Lot 311: 1981 Rolls-Royce Carmargue

Before the introduction of the Silver Shadow in October 1965, Rolls-Royce motor cars had traditionally employed a separate chassis, which allowed a variety of coachwork designs. The brief for the Shadow, however, had demanded a lower and more compact successor to the Silver Cloud III, thereby dictating a unitary construction monocoque body shell.Mechanically, the Shadow was similar to the Cloud III bar the adoption of independent rear suspension - notably improving road holding and ride comfort and also allowing greater interior space - while the V8 engine was enlarged from 6,230cc to 6,750cc in July 1970. Eight months later, the 125 mph Corniche was introduced, the fastest Rolls-Royce yet with 10% more power; it also benefited from air conditioning, central locking and rack and pinion steering. The Corniche was ousted as the Rolls-Royce flagship by the arrival in March 1975 of the striking Camargue. Its mechanical specification was similar but the coachwork bore the unmistakable signature of Sergio Pininfarina. Sporting and angular with sharp lines, it was wider and lower than the Corniche. Large and spacious, particularly for a car with just two doors, this most luxurious of Rolls-Royces was intended to be highly distinctive and aimed at the wealthy owner driver - it scored on both counts, costing no less than 10,000 more than the Corniche when launched! Production ceased in 1986 with just 530 of these stylish Rolls-Royces having been built.This 5000 series Carmargue from the Turner Museum Collection in the USA benefits from fuel injection and has covered a mere 26,000 miles and finished in Masons Black with Tan interior and featuring a modern stereo system and radar! Supplied with the car is service books, handbooks and V5 registration document. A rare opportunity to acquire a low mileage correct example of what was one of the most expensive cars in the world.Cette Camargue date de 1981. Prsente d'origine en 1975 avec seulement 530 exemplaires ralises. Documents de circulation Britanniques. Peinture noire avec sellerie en cuir brune