1970 Bentley T1

Finished in Light Oyster over Dark Oyster and fitted with a Beige leather interior, ‘GAM 746J’ is a coachbuilt two-door coupé version of Bentley’s epic T1 built by none other than H. J. Mulliner, Park Ward.

A left-hand drive model that’s spent the bulk of its life in Belgium, France, and the U.S.A., it had more than $30,000 spent on a sympathetic restoration between 2015 to 2017.

Still in the care of its sole UK keeper, this beautifully presented and meticulously maintained example could be your passport to the most exclusive events in the UK and beyond.

Breathtaking, isn’t it? With sweeping organic lines that clearly served as inspiration for the modern Continental GT, the MPW must be one of the, if not THE, best-looking four-seater coupé of its generation.

Even after half a century the panel alignment is still excellent, but then you’d expect nothing less on a coachbuilt car that’s been so sensitively restored and carefully curated.

Graceful and discreet, the only hint of the car’s performance is a shallow front valence to add stability at speed – and high-speed touring is something the MPW T1 does very well indeed.

As for its colour, as far as we can tell the factory Shell Grey has been changed at some point to a fetching two-tone colour scheme of Light and Dark Oyster, which isn’t something we imagine would bother many potential bidders given how good it looks and how well the work was done.

The chrome bumpers run straight and true, just like the iconic radiator grille. With a wonderful lustre to the deep chrome, all the brightwork is very good indeed. With no rust or pitting, it serves as jewellery to enhance that handbuilt coachwork.

The wheels are in fine fettle too, with the chrome hubcaps shining brightly and being free of damage.

As for what sort of rubber the T1 sits on, there is, of course, only one make of tyre to put on a car like this and that’s the legendary Avon Turbospeed, which is fitted in 235/70R15 on all four corners.

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 lamp lenses, badges, and window glazing are all good too, which leaves only a few areas to discuss, with our examiner identifying the following cosmetic flaws: heavy stonechips and a split in the front valence; a couple of small touch-ups below the offside front repeater lamp and the offside front wheelarch; very light scuff marks above the nearside front repeater lamp; small scratches on the offside below the windscreen, the nearside front wheelarch, the boot lid, and the nearside rear wing and wheelarch; and paint cracking to the base of the A-pillars.

The two vertical door seals have seen better days too, and there are some very small marks in the rear chrome bumper as well as a few chips to the edges of both doors.

It's developing a bit of a patina then, along with a few imperfections that are nothing more than a careful owner who’s touched-up any little marks as they appeared.

The interior has the same understated elegance as the coachwork, and as for its condition, our man says of it “overall it is very tidy and only shows its age with a lovely patina that’s most evident on the front seats and via scuffs to the dashboard leather.”

He should write for Mills & Boon, eh?  

But then romance is at the heart of why we love classic cars, surely – and no car, regardless of budget, is more romantic than this. The perfect vehicle to waft down to the south of France in, can you imagine cruising along the Riviera with the windows down and Frank Sinatra playing softly through the (uprated and powerful) stereo system, a loved one beside you and your Persol sunglasses to hand?

It's a tactile delight too, with delicate chrome handles and controls (even opening the doors is a delight) plus a cigarette-thin steering wheel you operate using little more than the pressure of the pads of your fingers.

With four comfortable seats, individual front armrests plus easy access to the spacious rear, you could invite two friends along to enjoy the wood ‘n’ leather ‘n’ chrome ambience that evokes a gentler, calmer life.

Easter eggs include a ‘HJM.PW’ heel mat for the driver, and beautifully labelled switches for things like the aerial and radio balance – and even the switches that operate the electric windows are worthy of note because there are two: one that takes it up to within an inch of full closure, with the second switch needing to be pressed to close it fully.

The one on the driver’s side didn’t work, and because the seller is the sort of chap he is, he splashed out a thousand pounds to get it working properly again.

The boot is as beautifully trimmed as any we’ve seen. With not an inch of bare metal to be seen, even the rubber boot seal is immaculate. There’s plenty of space for luggage for four people too, and we adore the ‘Lucas Pacemaker Battery’ signage.

The history since the seller bought it includes the following routine maintenance:

• 01.02.2022 and 85,667 miles – service by Prestige Services
• 02.05.2024 and 87,553 miles – miscellaneous fettling by Prestige Services including new distributor cap and sparkplugs, carburettor cleaning, and electrical work

There are also invoices for a new power-steering rack and repairs to the driver’s window mechanism in June 2023, plus many older invoices from its time abroad including a series of hefty bills for its restoration in 2015-17.

The 6.2-litre V-8 engine, which is paired with an automatic transmission, starts well and idles nicely. It revs with a subdued hum and yet has a very attractive exhaust note. It is, therefore, as perfectly judged as everything else.

And the engine bay is an absolute delight; if there’s an ounce of engineer in your soul then you’ll gaze in wonder at what the human hand is capable of making.

The antithesis of the plastic-shrouded, mass-production, based-on-an-ordinary-car design that passes for a luxury car these days, the money-no-object use of the very best materials available has never been clearer.

Have you ever, for example, seen a nicer brake fluid reservoir? Or a more unambiguously labelled oil filler cap? Feast your eyes too on the Bentley fanbelt, the Tudor Electric Screenwasher fluid reservoir, the beautifully stitched underbonnet insulation, and the Apollo International Lead Free brass ball valve.

Interestingly, we understand that the engineer at Prestige Services was apprenticed with Rolls-Royce as a boy, and he told the owner that in all his years he’s never seen an engine labelled as a Bentley, every other one he’s seen being a Rolls-Royce.

The underside looks good too. Sure, there is a little surface rust here and there, but it seems to be limited to things like the suspension and other steel components because everything else looks to be protected by a good coat of underseal.

However, like an elderly terrier, the Bentley leaves its mark wherever it goes, so you’ll need to budget to investigate where the oil is seeping out from. Prestige Services took a look at an oil leak in May 2024 and said it suspected it was from the “nearside tappet chest cover” although admitted there is a “slight chance” it’s the nearside head gasket.

The Bentley doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car.

The history file, which is neatly indexed, includes paperwork dating back to the time it was being built, which is rather wonderful. It also contains the original ‘H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward Limited’ sill plates.

One of the very few left-hand drive Mulliner Park Ward coupés built as a Bentley, it’s hard to imagine just how exclusive this car would have been when it was built.

Indeed, it might even be the ONLY one ever made in this colour combination – and how many cars can you say that about?

The epitome of style, it could be yours for between £60,000 and £70,000, which doesn’t feel like a lot given it exclusivity and condition – and the doors it’ll open.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays 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’.