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Named after a region of France, the Camargue was
intended to be a sophisticated, limited production,
personal luxury car. Code named “Delta” within the
Company, the Camargue was announced in March 1975.
Production spanned ten years until 1984. Like the
Corniche it was built on the Silver Shadow II floor
pan from welded steel pressings with aluminum doors,
and boot, and bonnet lids. The Camargue’s styling by
Sergio Pininfarina was quite different to that of
any Rolls-Royce that had come before it. In detail
too, it was in a class apart, with its special seats
upholstered in Connolly “Nuella” hide, distinctive
aircraft style fascia and the world’s first fully
automatic split-level air conditioning system.
The pricing of the Camargue, at fifty percent higher
than the Corniche, exploited a previously untapped
market that in the early seventies had seen Corniche
automobiles changing hands at up to eighty percent
above list. Buyers willing to part with $100,000.00,
a new record for a production car, were readily
found, but exclusivity was assured. Only 534
Camargues were manufactured.
The Camargue on display was the first collectable
car acquired for this collection. It was
accidentally found at a Rolls-Royce dealer in Palm
Springs who had taken it on trade. The Camargue is
definitely a love-it or leave-it car. The design is
not for everyone. Although some may conclude that
the rear looks like a Chevrolet Impala, the sides
are very Italian and of course the front is
unmistakably Rolls-Royce. Note that the radiator
shell is slanted forward on a 2% angle.
The Camargue was outfitted with a 412ci aluminum V-8
engine that generated 220 hp. The Corniche on
display has less than 15,000 original miles. |
