Silver Spirit III in Greek

Watching videos where one does not understand the language is difficult for some. I quite enjoy it, as I am forced to have a higher level of observation, to try and understand what is going on.

Take this very well dressed man called Harris Theofrastou talking about a late model Rolls Royce Silver Spirit III.

It's all Greek to me.

Video courtesy (http://www.epitroxon.gr/)

Bentley Speed Six

The silent sports car.

Fifth Gear Continental Range Review

Tiff Needell from the Channel 5 UK television show Fifth Gear conducts an experiment using beautiful models with long hair in Jimmy Choo shoes.

Here are the results.

Bentley Turbo R Convertible by Salvatore Diomante

This Salvatore Diomante car has been featured on Bentley Spotting before here.



This very impressive four door convertible sports different bumper bars, side skirts and exhaust.



These high resolution photos have confirmed that it is a Rolls Royce to Bentley swap, but it so does not matter!





One impressive car to parade around in!

Pictures (Thanks to Basman)

Updating the Camargue

The Bentley Camargue is one rare vehicle. There is only one. From 1985 SCBYJ000XFCH10150.

There it is.



A previous article here explains that the Camargue was actually designed as a Bentley with twin circular headlights. Here is a design sketch.



The design also called for square headlights as well, presumably for the Rolls Royce versions.



The rear is sporting the Flying B badge in the sketches.



Now to updating one. The standard is to add modern wheels. Say 17" Bentley Turbo R wheels from the 1990's. They certainly update the Camargue.



Another example of newer wheels from the rear.



Or you could go down the coach building path. Lop the roof off, and change the Bentley headlight to the Rolls Royce version as per what the designer envisioned, not what Crewe delivered.



Again another coach built example. Convertible, with limited front end modifications.



But look at the rear! Wrap around rear lights. They go very well with the Camargue, quite modern.



How about this beauty! After doing a bumper bar comparison as described previously, how about installing a 1997 Bentley Turbo RT front bumper on a Camargue. Well it is the same dimensions, so why not! It is what Phantom Motor Cars of Surrey did. Sure is a hit in my books.



Events like these give you a great opportunity to do some tinkering to the look of the Camargue.



There has been some previous Camargue Press Images, so why not some more.





A very high resolution photograph, ideal for a computer Desktop image.



Pictures (Phantom Motor Cars, Rolls Royce PR, Webfinds)

Bentley Blazer by Jankel

Robert Jankel is arguably the most famous limousine coach builder due to his association with Rolls Royce and Bentley.

He has made many fantastic cars over the years. And then there is this.

Take this 1973-1991 General Motors Chevolet K5 Blazer. It seems to have nothing to do with Rolls Royce and Bentley.



Actually it does. The Chevolet Blazer and many Rolls Royce and Bentley cars shared the same General Motors sourced Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic transmission.

Robert Jankel had an idea. If the Blazer shared the same transmission, it would be an easy job to mate it with a Bentley engine, and use the running gear to make a Bentley 4x4 off roader. So he did.



A Bentley engine is inserted into the Blazer, mated with the common transmission.

Now to the body. You have to make it at least look a little like a Bentley. Lets change the front end. That will convince everyone that it is a proper Bentley.



The interior was also changed to that of a Bentley. The rear, not much modification was done.



I would love to see a side or three quarter picture of the vehicle. Bentley front with 1970's 4x4 body. Jankel definitely did not kick any goals with this one.

Pictures (Jankel thanks to Maurice for the tip, Pfannengeil)

Bentley Drivers Club NSW Concours

As I perused the Prime Minister of Australia's residence The Lodge today on its annual public open day, and wondered the grounds of Government House, I was able to get quite up close to the Governor General's 1970 Rolls Royce Phantom VI. It was in superb condition other than disrespectful Magpies. This is thanks to the man behind One Tee Topics, Bill Coburn.

Also on today was the Bentley Drivers Club of New South Wales Concours.

Jerome, who is in charge of www.bentleydriversclub.com.au sent in this very encouraging photograph.



It is indeed very encouraging, and I thank you for your effort.

