Information
- One of the last examples produced
- A modern classic in the making which increases in popularity every year
- Five owners and 30,500 miles from new
- Very good history throughout its life
- Maintained by Frank Dale between 2022 and 2025 with £22,500 of expenditure
- The best example of this much sought after model that we have seen for several years
Chassis No CH01553 was completed and first registered in October 2002, finished in Sequin blue with a black leather interior and a machine turned aluminium dashboard fascia. It has very good service history with Bentley main dealers and specialists. Its fifth and present London based owner purchased the car in 2022 at 29,500 miles and has travelled just over 1,000 miles in the car since. During this time, it has been entrusted to us to maintain on a no expense spared basis, with invoices totalling just over £22,500 on file between 2022 and 2025, keeping the car in as close to new condition as possible. In our opinion, this is one of the very best examples available anywhere today. The Continental T Mulliner is undoubtably a modern classic in the making that continues to increase in popularity year on year, and this top-class late production example is a car we are delighted to be offering for sale.
Project 90 was unveiled by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd at the Geneva Motor Show in 1985 to wide acclaim. It was a full-size fibre glass mock-up of a future Bentley coupe, code named “Nepal.” Six years later at the same Geneva Motor Show the Bentley Continental R was unveiled to rapturous applause. It was described as the “first new Bentley since 1952” which of course is inaccurate. However, it was the first Bentley not to share body styling with a Rolls-Royce for many decades. The Continental R had two things in common with its long-lost cousin the R Type Continental, those being that the sleek coachwork styled by Mulliner/Park Ward was also designed in a wind tunnel and that it shared the same size 16-inch wheels, and was the first model to do so since the 1950’s. Its stylish lines were an immediate hit and although it was a new concept in appearance, the Continental R had some reassuringly familiar facets. The Bentley Turbo R’s 6.75 litre engine was fitted, and the seating arrangement and dashboard layout were also very similar. The outstanding performance, elegant looks and excellent luggage capacity resulted in a Bentley that was very worthy of being named a Continental. In June 1996 a new and arguably improved variant was launched, aimed at the high-performance market. The Continental T was four inches shorter than the Continental R, was fitted with a sports exhaust, 18 inch five spoke sports wheels fitted with very wide low-profile tyres and came complete with flared wheel arches, giving the car a more dramatic appearance. The performance was also enhanced, with Zytek digital engine management and twin turbochargers with intercooler boosting the car to an impressive 420BHP. It could reach 60mph in less than six seconds and boasted a top speed of almost 170mph. The Continental T was also given some notable upgrades inside the cabin, with the choice of engine turned aluminium or mahogany dashboards and waist rails. Another retro feature is the red engine start button, recognising Bentley’s famous racing past. The dynamic looking interior was completed with chrome bezels surrounding each individual gauge and drilled sports pedals. The Continental T was produced in limited numbers with a total of just over 300 motor cars rolling off the production line at Crewe between 1996 and 2002.
Frank Dale Comment
The Continental T Mulliner is a model that continues to gain in popularity each year, and it’s easy to see why with its stylish looks and exhilarating performance capabilities. But to find one in this condition with only 30,500 miles on the odometer is not so easy. We believe that a better example would be hard to find, and that it should be given serious consideration to anyone looking to acquire the last and best in breed of this superb model.