A7 URC

 

Rather contrived, but I suppose it could possibly read as AZURE, particularly with the couple of stragically placed screws:

 

 

But A2 URE is so much better:

 

Nothwistanding the plate, this first generation Bentley Azure makes a significantly cheaper alternative to the Azure T featured in the current From The Classifieds: http://www.bentleyspotting.com/2013/12/from-classifieds_9.html?m=1

 

It's a 1995 example with just 25,000 miles from new:

 

 

 

And at GBP 39,995 it is one of the cheapest for sale...

 

 

I was surprised to find that these cars are now available in the UK for less than GBP 40,000 - they must surely be nearing the bottom of the depreciation curve.

 

(Posted by Andy)

ROLLS 3?

An old late 1970's Belfast, Northern Ireland registration number has come up for sale on Ebay.

Only GBP 12,000.

Bid for it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rolls-Royce-Registration-Plate-ROLLS-RO1153-RO115-3-/261336784334?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cd8e2ddce"here.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Red Pearl Mica

It's not often you see a Bentley Continental R with an after market turbo badge...

 

 

But then, it's not often you see a Bentley Continental R painted in red pearl mica with chrome sills.

 

 

 

 

It certainly grabs your attention...perhaps not the car for a more introverted owner!

 

I quite like the exterior, but the interior is a little too much for my taste...

 

 

 

 

It's currently for sale if anyone is interested...

 

A virtual beer if you can identify where the turbo badge is from!

 

I initially thought Porsche Cayenne, but its not quite the same...

 

Photos from Hexagon Classics.

 

(Posted by Andy)

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II

Rodd Sala has listed this very nice 1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II.



It's VIN is LRL41175C - where the "C" is for California, so it is the very rare electronic fuel injection model, that only became standard in all markets at the end of 1987.

If you want it, get it in ebay here.

James Young Silver Shadow 2 door

In the words of Marinus Rijkers of the excellent site www.rrsilvershadow.com, "There are not many pictures available of the James Young models. The car is too rare for that. The total production was 50 cars, 35 of them being a Rolls-Royce and 15 a Bentley."



A previous post of January 17th 2008 on Bentley Spotting stated "In the late 1960's the RR&B dealer Jack Barclay persuaded coachbuilder James Young to make a 2 door Silver Shadow/Bentley T. He did, and a total of 50 cars were produced. There were 35 Silver Shadow and 15 Bentley T variants."



"It certainly is one collectible body type, and the rarest of the Silver Shadow Bentley T type cars that were produced in conjunction with the factory."



Well this James Young Silver Shadow 2 Door has turned up for sale currently on Ebay, chassis number CRH1264.



It has been modified - not distastefully, but not correct for that model. This car now sports 'modern' Silver Shadow II bumpers, vented wheel covers and a deeper Shadow II grille. The one off Pininfarina Bentley T had the same modification in later years, so it's no unheard of - simply upgrading.



I wouldn't do such a thing to such a rare car, but whoever did it might as well have gone all the way and given it the late model flared wheel arches. The rubber bumpers don't look right on non-flared cars - as in the 1973 American cars.



But I still like it.



Buy it here if you want to.

(Posted by David Irvine)

Black Grill Surround

From this angle this Bentley Continental GT looks standard-esque, with the now more commonly occurring fashion of black wheels.



The black wheels are good. They are Kahn RS-X wheels, designed to accommodate original centre cap. More info here.



Switch angles and this car is something else!



A contrasting colour grill surround. Now that is a little special on a Continental GT.



I quite like the look of this car, even though it is a little brutal. It looks kind of like a snout come to think of it.



If you want it buy it on ebay here.

Abandonded Camargue

When the Rolls-Royce Camargue came out in 1975 it was the most expensive production car in the world.

Here is a press photo from Crewe displaying the standard 1800 TU number plates.



So what is happening a bit over 30 years later?

Well in Georgetown, ON Canada, just west of Toronto one has simply been abandoned! That is right, just left behind.



Now it's on ebay here.



The ad is simple and straight to the point "1976 Rolls-Royce Camargue 2 Door, 65 865 miles, Runs, Interior and body need work, Picked up as an abandonded vehicle, no one claimed it. Now have Legal title. Only serious inquiries."



It is not really a car you would forget about. But maybe.



Could have been a bit of Alzheimer's.

Ray Mumford Art Car

What happens when you are the "largest classic and muscle car dearler with the biggest inventory in the West" and a not so humble Rolls Royce Silver Shadow SRH10340 turns up in the lot as a trade in?



Taking a look at the car, you certainly scratch your head. It has art work all over it in immaculate detail, but the context of the art work is not so quite clear.