There were a number of cars on display, including two 1929 Bentley Speed Sixes and a 1926 Bentley 3 litre.



A 1929 Bentley Speed Six.



A Bentley S3 Continental 'Chinese eyes'.



Lastly a Bentley Corniche, one of only 63 made.



Again, thank you for your encouragement and the photographs.

Pictures Courtney (Jerome from Bentley Drivers Club, NSW)

Bentley Spotting turns 200

This is the 200th Bentley Spotting post, so it's time to blow my own trumpet for the second time. The first was at the 100th post here.



200 posts in 11 months. Calculated, that is more often then one every second day. It still surprises me that this is still possible after 11 months.

After 100 posts this was the top ten.

BENTLEY SPOTTING TOP TEN POSTS FROM THE FIRST 100 POSTS.

1. The Sultan of Brunei's Different Bentleys.

2. Bentley Clear Indicators.

3. Hooper Empress II bodied Bentley Turbo R.

4. Ladies Entering Bentleys.

5. The Bentley Camargue.

6. Bentley Wing Vents.

7. Behind the Bentley Grill.

8. Bentley Four Wheel Drive.

9. Another Musical Interlude from a Car Nut.

10. Bentley Brooklands is the old Bentley Corniche.

Now we shall list the top ten from the second 100 posts.



BENTLEY SPOTTING TOP TEN POSTS FROM THE SECOND 100 POSTS.

1. Bentley Arnage Limousine by Jordan.

2. A Change of Headlights.

3. Venting Graham.

4. Bentley Mulsanne/Rolls Royce Silver Spirit based Convertibles.

5. Bentley Hooper Empress II.

6. The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam's Different Rolls Royces.

7. Modernising a Bentley Turbo R Hooper 2 door.

8. Bentley Turbo R 4 door Convertible by Salvatore Diomante.

9. Bentley T 2 door Saloon by James Young.

10. Bentley Continental R's up the creek.


Keep sending in suggestions, story tips and pictures. The more people suggest ideas and send in pictures, the greater the number of posts!

Happy Bentley Spotting.

Vivienne Westwood and Bentley

A bit of trash on Bentleyspotting.com is always good. It keeps with the non technical nature of the blog. One for the supermarket isle.

Famous fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has teamed up with Bentley Milano for one of her fashion shows.

A beautiful 1992 Bentley Continential is parked out the front, and Vivienne Westwood gets driven around Milan in a current Flying Spur.



Her designs are synonymous with the punk and new wave fashion movements.



Here she is with on of her more famous t shirts.



And here it is from behind. The 1992 Bentley Continential that is.



The year the car was made, Vivienne received an OBE for her work in British fashion.

She shocked the world by wearing a see through blouse at the ceremony, then when she turned around, her skirt raised to reveal that she was not wearing underwear.

In 2006 The Prince of Wales made Vivienne a DBE, a Dame Commander of the British Empire, here is a photo from that occasion. She later stated that she was not wearing any underwear again.



It is therefore appropriate that Bentley parked a topless car out the front.



Some of her male fashion is a little questionable. I do not think they are wearing Lobb shoes like other Bentley drivers as written about previously here.



The car is sporting slightly unusual wheels which kind of go with Vivienne Westwood fashion. They are chrome Bentley Turbo R wheels. Quite rare on a Continential.



Pictures (Bentley Milano, Webfinds)

Hooper Silver Corniche

A Silver Corniche? Confused? Rightly so.

This is what happened when coachbuilder Hooper blended a Rolls Royce Silver Spirit with a Rolls Royce Corniche fixed head coupe.



A lot of word is needed to mount Silver Spirit headlights to a Corniche fixed head coupe. It is not simply a couple of bolts.

The year was 1993, looks like it should have been done in 1983. Hooper may still be around today if they got the decade right.

My prediction is that someone will buy the Hooper name and revive it as a modern day coach builder for current Rolls Royce and Bentley cars. That's the way the industry is heading.

The car also has a brother!

Here is another example that is right hand drive, based on a 1978 Corniche.



The front quarter panels certainly have had a lot of work.

Picture (Maurice)