Description

1993 Bentley Continental R

Spectacular Crewe's missile; well maintained and in regular use; 29 services to date; 480lb/ft of creamy turbo thrust; heated seats; cruise control; is there a finer way to get from A to B?

Surely the most arresting Bentley of modern times, the Continental R received a standing ovation when it was launched at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show and the Sultan of Brunei bought the show car on the spot.
Sleek, opulent and with an air of brooding menace, it was nothing like the slab-sided Bentleys of old with dramatic Coke-bottle styling by John Heffernan and Ken Greenley. A brute in a well-cut suit, it packed a mighty punch from its turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 with an estimated 350bhp and 480lb/ft of torque. Driving through an all-new 4-speed GM4L80-E transmission with a Sport setting and ‘overdrive’ on top, it could whoosh to 60 in just 6.6 seconds and was capable of cruising effortlessly at speeds of up to 150mph. It also had remarkably sure-footed handling thanks to state-of-the-art adaptive ride suspension. The interior was as lavish as you would expect for £197,000 with acres of the finest burr walnut, hand-stitched leather and heated front seats.
Supplied new by Lancaster of Northampton in November 1993, this Continental looks great in Royal Blue with a grey hide interior. Used as its makers intended, it has covered some 150,800 miles to date with an excellent service history comprising 27 stamps up to 134,859 miles in December 2012 (when the service book runs out of pages) plus many supporting invoices. In October 2017 at 139,334 miles it had another major service at marque specialists Hanwells of London which cost £4,000 (invoice on file).
Our vendor acquired the car via Brightwells in November 2019 (for substantially more than the guide price suggested here) and has continued to look after it well, including a three-year service in January 2020 when the engine was also flushed and the air con was re-gassed. A rear brake sphere was also replaced in January this year along with two new braided brake hoses and another oil and filter change.
As you can see, the car rides on later 18" alloys shod with good Pirelli P-Zero tyres which are slightly larger than the original, smaller diameter alloys. Retaining its original handbooks and the two Bentley umbrellas in the boot, it was driven to the sale and has been starting instantly and running well as we have moved it around on site, with an MOT to July 2022 with just a couple of advisories (‘slight seepage from power steering rack; n/s/f shock absorber light misting of oil’).
A sure-fire classic of the future, just 1,236 Continental R Coupes were made before production came to an end in 2002 and ownership has always been restricted to a privileged few. This is your chance to join that exclusive club – and you won’t need to be the Sultan of Brunei to afford it!
For more information contact James on 07970 309907 or email james.dennison@brightwells.com