1980 Rolls-Royce Camargue – Project Profile

There’s no getting away from it. The Rolls-Royce Camargue had a face that was, let’s not be so mean as to call it ugly, but it was… curious. It had and still has presence. Lots of it. Look at this 1980 Rolls-Royce Camargue practically spilling over the sides of what is not a small trailer. It’s an imposing bruiser. It’s Lenny McLean in car form. Intimidating, but fascinating. It’s also a car that time has been kind to. When it was first launched in 1975, it looked too different from its Rolls brothers. However, the passage of time has pushed the Camargue into being not just a Rolls, but a classic. And now the turns have tabled, because people want the Camargue, making this tired example something people will be keenly bidding on. Will you, dear reader, be one of them?

What is it?

It’s a very big, very green, 1980 Rolls-Royce Camargue. You might not think it, but the Camargue was in production from 1975 to 1986, though only 531 were ever built. It was a bold idea by Rolls, as it was – bespoke coachbuilt cars notwithstanding – the first car since the war to be designed by an outside party. Namely Paolo Martin at Pininfarina. He was part of the Triumph Spitfire design, he penned the Fiat 130 Coupe, the Lancia Beta Monte Carlo and the cute Peugeot 104, so we can only assume he was having and off week or could only find his ruler when it came to the Camargue. Either way, he created something striking, something impressive and something truly unique.

The Camargue was Rolls-Royce’s flagship model, and was also the most expensive car in the world at launch. Based on the same platform as the Corniche and Silver Shadow, it boasted a more powerful 6.75-litre V8, rear-wheel drive, revolutionary split level climate control, more leather than the Hell’s Angels AGM, and of course, those brutal looks. It was and still is a monstrous thing, but it wasn’t received all too well because, well, face, mother, love and all that. However, as we mentioned earlier, it’s found a following now, and rightly so. This is a true stand out classic. Oh, and it might be worth mentioning that this particular Camargue has, are you sitting down, just 825 miles on the clock. Yes. Eight hundred and twenty five.

Why is it a project? 

Yes, it only has 825 verified miles on the clock (the seller has all the documentation to back it up) but 825 miles in 43 years means this car is in need of full restoration. It was bought new in 1980, obviously, and then shipped to its one and only owner in Honk Hong. It covered those few miles and was then, for reasons unknown, put into storage where it remained until 2022 when it was shipped back to Blighty. It was registered in the UK on 1st July 2023 and as such, shows zero previous keepers (it was never registered in Honk Kong, either). It comes with the build sheet, the V5, the inspection sheets, the letters to and from the buyer in 1980 and of course, the invoice. £61,720 in 1980. Or £252,062 in 2023 money. Blimey.

The engine, remarkably, does run and it sounds amazing. Though it needs to run off an external fuel source. It will need a full mechanical recommission, naturally. The tyres are shot – and 43 years old. The car, while stored, was clearly not left in a hermetically sealed bubble. The paint is blistering, there is some rust – mostly surface – the chrome is faded, the hot Honk Kong climate has destroyed some parts of the interior. This is, make no mistake, a full restoration, not a few weekends of tinkering. Also, as the tyres are, well, look at them, this Camargue hasn’t been driven, so the transmission is an unknown.

What should you look for? 

Pleasingly, this 1980 Rolls-Royce Camargue is currently available on Car & Classic Auctions, meaning we have done all the hard work for you. Have a proper read of the listing, pore over the hundreds of photographs and study. We’ve covered everything for you.

What should you do with it? 

This is a remarkable, exciting, never to be repeated find. 825 miles? That’s bonkers. It’s not going to be a cheap restoration, nor is it going to be easy, but it will be worthwhile. And restoration really is the way to go here. This car deserves to live, to be seen and to be celebrated. Okay, the Camargue might not have been the prettiest, but it was still a Rolls-Royce, and this one has to be one of the most special to still exist. The only question is, would you drive it? Or would you try and preserve that mileage?