1998 Bentley Brooklands R Mulliner

A 1998 Bentley Brookland R Mulliner, ‘S881 ASX’ is also one of the rare SZ models, one of just 100 built to mark the end of the model’s run before the Arnage replaced it later in the year.

The SZ received Mulliner touches including a colour-coded radiator grille, door mirrors, wing vents, bumpers, and headlamp bezels. Chrome mesh grilles and air intakes, including to the front wings, livened up the front end, the badges were green, and the wheels, unique to the R Mulliner, were now 18-inch in diameter.

The cabin received a darker stain to the extended walnut veneer, chrome instruments bezels, a chrome ‘n’ leather gearknob, and the Bentley logo embroidered on the headrests.

As a Brooklands R it also has the Turbo R’s suspension, along with a light-pressure turbocharger that brought the power to an even 300bhp.

This is, therefore, the ultimate Bentley Brooklands.

The combination of British Racing Green, quadruple headlights, and chromed mesh grilles make for one of the most iconic visages in British automotive history. Timeless and elegant with just a hint of brute force, the effect is of a car that doesn’t feel the need to wield its power very often – but you’d better stand back when it does.

It is every inch a Bentley – and it’s still every inch the aristocrat because vulnerable areas, like the four corners of the bumpers, are free of scuffs and scrapes which suggests above-average driving skill given the absence of parking sensors. 

But then the quality of its curation is also evident on the 18-inch alloy wheels, which are largely free of kerbing marks, with only modest scratches to the nearside front.

Even the green badges, including those in the centre of the alloy wheels, are in good order. 

The headlamps glow with a warm, soft light; no one is going to flash you for having overbright LEDs while you’re wafting around the lanes after dark in this. 

The side profile is no less impressive: Its length hints at the luxury within, while the chrome mesh vents and mm-perfect stance whispers performance. Pirelli P-Zero tyres are fitted too, and in a suitably wide and low 255/50ZR18 size. Made in 2019, all have plenty of tread left. 

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

The rear view is dominated by a huge exhaust tailpipe. Just the one mind, because Bentley, unlike some manufacturers we could mention, is secure enough that it doesn’t need to fit a medley of pipes…

As for flaws, our Man With the Magnifying Glass identified the following: A stonechip near the offside headlamp; rust and scratches to the nearside front wing and underneath the boot badge; peeling paint to the nearside door mirror and nearside sill; a scuff to the offside door mirror; and a small dent to the nearside front door underneath the door handle and another on the offside front door under the mirror.

The tan leather cabin is in a very good condition too, with the stately-yet-sporting front seats continuing the Bentley’s mission statement of moving four people from A-to-B very quickly and in considerable comfort. 

The electrically-adjustable and heated front seats are in shapely in both design and condition. Plump and featuring the pronounced side bolsters needed to hold their occupants in place during the sort of high-G shenanigans the Brooklands R is capable of, their soft hide coverings are a tactile pleasure yet clearly very durable. 

The individually-shaped rear seats are in an even more impressive condition and, like the ones in front, boast the Bentley emblem embroidered on their headrests.

The netting pockets on the back of the front seats are still nicely taut and the walnut framed mirrors, which are illuminated with the same warm light as the rest of the ambient lighting in the rear compartment, are clear and free of problems.

Heavy chrome controls contrast with lightweight alloy pedals, a dichotomy that can be explained by the fact Bentley has always insisted on using the best materials for the job. 

Including vast acres of high-quality, highly-varnished walnut burr veneer, all of which is shiny and without a chip or crack in sight. The dashboard also hosts a comprehensive suite of instruments that monitor all the car’s vital signs. 

The green overmats, which are piped in tan, are in an excellent condition including the vulnerable driver’s heel protector. 

Speaking of green, the dashboard is covered in a contrasting green leather. This too is in a very good condition, including the top of the dashboard which is still supple and free of cracks. It hasn’t shrunk in the sun either, which is a very welcome bonus.

