1990 Bentley Turbo R

Okay, let's address the elephant in the room: yes, this car was bought at auction in April this year and is now be re-auctioned.  Why? Because the vendor is 6' 8" tall and he simply can't fit comfortably in it.  He's tried, and he loves the car, but it's just not working for him.  There's a picture at the bottom of the photo gallery to demostrate his point!

Unlike some of the more modern Bentleys, the Turbo R is pretty much an ‘old money’ car. Its design isn’t gaudy, its ride is exactly how one would expect to be in a Bentley, and most importantly, its age doesn’t come in the way of modern use. The example that we have here is a 1990 Bentley Turbo R. It differs from the original model introduced five years earlier in a few ways. For example, it has the quad-headlamp setup, ABS, Bosch fuel injection, etc.

Its rather clean Royal Blue paint is complemented by the interior, which is finished in a similar shade. With just under 65K miles on the clock, it’s clear that the car has been used well in the past, if not excessively. The vendor has had it for the last four years and has spent a fair bit on it to keep it in good shape. While lacking a full-service history and other documents, the car has a valid MOT, which will need to be renewed early next year.

To get to The Turbo R, Bentley added some sporting bits to the Mulsanne Turbo. The difference became more apparent with the adoption of these quad headlamps in place of the predecessor’s single-piece rectangular units. With the distinction of being the first Bentley to be fitted with alloy wheels, the Turbo R did a fair bit in ensuring that the brand’s appeal continued to grow. Especially in the design department, where despite sharing its platform with other SZ models (from both Bentley as well as Rolls Royce), the Turbo R looks and feels special.

Age or even the car’s mileage doesn’t come in the way of the onlookers enjoying its marvellous appearance. The resplendent blue is free from paint damage, the badges are in the right place, and the bodywork is clean, too. The rear bumper has a small ding, but it’s visible only on close inspection. Apart from that, the vendor reaffirms that the car is clean without any other substantial marks or rust. But let’s not forget that the car left the factory three decades ago and has been used well, so it’d be unrealistic to expect it to be entirely spotless.

It’s as plush as it can get in the cabin; it’s a Bentley, after all. The blue upholstery is complemented by the wood on the dash. Bentley gradually moved away from the Mulsanne-derived interior with the inclusion of sports seats, among other things. Later cars moved forwards with the inclusion of a conventional gear lever, new trims, etc.

This was a fast Bentley, and accordingly, the front seats come with some amount of cushioning on the bolsters. But there’s no compromise made in terms of the rear passenger space or comfort. It’s not just roomy in there, to further up its back seat’s appeal, there’s an in-cabin mirror, well-carpeted floor with a footrest, a nifty fold-out tray, electrically operated windows, and even an ashtray on each rear door.

This 1990 Turbo R’s interior is undoubtedly in good shape, but not without wear. The steering wheel is visibly affected, and so are the seats — there are signs of age largely on the front seats. On the bright side, the wooden inserts, chrome bits, and even the switches look good. The roof lining is tight and not sagging, whereas the carpet looks like it’s been freshly laid out as well.

The well-lined boot houses the battery and an aftermarket Hertz subwoofer. The accompanying wicker basket with a colour-coded flap in the photos will give you an idea of how much space the subwoofer occupies. It’s connected to an Alpine DVD player in the cabin. It does look out of place, amidst all the wood and leather, but its saving grace is that the screen retracts into the system, meaning when not being operated, all one would see is an almost inconspicuous standard 1-DIN head unit.

Powering the Bentley Turbo R is a 6.75-litre V8 engine. Bentley constantly updated it during the time the Turbo R was sold, with maximum power ranging from 330 bhp to 400 bhp in the final models from the late 90s. More importantly, it’s the torque that separates the Turbo R from the rest. At around 450 lb.ft, it’s got enough pull to enable the Bentley clock a sub-7-second time to 60 mph, when new. Where that actually matters is in its motorway manners. The peak torque is developed around 2000 rpm, which means the 3-speed automatic gearbox doesn’t have to work too hard to make progress.

Mechanically, this Turbo R is fairly sorted, mentions the vendor, who’s maintained the car well — and when necessary got repair or replacements done. The vendor spent around £5000 to get all the issues fixed, during his ownership. The Turbo R also got new tyres 4,000 miles ago. As can be seen on the outside, apart from the age-related marks, there isn’t much to be worried about underneath. It drives fine, and has no problems whatsoever, adds the vendor.

This Turbo R was first registered in March 1990. While it got the new updated headlamps, ABS, Bosch fuel injection, it did miss out on the newer 4-speed automatic transmission. According to the V5C document, the car had seven former owners, but let’s not forget it’s only done under 65k miles. Its MOT expires in February next year. The MOT history shows that the car has been sparingly used, as confirmed by the vendor, and since 2006, it’s hardly done 5000 miles.

The car’s service history isn’t available, but the latest maintenance details are. There was extensive work carried out in 2019 and 2020, bills for which are included in the documents section of the photo gallery.

The Turbo R was a milestone product for Bentley, and even now — that is a quarter of a century after it was discontinued later — the car seems to have lost none of its relevance. The four-door saloon’s driver appeal hasn’t diminished, but it’s now available at a fraction of what one would’ve paid for it when new. That makes it well within reach for many enthusiasts. In addition to that, the Turbo R can still be a plausible long-distance cruiser, thanks largely to its much-appreciated torque-rich engine and stable handling.

And if you were to not look at the proposition of owning one objectively, you’d realise that the Bentley Turbo R is essentially peerless now, and without an iota of doubt, one of the coolest cars that can be bought and run regularly. It mightn’t be ULEZ-exempt and the running costs won’t be comparable to say a modern entry-spec saloon, but those arguments are pointless. Especially when you have direct access to more than 400 lb.ft. of torque, ready to propel this 3-tonne saloon like it’s no one’s business. Exactly like a locomotive, some would say…  Our estimate for this is between £8,000 - £12,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.