1985 Rolls-Royce CAMARGUE

This Camargue, in its striking Acrylic Cobalt Blue shade with Magnolia leather piped with Dark Blue hide, was registered in June 1985, so came near the end of production. According to its Rolls-Royce order form, which is present in the paperwork, it was ordered via Jack Barclay in August 1984 - there was a lengthy build time for these cars with, at one point, some customers having to wait up to two years for their cars to be delivered. The cost new in 1984 would have been around £83,000 - a big hit on any wallet back then. Its spec sheet also shows a Blue Everflex (Rolls-Royce’s more upper class way of describing vinyl) roof, Dark Blue carpets with Magnolia piping, more Nuella Dark Blue on the door cappings, parcel shelf, knee roll and top roll, and whitewall Avon 235-70 HR15 tyres plus a Blaupunkt Toronto radio. It seems to have gone back and forth between its Liverpool owner and Rolls-Royce a few times over the next year or so, having a few teething troubles sorted.

Over the years, the Camargue passed through another four owners before it ended up with its current owner, the vendor. He acquired it in April 2002, so has owned it for most of the 21st century, and tells us that it hasn’t covered that many miles in his ownership. This is confirmed by the MoT and service history, with around 20,000 miles covered in the last 20 years. The odometer currently shows 43,061 miles; a low mileage for a 38-year-old car that is backed up by the paperwork. In recent years, the vendor reports that most of its journeys have simply been to the MoT testing centre and back.

As far as is known, the Rolls-Royce is original inside and out; this is what the vendor believes, and there’s no evidence of a restoration in the history folder. During the vendor’s time with the Camargue, there’s been no major work. “It’s been serviced every now and again, but it’s still as original as when we got it,” he tells us. It’s also been garaged during his custodianship.

This is certainly a vast and imposing looking machine although its size seems less sheer in our 21st century world of sprawling SUVs - it’s certainly no Cullinan, which is something to be thankful about. In fact, it looks almost sleek and small compared to many of the vehicles you see taking up most of the road today.

Its Acrylic Cobalt Blue shade is very eye-catching; this isn’t a vehicle you’d miss in a crowd. Overall, the paint is holding up well; as an original vehicle, there are inevitably a few wear and age-related marks on the body, but overall, this is a very good example of its breed. As you’d expect with with a vehicle that presents such an impassive face to the world, there are some stonechips on the nose, with most of them apparent on the front spoiler. However, they’re really only that noticeable up close. One of the four headlamp wiper arms - the offside outer one - has also been snapped off near the base of its stem. The Palladian radiator surround is free from any issues, and topped by a gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy.

Elsewhere, there are the inevitable blemishes that are to be anticipated with a car that is getting on for 40 years old, but they’re pretty much confined to paint imperfections, some minor scratches and the odd bubble here and there. There’s no corrosion to be concerned about, as far as we can make out. The sills below the lower trims are painted black and, while this finish is a little faded in places, it all seems solid. Although the car was specified new with an Everflex roof covering, that’s no longer present. However, assuming it was even fitted in the first place, the top shows no residual remains of it, and the paint finish there is consistent with the rest of the car. Unlike a lot of older Rolls-Royces, the brightwork is quite minimal, but it’s all in fine order. Some light scuffing is apparent to the rubber on the bumper corners under close scrutiny, but the edge indicators fitted on the front wings have obviously done their task pretty well.

The tyres are Avon Turbosteel items and, just as when the car was new, sport a whitewall band. The 15in alloy wheels are well-protected by the thick rubber, so still look in great order. However, for anybody fancying a change of appearance at any point, there’s also a set of wheeltrims colour-coded to the car with Cobalt Blue circular inserts.

Take a look at our video and through our gallery for a large selection of images highlighting all areas of the Camargue to give an accurate record of its condition.

Open the doors and you step over sill-plates that record the parents of this joint Anglo-Italian project; ‘Coachwork by Rolls-Royce Motors Limited, Designed by Pininfarina’. As Crewe’s flagship of the Seventies and Eighties, the level of luxury is very high, with lots of rich walnut veneer, lavish Magnolia leather and carpeting, and some impressive equipment for the era, including the completely automatic split-level climate control system (which Rolls-Royce claimed had taken eight years to develop). This example also has a Panasonic car phone fitted, but it probably made its last call long ago. However, it’s a nice period fitment. The original Blaupunkt Toronto radio has gone, but in its place sits an Alpine radio/cassette player that still suits the ambience of the interior.

