In the mid-70s Rolls-Royce had “changed its principles” according to the British famous automobile magazine Autocar as the legendary brand ordered a body for their new model from the Italian studio. Developed under the code name “Delta” this novelty received the Camargue name.
Source: Classic Car Passion
Even though Camargue was a two-door sedan, it was created on the Silver Shadow platform. For the first time since the pre-war period, the Rolls-Royce body was not designed in Britain, but by a foreign designer, the Italian Paolo Martin of Pininfarina, who struggled to combine a traditional radiator with his artistic ideas. Nevertheless, the car turned original, very unlike what the company produced before. And although the company never considered the new model as “sporty”, this vehicle still had a more lively character than other cars in this series.
Source: Automotive Heritage
The works on this automobile started in 1971, and for the first time the brand entrusted the bodywork to a foreign studio, the Italian bureau Pininfarina. So, Camargue became the first production vehicle of the company, the body of which was created by foreign designers. Pininfarina had to mount the body on a Silver Shadow chassis. After five years of preparation in 1975, mass production of the Camargue coupe began. Named after a location in the south of France where herds of wild horses roamed, this exclusive vehicle was intended for self-driving customers who wanted to combine traditional Rolls quality with stylish handcrafted bodywork. Camargue was produced only in a two-door version, and the body was heavy. In general, this model was quite long and wide – 5170 mm long and 1920 mm wide. The wheelbase was 3048 mm. The styling features of the Camargue were borrowed from the Bentley T, built for James Hanson in 1968, and from the elegant FIAT 130 Coupe. But in general, the model was interesting and individual. The hood was decorated with the famous emblem of Rolls-Royce – Spirit of Ecstasy. There were four individual seats in the cabin. It was the first Rolls-Royce to be built in metric dimensions and featured several advanced features such as multi-level air conditioning. The coupe was equipped with a V-shaped eight-cylinder engine (6750 cm³), automatic transmission with hydraulics from General Motors, and independent suspension. The top speed was 119 mph. The model cost £29,250 in 1975 becoming the most expensive British automobile. In the 80s, the price even reached £83,000! With such prices, the company could sell only 20-25 automobiles a year, which by the standards of Rolls-Royce did not ensure profitability. For 11 years of production, only 531 automobiles of this series were sold.
Source: Drives. today
The 1986 automobile had a traditional 6.75 liter V8 with an aluminum block and heads. For the European market, the company offered an engine with a four-chamber Solex carburetor, and for the American market with a Bosch electronic injection system. As usual, the manufacturer did not disclose the power value, but according to experts, it ranged from 220 to 250 hp depending on the fuel supply system. The automobile used a GM Turbo Hydra-Matic TH400 three-speed automatic transmission, supplemented by an in-house developed electronic shift circuit. The interior was made to the highest standards, with the maximum number of electrical adjustments and extensive use of wood and leather in the design. Rolls-Royce Camargue’s innovations include the world’s first fully automated two-zone car air conditioner that allowed separate temperature control in different parts of the cabin. 1986 was the last for the model: for the entire period of production, the brand produced only 531 vehicles. Low volumes were also due to the stagnation of the British economy in the 1980s. Today, the surviving vehicles are highly valued by collectors.
Source: Drives.today
In 1986, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the American Rolls-Royce production, 25 special Comarques were made in white with a red leather interior. This series was equipped with a whole set of luxurious attributes like a phone, a leather case, a silver pen, and silver-plated flasks with the owner’s monogram. A few years later these automobiles became the target of collectors’ hunting.
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