Near my farm this week I spotted a rare icon – a 1980 Rolls-Royce Camargue – and unless you know your cars well, you may not have even heard of this unique vehicle.

When it debuted in 1975, it became the most expensive car in the world. The Camargue was Rolls-Royces’ idea to push its already high-end brand even more upmarket. It debuted at twice the price of the already ludicrously expensive four-door Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and the two-door Corniche. 

Rolls-Royce had been experiencing tough times in the mid-1970s and was in the process of separating its automotive division from its aeronautical operations. 

Pininfarina had mocked up a high-end coupe design, which it first thought might be used for Mercedes on its future “SEC” coupe design. Instead, it reached an agreement with Rolls-Royce for the idea to transform into the Camargue. In doing so it represented the first Rolls Royce not designed in-house.  

The final production cars ended up being built in London by Mulliner Park Ward, Rolls-Royce’s coachbuilding arm.

Named after the coastal region of southern France, the Camargue was a three-metre wheelbase coupe with Rolls-Royce space in the rear. Its interior resembled a board room with its huge seats and upright dashboard.

The mechanical structure of the car cloned the Silver Spirit, meaning the venerable 6.75 V8 and three-speed General Motors Turbo Hydramatic automatic carried over.   

It debuted dual-zone, split air-conditioning, which was light years ahead of other car manufacturers, and took eight years to develop, but otherwise, the interior closely resembled its donor ancestors. 

Being launched in 1975, when the world was struggling from the early 1970’s oil crisis, critics slammed the Camargue citing it being “excessive” and “bloated”, some even called it “pug faced”.  

It had a body that only its mother could love and as a result, the Camargue sold only in small numbers. Only 531 were ever built, with a quarter of these going to the US market and the rest elsewhere around the world. 

The devaluation of the British Pound pushed its price to well over US$150,000 in the day, equivalent to US$600,000 in modern-day prices.  

However, today there are fans of the Camargue, and some say the design was well ahead of its time and looks “okay” (just okay!).  Others say that the lines of the car pop with lighter colours, bringing out its glamour. Its width is emphasised by its wide grille, slanted at seven degrees, and large headlights and tail lights. 

It was best for wafting around Monte Carlo or a day trip to the beach in the French Riviera. 

Modifications to the original 1975 design were few and far between. In 1977 it gained the rack and pinion steering that debuted on the Silver Shadow II, and in 1979 it picked up rear independent suspension that would later appear on the Silver Spirit.    

I would have said, earlier this week that chances are you won’t be seeing a Rolls-Royce Camargue anywhere on the roads in New Zealand soon.  But now I’ve spotted one in Kumeu, I would love to meet the owner of this beautiful car.