Rolls Royce Camargue Coupe (1976)

Styled by Pininfarina of Italy, the Camargue was launched in 1975 to a mixture of awe and disbelief. Was this audaciously styled car, its lines reminiscent of the Continental sports saloons of the past, really worth almost twice as much as the Silver Shadow on which it was based? The company's flagship, the Camargue was priced at 50 percent above the Corniche and, like the latter, used an up-rated version of Rolls-Royce's dependable, 6,750cc pushrod V8 engine. In keeping with tradition the power output remained undisclosed, but most testers reported a healthy improvement in acceleration above 70mph and a top speed in excess of 120mph.

Rolls-Royce’s advanced split-level air conditioning system was introduced with the Camargue, later becoming standard on the Shadow II range. In all other respects though, the interior remained the traditional ‘Gentlemen’s Club on wheels’, with acres of walnut embellishment and finest-quality leather. As range-topping models, the Camargue and Corniche were also the first to feature Rolls’ revised rear suspension and ride height control.

Camargue production was shared between Mulliner, Park Ward in London and the Crewe factory for the first few years before being concentrated at the later plant from 1978. Produced at the rate of around one a week, the Camargue was an exclusive model even by Rolls-Royce standards, output totalling just 531 units by the time production ceased in 1986.

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Registration no:	OJF 425P
Chassis no:	JRH21865
Engine no:	21865
Engine:	6,750cc V8 engine
0-60 mph:
Top Speed:	120+ mph
MPG:
Passenger Seats:	4