1978 Bentley T2

Owned by the vendor since February 2017, this T2’s fine condition – inside, outside and underneath – is testimony to a lifetime of careful ownership and a no-expense-spared attitude to maintenance, servicing and repair throughout its life.

The odometer today is showing a remarkably modest 75,672 miles. When purchased by the vendor, the figure was 70,400.

We know that the mileage was 60,311 in 2006 and 31,041 in 1986.

So, as you have no doubt discerned, the car has been used regularly but sparingly throughout its long and evidently rather pampered life.

We know that its owner for nearly 20 years was a successful civil engineering contractor with his own business.

We also know that, for a similar amount of time, another owner was a Bentley Drivers Club committee member.

All of which anecdotal information only serves to underline our belief that this particular car has always been diligently and expertly curated.

We think this splendid ‘Walnut’ T2 with ‘Dark Brown’ upholstery is a very strong example of both the model and the marque.

The history file is fat, full and fair bristling with invoices from main dealers and revered marque specialists.

We have driven the car and can report that it goes about its stately and stylish business with all the performance, poise, impeccable manners and lofty indifference to aberrant road surfaces that we have come to respect and admire in these pedigree cars.

The vendor tells us that during his tenure the car has performed faultlessly on family trips to France and that he has spent somewhere in the region of £15,000 on it through, primarily, marque specialists Sebright.

The bodywork is very straight and true, and there are no dimples, dinks or dents of any note anywhere that we can see.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are crisp and consistent, and the doors close with reassuring exactitude and gravitas.

The very classy ‘Walnut’ metallic paint is vibrant and bright pretty much everywhere you look, and even entirely standard scuffs, paint chips and scratches are more notable for their absence than their presence.

The only exceptions are to be found atop the front wings and around the grille and front valance, where a few paint chips may be found. Elsewhere, some paint has rubbed away on the door edges.

The chrome is in broadly unimpeachable condition everywhere, as are the wheels.

The matching (and correct) Avon Turbosteel tyres are a relatively recent purchase and, accordingly, have plenty of life left in them.

The only area that’s showing a few signs of wear is the dark brown Everflex vinyl roof, where there are a few scuffs and a thin split on the offside ‘C’ pillar, and one or two small holes along the leading edge at the front.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are all very decent and, overall, the car looks really very good even for its low mileage, let alone its age.

The interior is every bit a match for its exterior counterpart in terms of quality and condition.

The dark brown leather upholstery lends the interior a warm and comforting ambience and the seats, front and back, are as comfortable and supportive to sit on as they are attractive to behold.

Aside from a little light creasing here and there, there’s none of the sort of ingrained patina you might expect to find on leather that’s nearly 50 years old.

The door cards are very good and the vendor tells us that he has recently had the door cappings refurbished by an ex-Crewe craftsman.

The lacquer on the dashboard and centre console veneers is a little cracked and faded at the edges in places, and you might be inclined to give then some remedial attention sooner rather than later.

The headlining is very good, as are the carpets.

The original lambswool over-rugs are sufficiently deep for your ankles to suspect that your feet have been stolen.

The vendor tells us that, as far as he’s aware, all dials, knobs, switches, levers and instruments are fully functional and do what they’re supposed to do without hesitation, deviation or repetition.

The air-conditioning compressor has recently been replaced

Even the clock works - and that’s a very rare thing.

The boot, with its unmarked brown carpets, is as good as the rest of it and contains the car’s original toolkit.

We understand that the fuel-filler cap auto-release mechanism might need a new fuse or some similarly minor repair.

The engine bay looks as clean, dry and correct as you’d hope and expect to find on a car of this quality with fewer than 80,000 miles on the clock.

The undersides of the car look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and everything looks sound and solid as far as we can tell.

This car comes with a comprehensive chronological history file that shows main dealer stamps and invoices for around 40 years of its life, with marque specialists addressing more recent needs.

The vendor has done plenty of heavy lifting on items such as brakes, suspension spheres, the exhaust system and, of course, all ongoing maintenance and servicing.

It also comes with its original, stamped service book, instruction manuals, tool kit, a recent HPI report, full sets of keys and an MoT certificate – with no advisories – that’s valid until 3rd June 2025.

This is a very good, low mileage, low ownership example of an increasingly rare and sought-after car from one of the world’s great marques.

There are very few tell-tale signs on this car to suggest that it left the factory in 1978, the year the world’s first ‘test-tube baby’ was born, Ipswich Town won the FA Cup, and The Village People were enthusiastically promoting the virtues of the Y.M.C.A.

Its history, provenance, good condition and obvious quality should give you all the confidence you need to bid on this excellent Bentley T2.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £17,000 - £22,000.

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’.