Lot 25: Bentley T-Series

A Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow in all but name and badge, when the Bentley T-series was launched in October 1965, it struggled to escape its stablemate's pall. Indeed, some contemporary observers wrote the `Winged B' off as an irrelevance kept alive solely by the fading memories of past Le Mans glories. However, Bentley came back - with a bang - and now, 44 years later the model's poor showroom performance has become its greatest asset. Outsold by the Shadow at a rate of 11:1, the T-series remains discernibly rarer than the sibling with which it shares monocoque construction, all-round independent suspension (self-levelling at the rear) and disc brakes. The lightest Bentley for a generation, its mellifluous 6230cc V8 engine (enlarged to 6750cc during 1970) and smooth-shifting General Motors automatic transmission endowed the four-door saloon with a surprising turn of speed. Typically luxurious, the T-series' interior was an alchemic blend of the finest Connolly leather, rich wood veneers, deep carpets and polished chrome, and its softer radiator surround is more in keeping with the John Blatchley's understated but smooth lines. In the past some Bentley Ts have been converted into Silver Shadow clones with the adoption of Rolls-Royce's Doric radiator surround (which doesn't quite fit the subtly altered bonnet.) but this is "an original, unrestored car", says the vendor, pointing out that is has been "correctly maintained, with service and MOT history". He goes on to describe the coachwork as "very good" and engine, transmission, paintwork, interior and electrical equipment as "good" before concluding that `SKN 336M' is "a very clean example of this sought-after classic".