1997 Bentley Turbo R

If you’ve ever fancied running a Bentley Turbo R (and who hasn’t?) but have been deterred by the running costs, this 1997 example might be right up your street as it’s been converted to run on LPG.

More good news comes with the fact that ‘P428 JNN’ is the long-wheelbase model, has been in the care of the seller for the past seven years, and comes with a “huge dossier” detailing its curation over the years.

Now easing himself into semi-retirement, the seller’s decided now is the time to let his much-loved Turbo R go, giving someone else the opportunity to run one of the most iconic cars of the period.

As you can see, the Bentley looks magnificent. Wildberry is a suitably regal colour for a car with its pedigree and given the Turbo R’s reputation for towering performance, a low-profile hue like this should enable you to fly under the radar, as it were.

The metalwork is in good shape thanks to some fettling by RR&B Ltd in October 2017 just before the seller bought it. This comprised the repair of minor damage to the nearside rear wheelarch and rear bumper and followed previous refurbishment work by the same firm in 2016, 2014 and 2012.

The tyres are matching and iconic Avon Turbospeeds all round, and they're fitted to good alloy wheels, albeit it with heavy scuffing to the offside front rim and some alloy corrosion to the nearside rear.

More importantly, 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 lamp lenses are all good, as are the badges and window glass.

As for work you might like to consider, there is corrosion at the base of both front wings, minor bubbling to the upper edges of the doors, a small area of flaking chrome on the boot lid, missing paint and scuffs to the nearside door mirror, heavy scuffs to the offside front corner, light scuffs to the offside rear and nearside front, a small dink in the offside rear door, and flaking paint to the grille.

More urgent are the rear tyres, which are perished with age and need to be replaced.

If the coachwork is understated and majestic, the cabin is unashamedly luxurious. Leather, walnut veneer, and heavy chrome controls conspire to provide unrivalled comfort and decadence.

The pleated Sandstone front hide seats are both comfortable and supportive. They're in great shape too, with only light wear and a few creases to their surface. 

The design is echoed in the leather-covered door cards and the hide trim extends to the centre console, dashboard, and side panels. 

The top of the dashboard is finished in a contrasting burgundy and that same hue is used to pipe the seats. It’s elegant and refined, with just a hint of rakishness. It is, therefore, perfectly judged.

Being the ‘RL’ version, the extra inches of the extended wheelbase can be felt most keenly in the rear, where the passengers can stretch their legs and wiggle their toes through the deep-pile lamb’s wool overmats that protect the very good carpets underneath.

They enjoy a mirror apiece too, plus an armrest with commodious built-in storage and a map light each.

Other nice touches include a wooden cover that can be pulled down to  disguise the presence of a radio-cassette player.

The well-trimmed boot features a full-size spare wheel, an indoor car cover, a tool kit and warning triangle, and a trickle charger. The LPG tank sits in the spare wheel well.

As for flaws, some of the wooden veneer has light cracks in it, the headlining is largely good but is hanging down in places, the driver’s heel pad is cracked and worn, and the offside front window doesn’t always operate promptly.

The Turbo R’s service and maintenance record is recorded as follows:

• 21.08.2007 and 41,612 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 12.08.2008 and 45,637 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 25.08.2009 and 48,809 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 17.08.2011 and 53,078 miles – service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 27.07.2012 and 56,814 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 22.08.2013 and 60,622 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 10.09.2014 and 63,068 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 24.08.2015 and 64,659 miles – misc. repair work and service by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 18.11.2016 and 66,247 miles – misc. repair work by RR&B Garages Ltd
• 22.09.2017 and 77,740 miles – service and repair work by RR&B Garages Ltd at a cost of £4,738
• 26.03.2018 and 82,657 miles – miscellaneous repairs by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd
• 30.05.2018 and 82,657 miles – miscellaneous repairs by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd
• 19.09.2018 and 85,651 miles – service by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £2,241
• 26.09.2019 and 89,190 miles – service by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £2,241
• 07.09.2021 and 92,417 miles – miscellaneous repairs by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd
• 14.10.2021 and 92,538 miles – miscellaneous repairs by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd
• 27.10.2021 and 92,740 miles – service by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £2,241
• 03.02.2022 and 92,538 miles – miscellaneous repairs by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd
• 17.08.2022 and 96,117 miles – two new Avon CR tyres fitted to the front wheels by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £1,017
• 14.11.2022 and 96,993 miles – major service by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £1,194
• 26.06.2023 and 100,127 miles – recharge air-conditioning system by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd
• 09.08.2023 and 100,127 miles –  significant work to replace the fuel lines and miscellaneous hoses and seals in the engine bay, plus fitting new rear gas springs, sparkplugs, an ignition coil, the thermostat, and various drive belts by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £8,794; please see invoice for details
• 05.10.2023 and 101,235 miles – new fuel pump, relay, check valve, filter, lambda sensor, and engine management relay fitted by Phantom Motor Cars Ltd at a cost of £2,334

There are also plenty of invoices for earlier repair work we haven’t listed here. 

Best to settle down with a drink of something refreshing and spend half an hour or so browsing through them to understand what a money-no-object service and maintenance history looks like.

The LPG system was professionally installed by Ecotec Autogas Conversion Ltd in 2018 (the receipt and lifetime warranty certificate are attached) shortly after the seller bought it. He was keen to use the car properly and found it “ran extremely well” on it.

The fuel lines were renewed only recently, and the installation looks neat and workmanlike. The LPG filler is mounted centrally underneath the rear bumper.

Despite a warning light on the dashboard, the system is said to be working faultlessly. As a fuel, LPG has much to commend it not least the considerably reduced running costs and the fact it burns more cleanly than petrol, something that helps engine longevity.

As you can see in the accompanying video, it starts well and settles into a good idle. The instruments show a healthy charge and good oil pressure, too. 

As for the underside, no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion, which is reassuring.

The Bentley’s MoT certificate is valid until May 2024 – and it was issued with no advisories, something it’s done thirteen times previously.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two sets of keys and the full Bentley book pack and slip in addition to all the invoices we mentioned earlier.

If we were to buy a Bentley Turbo R (and goodness knows, some of us think about little else…) we’d be looking for one that’s solid, with a good service and maintenance record, and no history of rot and corrosion – and if it had a few cosmetic flaws to keep the price reasonable, all the better. 

One exactly like this, in fact.

With a guide price of between £5,000 and £8,000 and no reserve, it’s going to be affordable, too.

Go on. You know you want to.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.