1994 Bentley Continental R

We are delighted to be able to offer for sale a splendid example of the Bentley Continental R. Delivered to its lucky first owner at the beginning of 1994, the car boasts an excellent and comprehensive service history and has had just four registered keepers. Little doubt the car was enjoyed as each one was reluctant to move it on to pastures new.

The Royal Blue exterior contrasts nicely with the Silverstone Grey interior, the latter being a veritable sea of the finest wood and leather. Opulence and luxury are most definitely the order of the day.

The paperwork tells us that the Bentley’s original owner travelled to the factory to personally select the specification of the car, something that the good folk at Crewe still encourage today. We would recommend a factory tour if you are ever in the area.

A deposit of £15,000 was required to begin proceedings, the rather large balance presumably being paid on collection.

The Continental’s last owner has enjoyed the car since around 2014 and reluctantly moves the car on as a Porsche 911 has swayed his head.

The Royal Blue paintwork rather suits the Bentley, helping as it does to show off those graceful lines. It also helps to disguise the bulk of what is a rather large car. There’s a deep lustre to the paint too, with cars of this ilk always resting in rather smart garages when not in use, away from the sun’s damaging rays.

Panel gaps are neat and precise, the chromework polished and shiny.

There are a few marks on the paintwork commensurate with age. Stone chips on the bonnet and the front lower valance should be noted. The front bumper has some scratches just ahead of the grille and there are some also some marks to the corners.

There are several light surface scratches on the boot too, which may polish out with some professional attention. None of this detracts from the generally excellent condition of what is now a 27-year old car.

The 17-inch alloy wheels are all in tiptop condition and each is shod with a correct Avon Turbospeed tyre as per the manufacturer’s recommendation. They have plenty of tread depth too. As we always like to point out, correct premium tyres is a sure sign of careful and considered ownership and should not be underestimated.

Bentley has always made excellent interiors, using only the very finest leather and wood veneers.

There’s seating for four, each seat covered in the grey hide and there’s scarcely a mark anywhere, such is the quality of the finish.

The front pews offer the kind of comfort rarely found in any car and with electric adjustment, the ideal driving position is easy to find. The back seats offer space aplenty for two large adults to sprawl.

The burr walnut dash has clearly been well looked after and the door cards and headlining are also blemish free. We note a few small marks to the wood capping on the driver’s door.

Under foot, the blue lambswools rugs are so deep that the urge to remove one’s shoes is irresistible.

Instrumentation is plentiful, the dashboard being sensibly laid out for ease of use. No unnecessary distractions from the job of driving and driving fast if one was so in the mood.

The boot is capacious and mostly mark free, with room for plenty of luggage, ideal for say a ‘Continental’ touring holiday. What a fine way to travel!

We always include plenty of photographs of a car’s underside and that is of course the case here. Other than a modicum of expected road dirt, we are suitably impressed with the condition. It is quite likely that the Bentley has remained garaged during the worst winter weather, thus ensuring that the dreaded road salt hasn’t been able to cause damage to components.

Lift the bonnet and that powerhouse of an engine is revealed in all its glory. Perhaps beyond the expertise of the home mechanic, the car’s history would suggest that proper dealer maintenance has always been carried out.

Other than a little dirt here and there, we cannot spot any signs of fluid leaks or damage.

As already mentioned, we can trace the Bentley’s history right back to when it was a mere dream in the original buyer’s mind. Not only is the order for the car in the paperwork, but it also contains details of the full specification. One the undoubted attractions of Bentley ownership is the chance to specify a car to your exact requirements.

The book pack is present and correct as is the service book, which boasts a large complement of dealer and latterly specialist stamps – Dutton Forshaw, Bentley Ribble Valley and Cameron Lunt, Bentley Experts in Liverpool. Serviced once or twice a year until 2014, when the modest miles covered (less than 5,000 in total) meant a slightly more relaxed service regime.

There are supporting invoices detailing much of the work carried out, so pause a while and examine the documentation.

We note that the car had an annual lubrication service and check in April of this year, at which time the air conditioning was topped up too.

There are MoT certificates too in the paperwork, the current certificate being valid until January 2022. We note that the Bentley has covered less than 10,000 miles in the last decade. A car for special occasions no doubt.

The Continental R helped to spearhead the resurgence of Bentley as a brand in its own right and the name lives on today.

Presented in excellent condition and with the most comprehensive of paperwork, this is a car that has been loved and cherished during its lifetime.

It has the ability to be a refined and luxurious cruiser one minute, but a press of the sports button releases a more focussed side and with it a remarkable turn of speed.

We estimate the Bentley will sell for between £30,000 and £40,000.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET headquarters near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.