BENTLEY SPOTTING

It's the Rolls-Royce of Bentley websites.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Old 'Modern World Car'

It's been just over fifty years now since the ground breaking 'new modern' Rolls-Royce/Bentley came out.





The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T with the all new monocoque body -unheard of on any previous Crewe car.

This was the car that set the new standard for the luxury vehicle market.
Today it is still as well equipped with what we now take for granted in every modern car (aside from navigation and Bluetooth phone systems).
Power steering, electric windows, electric seats, air conditioning, power door locks, power boot lock, power antenna, high end stereo system (ok, 8 track or cassette), automatic transmission, self leveling suspension,cruise control, warning lights on the rear edge of open doors... just to name a few. 
But also a superior ride quality to almost all modern cars - no matter what make.
Admit it. Modern cars may go around corners faster but their ride leaves a lot to be desired.

Silver Shadows and Ts are still bargains for what you get for your money. Mind you, try to avoid one that needs a lot of work. You can buy a really fine example of one of these for the price of a well equipped new 'ordinary' car.
OK, I'm not saying to forget about buying an everyday Camry or Chevrolet and buy one of these instead... I'm just pointing out that their prices have not soared like Ferraris, Jaguars and Aston Martins of the same vintage with which they were in the same price category and class.
Silver Shadow/T prices are nowhere near the aforementioned cars' current seven digit figures.

That may change.

I was intrigued to see that of all the cars that Bentley Motors has decided to have their 'craftsman' apprentices restore as a project they have chosen one of the first Bentley T four door saloons.



They will have unlimited access to any part and material they require and will learn a lot from this dream project to keep these old skills alive.








This car when finished will be stunning. And worth a lot of money.

Buy now before they jump up.

(Posted by David Irvine)



Sunday, November 13, 2016

Bentley 'Barn Find'

Here's one of those cars that we know are out there. But just where, we will never know until someone stumbles across it.



A fellow RROC member has just got his hands on this lovely very original unrestored 1948 Bentley Mk VI.



An H.J.Mulliner bodied car originally sold new by Jack Barclay. 



The first owner only had it a few months and then Barclay's resold it for the same price to the second owner with a full warranty....

In 1970 (when just a twenty two year old vehicle) it was purchased in London by an American dentist and shipped to his home near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

That owner passed away in 1980 and it was then sold to a couple who were family friends. The husband passed away in 1990 and his wife then had the car made ready for winter storage where it remained.

The family had the car for thirty six years. Twenty six years untouched in safe, secure, proper  'winter storage'.
When she died this year the car was recommissioned and my friend purchased it.



It's all original except some 1960's American carpeting.





One of those cars that poses the tough question of whether to do a nice tidy restoration or clean & polish all those original finishes and surfaces.



The factory build sheets show that it was originally ordered with a canvas luggage set and what seem to be removable 'loose' seat covers. They have gone astray but an effort is being made to locate these or a similar set.





Personally, I would leave everything original (even that old American carpet) and polish, scrub and touch it up.
It really is a lovely 'time warp' piece.

Thanks to 'TM' for the story and photos. I look forward to seeing her.

(Posted by David Irvine)





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