1976 Rolls-royce Other Camargue on 2040-cars

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Rolls-Royce
Camargue
1976
One of the most historically significant "modern" Rolls-Royce motor cars.
This is a very meticulously restored Rolls-Royce Camargue finished in Velvet green with Biscuit Tan leather
interior. The waist-rails are accented with twin tan/gold hand-painted fine lines. The colour combination is very
elegant that presents beautifully and regally. In any setting the car takes on a very formal appearance. Contrasted
with the rich biscuit tan hides she simply looks stunning.
This Camargue was purportedly owned by famous film director Blake Edwards as the first owner. Best known for films
such as;"Breakfast at Tiffany's", "The Pink Panther" series and "10" with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek. It was
understood he took delivery of this Camargue during the making of Revenge of the Pink Panther
This was also at the time of conception of the movie
"10", which was finished in 1979 and it was Blake Edwards love of Rolls-Royce that influenced the use of a Corniche
Convertible for Dudley Moore's character in that film. Please understand that this information has been "passed
down" with the ownership of the car so there is no formal documentation to support this.
This Camargue has remained in Californian its whole life until purchased by us at Park-Ward. As you would expect of
a west coast car, she is very clean and dry throughout without a spec of rust (before or after restoration!). The
underside is factory original. She has also seen little use in her life having been dry stored on and off for many
years. The car is so "clean" throughout that we have no question of its 45,000 miles.
When Park-Ward acquired the car, it was very straight and completely dent free and overall clean. The car was
originally "Paprika" in colour and had been repainted black many years ago and was showing signs of fading and
light scratches. The interior was clean and complete. It could easily have been described as in "drivable
condition" but in order to achieve perfection, this unique Camargue underwent the "Royal treatment" of
restorations.
The paint job is stunning and was a bare metal respray costing some $25,000 and carried out by Rolls-Royce experts
- Park-Ward Motor Museum's experienced RR body-shop. There is not a single spot that shows the previous colour.
Because window rubbers no longer exist for Camargue, these were all fabricated by us including those fitted along
the lower edge of the side window. Other items, common to Silver Shadow and Corniche, were replaced; body gaskets,
clips, boot seal, and edge finishers. All the bright work was removed and machined polished and then hand polished
upon finally reassembly. This includes the grille, headlight brows, bumpers, side mouldings, rocker mouldings, door
handles, hub caps, inner sill mouldings and door entry scuff plates. The finish is as good as you would hope for.
To complete the "new-look", new tail lamp lenses and headlights were fitted! The final touch being the pin-striping
down the side of the car applied by the original hand-painted technique using only the finest squirrel hair brushes
and performed by an artisan with the steadiest of hands.
The interior is like new and is brochure quality.
Most of the leather was in good condition when we received the car other than the front seat facings which were
feeling dry. We replaced the leather facings with much research to find well matching leather and making sure the
stitching and seat padding was made to exacting factory look. The result is excellent. The rest of the leather was
put thru our hand-finishing re-Connollising process. Everything else inside the car was renewed or refurbished. If
renewed, it was all done utilising genuine Rolls-Royce quality finishes and materials. The headlining was in good
original condition and that has remained. The carpets were renewed; hand-made utilising genuine imported English
Wilton wool, with original specification Connolly leather edge binding, individually hand operated machine-stitched
in accordance with original factory Rolls-Royce standards. Before new underpadding and the carpet was fitted, we
installed the highest grade bitumen sheeting sound deadening to all the interior sheet metal areas.
All the Italian burl walnut wood inside the car was stripped and refinished with no less than 25 coats of clear
lacquer, each hand-rubbed between coats to provide a final finish like glass. This includes the dash, front doors,
rear seat inner waist-rails and under console lid. The final finish on the wood throughout is simply stunning.
Every single switch, gauge, button and feature was disassembled, cleaned, polished and refitted. The interior is
stunning and its only down-side is the fear to sit in it!
The trunk floor carpet was also replaced including the underfelt. There was none of the typical rust scaling in the
trunk so minimal refinishing was required.
As you would expect with a detailed restoration, all features and functions are working; electric windows, electric
seats etc. The air conditioning blows icy cold with new hoses and valves having been recently fitted.
Mechanically, this Camargue is a very fine example. The engine was fully gone over measuring compression and
balance. Just a look at the engine bay pictures is testament to that. It has been detailed workshop inspected with
anything required doing, attended to by Park-Ward's Rolls-Royce mechanics and craftsmen. The engine is smooth and
quiet and the steering light but tight. Important costly items such as the hydraulics and brakes were all fully
inspected and serviced as required. This included servicing the reservoir, brake pumps, accumulators, valves,
master cylinder, lines, hoses calipers and then final system pressure tested and bled. Many other serviceable parts
were replaced and items attended to and repaired as needed. This includes the exhaust. It is ready to drive and
enjoy.
This Camargue drives very well, considerably smoother than you would normally expect for this model. Mileage is not
verifiable but, as mentioned previously, entirely commensurate with the car's pre-restoration condition and
ownership; we believe it to be original. A set of Avon Turbosteel 235/70 white-wall tyres were recently fitted. We
think the car looks far better with the Avons than the Michelins depicted in some of the earlier photos.
Every single feature and function is operating as it is supposed to and electrics have been checked right down to
the smallest and insignificant dash and courtesy light. A total of some $75,000 has been spent:
Paint & finishers - $35,000
Interior refurbishment - $10,000
Mechanical service and repairs - $18,000
Sundry restoration items & procedures - $8,000