The inside has obviously been well-looked after. It presents very well for a 38-year old cabin and although we suspect that some items such as the carpets, or at least their overmats, may have been replaced, there isn’t much amiss inside save for a few indications of age and use over the years. It’s the steering wheel that shows the most signs of wear and tear, from 43,000 miles of being turned hither and thither, but it just exhibits some rubbing marks; with the leather cover and its stitching still intact, it’s just a little worn rather than worn-out. The padding surrounding the dash has a few superficial imperfections, but the wood still looks lustrous and polished throughout.

The condition of the hide upholstery is commensurate with a high quality car of this mileage. It’s clean and free from any holes, tears or threadbare areas, and there’s only minimal cracking and creasing patina. Most of it is, as expected, on the driver’s seat; the rear seats don’t seem to have seen much use at all. Overall, this Rolls-Royce is wearing its four decades of life extremely well.

The boot is massive and finished with the same fitted blue carpeting with magnolia piping as elsewhere. And, like that material, it’s also well-preserved and tidy. No stains from spilt oil cans here.

Under the bonnet, the engine isn’t quite as spruce as elsewhere and would probably benefit from some detailing. It’s not so much grimy as just a bit dusty and cobwebby, with some areas of missing black paint on some component surfaces, along with some occasional patches of surface rust. There are bonus points for the many warning and information stickers and signs still in place, along with the soundproofing under the lid which is, for the most part, undamaged and just a little dirty. The substantial 6750cc V8 engine starts easily and runs well.

Everything looks solid beneath the car, with a coating of underseal that is starting to age and does have some cracking in areas. But a online check of the MoT history shows that every pass since 2006 has been a clean one, save for 2014 when there was an advisory for an oil leak. So the strength of the Camargue’s underpinnings has obviously satisfied the tester for getting on for two decades.

There isn’t a massive amount of history. In addition to the V5C, the original order and build forms are obviously a very welcome part of the paperwork file, as are some of the early invoices as the first owner got to know and improve his new Camargue. But the bills after the first few years are minimal, aside for a couple from 2000 for a service, some minor cooling system, gearbox and brake work, and an MoT. However, there is the original service book, which is stamped up at mileage intervals of 2009 miles (November 1985), 4646 miles (July 1986), 9231 miles (July 1987), 13,592 miles (June 1988), 17,071 miles (July 1990), 22,262 miles (February 1993), 24,436 miles (November 1994), 24,994 miles (August 1995), 25,381 miles (June 1996), 28,005 miles (March 2000), 28,800 miles (June 2003), 35,411 miles (February 2005), 36,957 miles (August 2007) and 40,964 miles (May 2013). The MoT certificates date from the mid-Nineties through to the current one, which expires in February 2023 - so it’s a reassuringly long ticket. There’s also the original document wallet with the owner’s handbook and its supplement. Some spare sets of keys - including the original one still in its sealed Rolls-Royce and Bentley plastic bag - are also included.

If you want a Rolls-Royce that stands out from the crowd, then this one ticks a lot of boxes. While we’re tempted to say that traditionalists need not apply, actually, that’s no longer really true. By contrast to the models of today, the Pininfarina-penned Camargue looks almost conservative and restrained; it is, after all, a near 50-year-old design now. And time has been kind to the car, and many enthusiasts now recognise the model as Crewe striving to do something different. To a certain extent, it anticipated the leviathan styles of today. This example has the benefits of being all original - as far as is known - with a low mileage. And it’s certainly exclusive, with just 526 Camargues built. But most of those went abroad, and just 120 were right-hand drive. Given that the Camargue was once the most expensive car in the world - costing £83,000 or so when new, without any extras - the £29,000 to £39,000 anticipated for this one makes it look very reasonably priced indeed. Short of Lady Penelope’s pink six-wheeled Rolls-Royce from Thunderbirds - which also had radiator grille angled forwards, we should point out - it’s one of the more eye-catching Spirit of Ecstasy-adorned models you can show off.

Our estimate for this car is £29,000 - £39,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.