Top-to-toe restoration. Superb & most likely best restored Camargue in the world
Price: | $200,000 |
Year: | 1976 |
Miles: | 105,300 |
Make: | Rolls-Royce |
Model: | Camargue |
Engine: | 6.75 Litre Rolls-Royce V8 |
Colors: | Ming Blue (non-metallic) / Dark red Connolly hides |
Vin: | JRE-022723 |
Rolls-Royce
Camargue
1976
A very rare piece of Rolls-Royce history - only 531 made with less than half in the USA
Rolls-Royce Camargue; finished in Ming blue (non-metallic) with a dark red single fine-line to the waist-rails and dark red Connolly Nuella hides with matching carpets.
This is a very 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
This 1976 North American example, chassis # JRE22723, was the ninth ever
Camargue to be sold into this continent. She was delivered in June, 1976.
She was completely and totally restored by Park-Ward Motors over the last 4
years. A meticulous and very detailed restoration of all mechanicals, a back to
bare metal repaint, interior restored to include new factory correct Nuella
hides on the front seats (colour matched and ordered through Connolly Bros
direct), the wood all refinished to Crewe standard, right down to brand new
lambs-wool “full-cover” moutons.
This Camargue has been restored to a monumental degree and may well represent
the best restored Camargue in the world. The restoration as well in excess of
$125,000.
She
is simply in stunning condition.
The
car shows 5,300 miles and common sense suggests this is 105,300. That said, not
a single part of the car’s mechanicals has been overlooked to include removing
and reengineering the engine heads, all the hydraulics, brakes, suspension, exhaust,
right down to every little operational item. Mechanically, the car can only be
described as “excellent”. She drives incredibly smooth and tight and we think
as a result she is probably the best representation of what a Camargue drove
like when brand new. Notwithstanding this huge amount of work, the car is still
subject to our full Predelivery
Commissioning (certification) program upon sale, like all of Park-Ward's cars.
This process ensures EVERYTHING is in top form.
The
Camargue is the best-driving Rolls-Royce of its era 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 of the effort gone into the car.
The
body and paint on the car are spectacular. She was repainted by us on a complete
body strip-down basis and back to bare metal preparation. There was no rust in
the car to repair nor were there any signs of previous accident damage of any
kind. The car was originally Green and then painted black some 25 years ago.
The current colour is Ming Blue and the combination with the dark red Nuella
hide interior is nothing short of striking. The interior colour is its factory
designation. The paint presents perfectly consistent, deep in lustre and without
any blemishes, chips or dings whatsoever. Where possible, all rubbers, gaskets
and seals were replaced.
The
interior of the car was refinished to perfection whilst maintaining originality
where possible. The head-liner was/is in superb condition and as such retained.
The leather on the door panels and rear seats were excellent and so retained
also, albeit lightly Connollised. The front seats were actually not too bad but
showing age. Although no rips or tears but showing the early stages of drying
leather. For a lesser car, these could have been hide fed, softened up and then
retained, but we elected to replace the faces with brand new Connolly Nuella hides
ordered directly from Connolly Bros in the UK. The ordering process required us
to send a sample of the seat leather to Connolly who then leather matched and dyed
to original. The final finish is perfection. All the woodwork throughout was removed,
stripped and refinished using the Crewe factory method of up to 20 coats of
clear, wet-sanded between coats with the final coats buffed and polished to a glass-like
finish. Superb in all respects. 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 swirls, presenting a particularly deep and
magnificent grain. The woodwork can be described as "flawless".
Carpets, door finishes, rear parcel shelf, the infamous aero-style dash
finishers, controls and switches are also all in excellent condition. Each
being meticulously detailed before reassembly.
All the bright-work on the car including grill, headlight surrounds bumpers
(stainless steel unique to Camargue only), door sills, side mouldings and
finishes were all removed. Machine, and then hand buffed and polished. There is
only one blemish in the stainless at the left rear ¼ window point where we did
not risk removal. You can see an imperfection in the moulding (most of the
glass on these cars is no longer available and we did not want to risk damage
on its removal).
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”. This Camargue also has an electric rear-view
mirror. 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.
A very special "hidden" stereo system with all the modern features of blue-tooth and auxiliary inputs is mounted under the dash and the controls discretely hidden in the centre ashtray for accessibility.
A bespoke cocktail cabinet with whisky flask and 4 crystal cut nip glasses are nicely housed in the centre console stowage compartment.
So,
with the Camargue not only being a rare car, this one is incredibly unique by
virtue of it being “like brand new”. It was purchased new in 1976 and lived
most of its life in Toronto, Canada. We have photos of her going back some 20
years. In more recent years, the car was owned by a private collector who
housed the car in climate-controlled storage with minimal use for many years.
Afterwards it was purchased by us and the “full Monty” restoration embarked
upon.
The
car now completed, is simply superb, and having owned several Camargues over
the years, I can attest that this is the smoothest, quietest and most elegant
example I have driven.
This
magnificent Camargue comes, as you would expect, with its original handbook,
original correct jack and complete toolkit.
~~ This car is an unrepeatable opportunity, is one of the finest
examples in existence, and easily ranks as one of the nicest Camargues
available. She is a clear 10-out-of-10 that needs nothing. One step better, you
could take her as-is to your next Rolls-Royce meet and receive major accolades
for her presentation and condition - and surely take home a serious prize. ~~
International buyers are always welcome.
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!
Click HERE to see additional photos!