1968 Bentley T1

Finished in Shell Grey over red leather, this 1968 Bentley T1 started its life over in Australasia as the official transport for the governor of Tasmania.

As you’d expect, the chaps in the transport office didn’t stint, ticking the boxes for Connolly leather interior, lambs-wool carpet, and walnut dash and door trims. The fit ‘n’ finish is still exquisite thanks to meticulous maintenance and a recent comprehensive service by marque specialists, The Chelsea Workshop.

The vendor bought it in Australia from The Classic Throttle Shop in Sydney before shipping it back home to the UK in May 2018, where he’s still its only UK owner.

Offered for sale with an impressively detailed history file, if you’re in the market for a T1/Silver Shadow, this could be the one you’ve been searching for.

The flanks, which appear straight and free of ripples, set the tone for the rest of the coachwork, which looks very impressive indeed.

Neatly aligned swage lines and pinstripes show the condition of the panels to best effect, something the Shell Grey paintwork completes.

The paintwork itself, which was originally Black Masons but was changed by the previous owner (who was the former president of the Rolls-Royce Owners’

Club of Australia, no less), is very good. Obviously a high-quality respray, the whole thing hangs together very convincingly, even after all these years and travelling halfway across the globe.

The chromework from the images appears - and I’m sure you’re ahead of me here - very good, with no rust, damage, or serious scratches, only light pitting and a bit of a haze marring the odd piece of trim.

It’s the same story with the lamp lenses, badges, and glazing, all of which from the images are shown in fine fettle and in need of nothing doing to them other than continued careful curation.

Chrome Trico washer jets are a lovely feature, and the details continue with proper Yale locks; as we’ll see later, Bentley chose its suppliers carefully.

The chrome hubcaps are seemingly in great shape and the wheels are shod with matching 235/70R15 Avon Turbosteel tyres – including the spare - all of which have good tread.

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. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The level of care in keeping the Bentley looking this good for so long is obvious, and the cumulative effect is of a sporting saloon that would be at home no matter what environment it found itself; certainly, we’d rather rock up at Goodwood, Glyndebourne, or Simpson’s in one of these than a Bentayga…

Of course, as with any car of this age there are a few bits you might like to take care of as and when money and motivation collide. There’s an untidy area at the base of the windscreen (#121), a deteriorating rubber seal (#147), and the odd small crack in the paint (#156).

The cabin continues the story, telling tales of fastidious owners, careful use, and money-no-object maintenance.

The red leather seats (VM3086), which are thought to be the originals, are plump and comfortable and untroubled by the passage of more than half a century; that we should all be so lucky, eh? Bentley-branded Britax seatbelts are another lovely touch, as are the leather sun visors.

The slim steering wheel, which allows you to guide the Bentley using nothing more than your fingertips, feels silky smooth and its design allows you to admire the excellent instrumentation and walnut veneer behind it.

And that walnut veneer is further enhanced by beautifully applied gold pinstriping and the Bentley winged logo. The rear-seat passengers have access to a pair of walnut picnic tables, complete with ashtrays underneath them, as well as illuminated mirrors in the rear quarter pillars.

There are a pair of foot rests, too; while the T1’s sporting chassis gives huge driver satisfaction, those in the rear of the Bentley enjoy their own very special environment. But then he was, literally, The Govenor.

Interestingly, the original instruments were sourced from different manufacturers. The ammeter, for example, is from Lucas while the oil pressure and coolant temperature gauges are from Smiths. Timekeeping is taken care of by renowned clock-makers Kienzle; it’s obvious that the firm chose its instruments based on who made the best ones rather than settling for a matching set like everyone else.

A Radiomobile radio sits in the dashboard while a modern Kenwood head unit, complete with remote control, is tucked away in the glovebox. This is a great way to give high-fidelity sounds and Bluetooth connectivity without destroying the Old School ambience Bentley worked so hard to achieve.

Beautifully preserved Maroon carpets and over-mats plus a liberal sprinkling of high-end chromed controls impress, even now. The Mushroom Ambla headlining is taut and clean, too. It’s every bit as imposing and luxurious now as it was when it left for Tasmania all those years ago.

Flaws? Well, there is the odd mark here and there but this is better than 99% of examples out there and only the most exacting of owners would find anything in here to change.

As you can see, it fires into life with the same restrained efficiency as Jeeves entering your study. It makes all of the right noises too, and drives every bit as well as you’d hope.

The owner admits to being fastidious (“everything on my cars has to work properly”) and tells us that everything works. He added that Peter at The Chelsea Workshop is happy to chat about it on the phone should you want a third-party assessment of its condition.

The engine bay isn’t only wonderfully clean, it is exquisitely labelled. It’s a real treat to be able to read clear instructions on proper metal plates at a time when you’re lucky if a new car’s dipstick or oil filler cap is even accessible without a degree in origami and half a day to remove all the plastic covers…

The underside is in exactly the sort of condition you’d expect to see on a car that’s lived the majority of its life in Australia – and has had such huge sums of money spent on it over the years.

If you’re in the market for one of Britain’s most exquisitely engineered and maintained saloons, you really should contact us to make an appointment to pop over to see it. Or call Peter. Peter knows his stuff.

This car was ordered from Bentley Motors by the Tasmanian government and the history file includes the original build sheets, photographs and correspondence with the Governor's office – and the car’s original numberplates are in the boot.

So well maintained that it won a concours event in 2009, this T1 benefits from a recent major service that included refurbishing the radiator, new hoses, new alternator, reconditioned compressor and an expert detail with receipts for all major works.

Since being acquired by the present owner, the car has been meticulously maintained by well-known marque experts, The Chelsea Workshop. All-in-all, you’ll find invoices from them for more than £34,000 since 2018. Truly, money was no object…

That said, sadly 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…

However, it only expired in November 2022 and it was gained, like every one on the list, with no advisories, so getting a new ticket shouldn’t be too onerous.

Oh, and the owner has just found the original tool kit. If you’re the lucky new owner, please remind us and we’ll put you in touch to arrange collection.

With a guide price of between £20,000 and £30,000 (or, if you prefer, less than it’s had spent on it in the last five years…) you’re going to struggle to find a better example of one of the most desirable sporting saloons of its time.

And yes, of course you’ll be able to find cheaper ones; every under-the-arches garage will have one languishing in a pool of its own juices as it continues to obey the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

However, if you’re looking for a much safer place to put your money then cars like this are it; while the gamblers among you might want to splash out on shares in Twitter, the prudent should look to invest in a well-maintained, impeccably provenanced Bentley like this.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.