Pretty much you have to go with what you were told. A 'Rolls Royce' tale no doubt. A story where fact and fiction become blurred and creative art prevails. Just like the beautiful images of Rolls Royces on the Rolls Royce.



Well that is the situation for San Diego Classic & Muscle Cars. So here is the story which precedes with the caveat "HERE IS THE STORY WE GOT WITH THIS CAR"



"IN 1971 THE FACTORY NEEDED A CAR FOR THE EUROPEAN AUTOSHOW, BUT WANTED SOMETHING UNIQUE FOR DISPLAY AND COMMISSIONED A WELL KNOWN FOR THAT TIME ARTIST TO PAINT SOME CLASSIC ROLLS ROYCE ART ON THE CAR, THE DETAIL IS AMAZING EVEN 37YRS LATER AND ITS VERY HARD TO APPRCIATE THE FINITE DETAIL OF THE AIRBRUSH ARTWORK IN A PICTURE, IT IS DONE IS A SEPIA TONE AND THE DETAILS ARE THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN IN THIS KIND OF WORK DONE ALMOST 40YRS AGO."



"THE CAR TOURED ALL OVER EUROPE AND WAS ON DISPLAY IN A MUSEUM FOR A SHORT TIME. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RESTORED AND IS ONE OF ONE, WE DO NOT HAVE INFO ON THE ARTIST OTHER THAN THE INITIALS R.M."



"NOW THIS CAR IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT IS UNIQUE AND QUITE DIFFERENT."



Well luckily for the used car sales man's story, it can be clarified by some serious Rolls Royce and Bentley spotters.

Take David Irvine for example. He scratched his head after seeing the ad recalls some articles from 1979 about the car.

Then he goes to his scrap books of 100's of Rolls Royce and Bentley photos and articles and locates a couple about this particular car.

The oldest car magazine in the world Autocar had this article from 1979.



Click on the images to read the real story.

And Motor Magazine at the same time ran with this story.



A touch different to the used car salesmen's story. Who would have thought!



Here is Ray Mumford next to the car after it was finished.



And during the painting.



It is amazing detail using air brush.



So if you want to buy the car that comes with a bit of a yarn and some unique art work you can.

Ebay Item: 120432658615.

It is quite well priced at a buy it now price of US $13,900.00.




More can be read about the artist at his website http://www.raymumford.co.uk

He also painted a Corniche. Or is it a Mulliner Park Ward Drop Head Coupe?



And look! The lady has accidental forgot to put on some clothes.



How unfortunate.

Pictures courtesy (San Diego Classic & Muscle Cars, Autocar, Motor Magazine, Ray Mumford)

Bentley Hooper Turbo R 2 Door for sale

I do fancy a Bentley Hooper Trubo R 2 door. And when ever one comes up for sale I generally post about it.



This one, SCBZR03B7KCX25450 is a 1989 Bentley Hooper Turbo R and was one of the last 2 doors made by Hooper.



Let's decode the VIN SCBZR03B7KCX25450
SC = Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, Bentley Motors (1931) Limited
B = Bentley
ZR = Turbo R from 1989
03 = 6.75 Litre V8, single Garrett turbocharger, catalytic converter, cross-bolted crankshaft from 1988
B = Passive front seat belts
7 = Checksum Digit
K = 1989
C = Crewe
X = Left hand drive
25450 = Chassis Serial Number



It is said around 15 of these cars were made, where the B pilliar is moved back and the front door is extended by 8.5 inches.



At times a Hooper rear window is added, and this car sports this great feature.



It makes a fantastically well proportioned 2 door coupe.



Extra features include a badge bar, Hooper bonnet scoops and small details such as a three quarter length double red pin strip.



The hood intakes are quite distinctive.



Another Hooper feature is the extra chrome strip on the rear lights between the clusters.



It is the detail that makes a coachbuilt car exceptional.



In interior is in full leather St James red and shows no indication of wear.



I was lucky enough to be in contact with an ex-employee of Hooper who built this car and he said that "it looks like it's just left the factory!"



He also said "this would have been one of the last ones made. The pictures show that the car still has the original alpine stereo, and also there is a nice photo of inside the small rear window. If you look closely at the rear of the seats in the middle you will notice that I had to raise the rear brake light so that it could be seen through the rear window. Also in the same picture this car has got modified covers behind the rear headrests this was to house the enourmas alpine speakers that are mounted just behind the headrests."



It is one special car.





Here is a photograph of this actual car being made at Hooper. It is a bit special.



The car is currently on ebay, Item number: 220307021832 and is for sale by Cars Internationale Ltd. of Fort Lauderdale and I thank Ken Baker KENBAKER1265@GMAIL.COM for the pictures.



Best of luck to the purchaser of SCBZR03B7KCX25450