Story and History

1997 Bentley Continental T - Mulliner Special Features

An outstanding example of this the most sporting Bentley of not just this period, but for many a year prior to this too

Exemplified by the more aggressive 18" 5 spoke alloy wheels shod with simply enormous tyres (Pirelli had to design a tyre specifically for this model) slotted within the extended wheel arches which match the lower front end spoiler to perfection

Performance wasn't too shabby either, 5000 chassis series cars, such as this, had the 400bhp engine upgrade and a claimed top speed of 174mph - unlike some, Bentley are not known to exaggerate and we have seen north of 150mph in Europe with plenty of room to spare in another example, in period

This particular Continental T, was whisked straight off the production line - well when I say that I really mean the line where they were produced by hand - and delivered to the in house coach building team at Mulliner

Over seen by head, Trevor Gaye, she was treated to a wealth of special features and thence registered to Bentley Motors Crewe, so as to "showcase" the versatility and multi-various options available from the Mulliner department

Special order Graphite / Blue coachwork

Twin tone leather interior split parchment / grey

Leather top roll, centre console, rear parcel shelf & headlining

Brightwork to headlamp bezels

Painted cheetah panels

Power folding door mirrors

Red colour to alloy wheel caps

Chrome radiator shell with cooling fans in silver behind

Mesch to grill and lower front air dam

Drilled metal pedals

Shaded band to front & rear screens

Chrome bezels to instruments

Engine turned aluminium to fascia & door panels

Burr elm veneers elsewhere

Starter button in red to centre console

Bespoke twin exit exhaust system (Adding an extra 10hp - total 410hp)

Veneered picnic tables to rear of front seats

The Bentley boys kept her for a year, where she was well received, and even used some of her features in the yet to be launched Le Mans series cars

The first private owner took over thereafter and then the second in 2001, at just 15.000 miles

A man of keen taste and style, he requested Broughton's add some more special features for him, to the tune of £16.000

Wooden steering wheel & gear knob

24 carat special edition 'B' winged logo's to waistrails, rear window surround & console coin holder

Rear quarter badges in red to Cheetah panels & red 'B' valve caps

He subsequently entered her into the BDC Concours, and happily won the Best In Class prize

Keeping the Bentley for over 10 years he sold her to a mutual associate of ours, who has owned 9 Bentley's, most of which have been very special - as is this one

He, of course, gave her an hydraulic service the Bentley and sold her to us as he was concentrating on Continental's from the 1950's

We subsequently, and with a wrench as we considered keeping her in our own stable so special is this example, to one of our longest standing Bentley customers

He has owned many Continental R's and R Mulliner's too - both in period as new cars and thereafter. Upon seeing this T in the showrooms he simply couldn't resist

Like all proper owners he indulged the Bentley during their time together - covering less than 1.000 miles (total now just 49.000) and spending £5.000 keeping her in the rudest of health

Complete with all books, history paperwork, small and large tools she is simply one of a kind and worthy of inclusion within any collection

One truly for the connoisseur