The headlining is also clean, taut, and free of damage.

The boot is both huge and beautifully trimmed, thereby fulfilling the only two things you could reasonably demand of it.

As for the contents, if you’d like to see a full-size spare alloy wheel fitted with the factory tyre protector then you’re in luck – and if your wish list extends to a well-painted and solid boot floor, then this really is your lucky day.

Not that the Bentley has escaped the ravages of time unscathed because the steering wheel has lost some colour around its rim, and the trim panel around the headlamp and ignition switches is a little warped. The tyre that’s fitted to the spare wheel is also old, so you might like to add that to your To Do list.

An Alpine headunit is fitted, and its pop-out screen can be controlled by a remote control that currently resides in the rear of the vehicle.

The Bentley’s service history is as follows:

• 10.02.1999 and 193 miles – service by Murray Motor Company of Edinburgh
• 31.08.1999 and 193 (sic) miles – service by Murray Motor Company of Edinburgh
• 19.01.2001 and 8,096 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds
• 24.01.2002 and 14,670 miles – service by Reg Vardy
• 27.11.2002 and 22,934 miles – service by Reg Vardy
• 06.03.2007 and 43,616 miles – service by Ivor Bleaney
• 18.05.2007 and 44,758 miles – service by Broughtons of Cheltenham
• 01.04.2010 and 47,421 miles – service by Broughtons of Cheltenham
• 07.04.2011 and 47,660 miles – service by Broughtons of Cheltenham
• 10.04.2013 and 48,419 miles – service by D.E.W. Car Services
• 26.08.2016 and 49,693 miles – service by H.R. Owen Ecurie
• 19.03.2018 and 54,391 miles – service by Harvey Wash Ltd
• 04.08.2020 and circa 59,000 miles – service at a cost of £1,141
• 23.06.2021 and 62,625 miles – service by Colbrook at a cost of £3,423
• 08.07.2022 and 63,238 miles – service by Colbrook including work to the air-conditioning system at a total cost of £1,634

Despite only having covered around 3,200 miles since it was last attended to, it’s now due a service on the grounds of the time that’s elapsed.

In the seller’s care since May 2017, other work includes having the air-conditioning system serviced in May 2022.

The video demonstrates it starts, idles, and revs like the thoroughbred it is, while our test drive revealed that it also drives well and that everything works.

The engine and underbonnet area is clean and nicely presented and we can’t spot any obvious problems. Heck, even the underbonnet light works as it should, which has got to be a good omen.

It’s the same for the underside, which looks to be solid and still protected by its original underseal. In fact, the only real flaw we can see are some light scuffs to the underside of the front valance.

This example was bought recently on our platform however, when the proud new owner arrived at home his wife helped him re-think his new purchase.  After a brief 'discussion' he drove it back to us and asked us to find a new owner for it. 

The Bentley’s MoT certificate, which is valid until December 2026, was issued with no advisories – and if you can ignore the one in 2022 for having a nail in the tyre, it’s been doing the same since 2019.

If you can also bring yourself to overlook the advisory in 2015 for having an engine cover fitted, it’s been racking up clear passes – albeit after failing twice on the first attempt – since 2013.

That’s quite the record, isn’t it?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, it comes with two sets of keys, and a plethora of old MoT certificates and invoices. 

The Bentley book pack is both complete and in good order too, and the stamped service history booklet reflects the care with which it has been curated over the years.

Many of us have dreamed of owning a Bentley Turbo – and a few have taken the leap and can look back at a life that included one of the most iconic and revered luxury sporting saloons of the late 20th century.

The trick, as ever, is to buy the right one – and this example ticks all the right boxes, including recent long-term ownership and a very good service history. 

Best of all, it could be yours for somewhere between £14,000 and £16,000, which doesn’t feel like much given the performance and prestige you’ll be getting in return. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.