Lot 37: Bentley Turbo RT

Bentleys, following the acquisition of the marque by Rolls Royce in 1931, were built and marketed separately from their stablemates.  Following the second world war, they gradually became little more than mildly re-styled and re-badged versions of the current Rolls Royce model.  During the production period of the Silver Shadow, sales of the Bentley version, the T-Series, were just a fraction of total production and this once illustrious marque was in danger of being axed.  However, with the Shadow's replacement in 1980, the Bentley Mulsanne and subsequent Mulsanne Turbo models, named after the LeMans straight and hinting at the marque's famed victories at the circuit during the 1920s, saw the beginnings of a renaissance.  The Turbo R was added to the range in 1985 and, although based on the Rolls Royce body and mechanicals, this was very much a Bentley.  The veil on power outputs was finally lifted and this mighty saloon, with 320bhp and a massive 457 lb ft of torque, was a lot more than a thinly disguised Rolls Royce.The success of this model put Bentley firmly back on the map, the sales chart took a rapid up-hill climb and the drawing room comfort at sub-Concord speeds made this, to many observers, truly the best car in the world.  The continued successes of the Bentley brand have seen sales outstrip their once stable-mate and a return to LeMans with a three-year programme that netted a third place in 2001 and not just a coveted victory in 2003, but also second place to back it up.The car we offer here is a Turbo RT, the lengthened version, offering occupants even more comfort with little sacrifice in the way of performance.  First registered in 1997 this example, finished in Wildberry with a light tan interior, has covered 79,109 miles with a comprehensive service history to 72,000 miles.  Properly maintained, this cherished motorcar is described as being in good order throughout and is both a joy to behold and to drive.