Lot 061: Bentley Mulsanne Turbo

In the inimitable words of Jeremy Clarkson, driving a turbocharged Bentley "is like riding a brontosaurus  bareback." Introduced in 1982, the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo shared the traditional 6.75 litre Rolls-Royce V8 of its Silver Spirit and Mulsanne siblings but was a totally different animal under the skin. Outwardly only a radiator painted in the car's body colour and discreet badges at the back and on the lower front wings gave a hint of the car's monstrous performance.But under the bonnet lurked a Garrett AiResearch turbocharger mated to a Solex 4-barrel downdraught carburettor in a plenum chamber which increased the engine's power by a massive 50 per cent  now 300bhp. Driving through a 3-speed automatic gearbox with uprated torque converter, it could hurl the two ton brute to 60mph in 7 seconds and comfortably top 135mph but was electronically limited to this speed in deference to the tyres. Only 498 examples were produced before it was replaced by the Turbo R in 1985. This particular car was first registered in November 1982. The mileage is believed to be about 110,000 but the car has two speedo changes recorded in the history file so it is difficult to be more precise. There are 20 services stamped in the book up until 1998 and the car has only covered 9,000 miles since then. It comes with a thick folder full of bills showing regular maintenance and has just had all rear suspension pipes renewed and new exhaust and turbo gaskets fitted. The gearbox was also reconditioned in 2002. In the current ownership for the last five years, the car has been mainly used on high days and holidays only, but has twice been to the Le Mans Classic event and is said to drive very well indeed with a magnificent turn of speed. With an MOT until May 2008, it comes with its original owner's handbook and service manual.