Unveiled in 1975 as the most expensive car available for the world’s public road, and in production for 11 years, this daring Pininfarina sculpture was 3 times the price of an Aston Martin V8 at the time our 1976 example was delivered. Price, however was largely brushed away as a concern by period factory literature ‘The quality will remain when the price is forgotten’.

Produced in 1976, and delivered new in 1977 to Grassicks of Perth, a Scottish Rolls-Royce dealership, our Camargue was immediately exported to the Middle East. Returning to the UK a couple of years later, the car needed some £18, 000 worth of rectification work at Crewe before it could be supplied to its next owner in 1979. Following the ownership of the next few corporate keepers, the car was bought in 1999 by a well known nightclub owner, before being purchased by a Bristol car collector who later had to sell the Camargue to a local dealer, along with several other exotic examples to pay court demands and legal costs for convictions of a rather unsavoury nature. A colourful history indeed, and the Camargue was starting to show the battle scars of its past when it was spotted by its current custodian in 2015.

Remarkably, the car retained evidence of its past in a comprehensive history file which remains intact. Mileage was verified at around 50, 000. Paint and interior showed signs of wear, but there was minimal corrosion and no signs of any accident damage. At this point the car underwent a thorough mechanical recommissioning program by specialist Chris Moroney, and then just used and enjoyed over the next few years for regular duties, along with European adventures to Lake Como and the like.

In 2020 it was decided to return the Camargue to its former elegant glory, and a thorough schedule of works was undertaken. This included further mechanical recommissioning and subsequent maintenance by marque experts, a full bare metal repaint, with all metal repair and fabrication properly crafted. The interior was removed and seats taken back to hide before re-connolising, marquetry repaired and replaced, even the sumptuous lambswool over rugs have been replaced with new at great expense.

All its original books and documentation remain with the car, a testament, if any were needed, of this magnificent motor car’s originality.

This car now presents as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars originally intended, and in 2024, the car was invited to be displayed at NEC Classic Car Show Pride of Ownership. The ethos of our vendor throughout his custody echoes that of Mr Royce.