The interior is finished in its original dark Blue
Connolly Nuella hide with contrasting off-white piping. The
Mechanically, the car is excellent having been through
our workshop and fully examined and adjusted. Anything requiring attention has
been addressed, including full servicing of the complex hydraulics and braking
system. Additionally, like all of Park-Ward's cars, upon sale it is subject to
our full Predelivery Commissioning (certification) process to ensure everything
is in top form.
The
Camargue is the best-driving Rolls-Royce and this specific example drives
magnificently. She truly glides, smoothly and effortlessly taking everything in
stride, and sweeping through bends with grace and poise. Even over rough roads
she displays no knocks, rattles, or unwarranted disturbances, being
superbly tight indeed. The presentation in the engine
compartment is excellent testament to its low-mileage ownership, and the
fastidious care and maintenance it has always received.
The
body and paint on the car are spectacular. She was repainted in recent times,
in the original Acrylic White livery, and presents a consistently deep lustre
without any blemishes, chips or dings whatsoever. 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, still looking superb. The driver side seat squab does not
even show the most minor of scuffing one would normally expect. The woodwork
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 an abundance of knots and whorls, presenting a
particularly deep and magnificent grain. The woodwork can be described as
"virtually flawless". Carpets, headlining, rear parcel shelf,
controls and switches are also all in excellent condition.
All
features on the car work as they should. The automatic split-level climate
control works perfectly, delivering ice-cold air conditioning or hot air as
required on both levels. Windows work correctly, and the electric seats operate
properly and are not “tired”. Being a late Camargue, this example has electric
rear view mirrors. All gauges are working, as are all the instrument 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 important place in history as the Rolls-Royce Motors Inc’s North
American demonstrator public relations and press car, and its stunning condition. It was
purchased new in 1981 and owned by Rolls-Royce
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 in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see additional photos!
Interesting information about the Rolls-Royce Camargue
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 that Rolls-Royce
cars are handmade, but few realise that Camargue was truly bespoke. Coachbuilt
from the outset, until 1978 the bodies were constructed by Mulliner Park Ward
in
Because of the small production
run, many of them vary in engineering specifications and details from car to
car and no two are exactly alike. To the non-discerning eye this will not be
detectable, but the purist will note subtle differences between cars – even if
they are only one chassis number apart. Every 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 two cars drive exactly the same.
At launch, the Camargue was
Rolls-Royce's flagship and the most expensive production car in the world,
eventually selling in
At its 1975 press debut,
Rolls-Royce highlighted Camargue’s fully automatic automatic split-level
climate control system, the first of its kind in the world. So sophisticated is
this system, that it took Rolls-Royce eight years to fully develop.
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
400 3-speed torque converter unit with Rolls-Royce’s unique electric gear actuation.
The first 65 Camargues produced used SU carburettors, with the remaining using
Solex units, except for the North American and Japanese markets. Starting in
1980 for the North American market, fuel injection was utilised. 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 using hydraulic system mineral oil as
the fluid medium.
With a 3048 mm (120 in) wheelbase, the
Camargue was the first Rolls-Royce motor car to be designed to metric
dimensions. It was also the first Rolls-Royce with curved side glass, and the
first to feature an inclined rather than perfectly vertical grille. Camargue's
grille cants forward at an inclined angle of seven degrees. It is also the
widest Rolls-Royce grille manufactured.
Click HERE to see additional photos!