Highlights
- The fastest and most expensive Bentley of its time
- Presented in very well-preserved original condition
- Only 76,400 miles from new
- Sold with invoices totalling thousands of pounds
- Freshly MoTed
The Appeal
To paraphrase the Bard, a Rolls by any other name would be as sweet, and from those five iambs we can understand the general appeal of post-war Bentleys. Radiator grilles aside, from the Mk. VI of 1946 until the Volkswagen takeover of 1998, Bentleys were more or less identical to their Rolls-Royce siblings – every bit as stylish, every bit as luxurious and every bit as well-engineered – but the Continental models were the exception. If anything, they were even better.
The R-type Continental of the early 1950s boasted coachbuilt bodywork much more rakish than anything fitted to a Rolls-Royce, and a tuned engine made it the fastest four-seater on the road at the time of its launch. Its S-type successor was equally special, but after 1965 the Continental models were dropped, not to be revived until the Continental R appeared in 1991.
The new model was more than qualified to pick up the mantle of its forebears. Its two-plus-two coupé bodywork was again unique to Bentley and it was abundantly clear from its appearance that it was not for being chauffeured to the boardroom in, but the pleasure of owner-driver enthusiasts who might be inclined to drive a little exuberantly when sweeping through the countryside or along the coast.
Being so designed, it was the fastest, most powerful and most expensive car Bentley offered at the time, with its £178,000 launch price justified by the fact that it could deliver its occupants from 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds and on to 145mph without compromising their comfort in the slightest, and road testers found it handled beautifully at high speeds. It was suitably exclusive, too, with only 1,500 having been made by the end of production in 2003.
The car offered here is a highly original, low-mileage survivor finished in the very elegant colour of Georgian Silver. Still presenting and driving well, and retaining some early history, this is an excellent opportunity to acquire what was possibly the single greatest grand-touring car of its day.
The History and Paperwork
- Originally finished in Georgian Silver with Magnolia hide upholstery and sold through St. Peter Port Garages Ltd. of Trinity Square, St. Peter Port, Guernsey
- Issued with Guernsey registration 38020 prior to being imported into the British mainland and reregistered in 1997
- Purchased by the sixth and present mainland owner in 2017 and sparingly used since
- Offered for sale with the current and historic V5s, MoT certificates dating back to 2006, copious invoices dating back over 15 years, and the original Bentley owner’s wallet containing the owner’s manual among other booklets
The Interior
- Beautifully original hide upholstery sports light patina
- Wood trim in superb condition
- Fitted with virtually every conceivable luxury item for the time
Leather, as we all know, gets better as it matures and acquires a bit of patina, and the interior in this Bentley demonstrates that perfectly. Appearing in entirely original condition, the 30-year-old Magnolia hide has aged just as it ought to, acquiring a well-used character without suffering from any excessive wear or damage.
Indeed, in most respects the interior is almost as good as new. The complementary blue leather with which the dash and centre console are trimmed is almost faultless, though we did notice that the dash covering has started to come away from the windscreen slightly. The soft blue carpets are in excellent condition and have been kept exceedingly clean, and so has the headlining. Our favourite feature, though, is the rich walnut veneer without which no British luxury car would be complete. It has been used generously across the interior and, apart from the lightest patina in one or two places, barely shows its age at all.
In addition to the sumptuous trim, the Bentley boasts just about every luxury item one could possibly want in a car of its age, including heated power seats, power windows, heater and air conditioning, radio-cassette player, clock, outside temperature gauge, ashtrays and a Motorola telephone. That’s an impressive specification by anyone’s book, and it’s testament to the general quality of the car that everything we examined – the clock, power windows, driver’s seat controls and radio – was in full working order.
The boot is very clean and well-presented, although there are one or two light marks on the carpet and one of the boot lights is loose in its socket. The vendor advises that a spare set of interior carpets is included in the sale.
The Exterior
- Still sports its original finish of Georgian Silver metallic
- Azure 17-inch wheels fitted
- Sold with a Sealey all-seasons car cover
Still wearing its original paint, this Continental R is very much a low-mileage survivor. The elegant Georgian Silver metallic suits it to a tee and has lost none of its metallic lustre, although bidders would do well to remember that it is a 30-year-old unrestored car and it does have a few slight cosmetic blemishes in keeping with its age. These are mainly confined to a few cracks or small bubbles in the paint, but there is nothing to seriously detract from its appearance.
A light patina is evident on the wheels, too, which also present very well despite some light cosmetic wear. We did notice that in an early photograph from Guernsey, the Bentley sported 7.5/16 SS wheels, whereas it now wears a set of 17-inch Azure wheels.
The chrome looks to be in fine order; as one of Bentley’s sportier offerings, its use is restrained but just generous enough to accentuate the car’s shape. The windows and lights also look in excellent condition.
Underneath, we noticed that there is some corrosion appearing at the base of the rear wings which will want nipping in the bud.
Bidders should note that the grille badge is not being sold with the car, but a Sealey all-seasons car cover is included in the sale.
The Mechanics
- Expenditure in the present ownership exceeding £10,000
- MoT until 30th August 2024
- Runs well and sounds magnificent
We were not so privileged as to test this car on the open road, but we were able to get a reasonable feel for it just by manoeuvring around our photoshoot. Our strongest impression was of the sheer power developed by the 6.75-litre turbocharged V8. With just a light touch of the throttle, the Bentley wanted to surge forwards with muscle car-like oomph, which is quite remarkable when one considers that the engine in its earliest form appeared in 1959. The meaty burble of the engine is a little more pronounced than one might expect from a more sedate Bentley but, needless to say, it does not intrude significantly into the cabin.
The power steering is extremely light and means that, while the Continental may be 17½ ft. long, it is effortless to manoeuvre. The gear lever feels firm and moves smoothly, and the brakes are capable of stopping the car very sharply.
With invoices going back at least as far as 2005, we can see that the car has always received the necessary care and attention and, indeed, over £10,000 has been spent by the present owner, including £6405 with Phantom Motor Cars in August 2023. Among other jobs, the Bentley received new engine drive belts and anti-roll bar drop links in 2018, a new distributor and fuel pumps in 2019, and new rear brake pads, discs and offside calliper in 2022.
Following its appointment with Phantom Motor Cars, the Bentley was submitted for its MoT test on 31st August and passed with only two advisories:
- offside rear lower suspension spring mounting corroded but not excessively
- both front chassis rails corroded.
Of course, those two points can be addressed in the fullness of time, perhaps in the winter months when the car is likely to see less use. Until then, it’s all ready to use and enjoy just as it is, and it promises a very rewarding driving experience.
The Summary
In the 1990s, the Bentley Continental R really was the last word in style, luxury and performance. With a brawny engine and every conceivable creature comfort, its character is almost that of an American muscle car, but with polished manners and wearing Savile Row tailoring. Looking at it like that, it seems criminal, frankly, that it was never a Bond car.
With only 1,500 made, it’s rare that one appears for sale and this one stands out for its excellent originality. With its factory paint and patinated interior, it strikes us as a superb candidate for preservation. With much recent expenditure, it’s eminently useable for everything from a Bentley Drivers’ Club picnic at a stately home to a touring holiday around Europe.
BEFORE YOU BUY
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
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✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
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