1994 Bentley Continental R

First registered on the 31st of December 1994, this wonderful Aurora Green Bentley Continental R is still showing under 50,000 miles on the odometer and just three former keepers on the V5.

Sadly, the last owner passed away after a long-term illness, which explains why the Bentley was put into storage in around 2016. With a very good service history up to that point, it needs only gentle recommissioning after which it will be one of the most elegant – and probably cost-effective in the long-term - ways of wafting around in complete luxury we can imagine.

Better still, the need for this work is reflected in the guide price, which is surely one of the most reasonable you’re going to see in 2021. With the vendor in Edinburgh should you want to view it, if you’ve been after some Bentley-shaped to keep you busy this spring then your time has come…

Finished in the delightful shade of Aurora Green, the Bentley’s shutlines put paid to the lie that hand-built cars cannot meet the sort of standards we’ve come to expect of robot-built executive saloons like the Audi A8.

Coachbuilt by the folk at Mulliner Park Ward, folk for whom craftsmanship like this was a way of life rather than a nine-to-five job, the Continental R looks magnificent even after more than a quarter-of-a-century. With a very good shine to the paintwork, everything looks so good you could be forgiven for thinking this is a five-year-old car rather than one that’s sneaking up to its 27th birthday.

The imposing front radiator grille is straight and free of damage, as are the light lenses, glazing, and badges. The seven-spoke, 17-inch alloy wheels are in fine fettle as well being free of scuffs, scrapes and other damage, even if the lacquer is peeling off in a few places (#18, #68 and #86).

Impressively, they’re also fitted with a matching set of low-profile tyres, in this case the iconic Avon Turbospeed. There’s a good spare in a cradle underneath the car, too.

As we will never tire of explaining, our 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.

Aside from the inevitable stonechips, work to do is minor. Aside from the rust you can see in photo #55, we’re being very picky when we point out that the nearside front indicator lens needs straightening (#3) and there is a loose piece of trim (#25) that could do with popping back on.

A large part of the Continental’s appeal is, of course, its interior and few reek of class and old money like this; finished in contrasting green and cream leather, it is dotted with chrome controls and vast swathes of wooden trim.

The door cards are unmarked, the deep-pile carpets are clean and undamaged, and the leather headlining is as clean and taut now as the day it was fitted. The four individual seats are as comfortable and supportive as you’d expect of a car with Bentley’s sporting heritage, and the front seats are heated and electrically adjustable, with a four-position memory switch, something that would make swapping drivers of different heights much easier.

Heck, it’s in such a good condition that even the leather-covered tambour door in the centre console in the rear passenger compartment is in great shape, sliding to and fro with impressive precision. This is a beautifully appointed and ultra-luxurious car that was as well-engineered as it was exquisitely designed.

Wonderfully, what looks to be an original hard-wired Motorola car phone has survived inside the centre armrest. Who knows whether it works or not, but if not then recommissioning it and getting it connected to the mobile network would be a lovely way to wile away a few hours, wouldn’t it?

Other lovely touches include an analogue outside temperature gauge, chrome Mulliner Park Ward treadplates, Bentley-branded pedals, and a proper metal plate in the boot that shows the location of the spare bottle of LHM fluid.

Speaking of which, the boot is also home to a battery cut-out switch to stop the battery draining when the car isn’t being used. Lavishly carpeted in the same high-quality green as the cabin, it is in a very good condition.

There are, obviously, some signs of use but these are very minor and seem to be limited to some very light creasing to the leather seats and little else.

The Bentley’s service history is as fulsome as you could hope for and is recorded thus:

• 18.08.1994 and 1,290 miles – service by S.P. Broughton & Company Ltd

• 29.09.1995 and 6,750 miles – service by S.P. Broughton & Company Ltd

• 26.04.1996 and 9,998 miles – service by S.P. Broughton & Company Ltd

• 08.04.1997 and 13,575 miles – service by S.P. Broughton & Company Ltd

• 20.04.1998 and 17,332 miles – service by S.P. Broughton & Company Ltd

• Unknown date and 20,213 miles – service by West Country Rolls-Royce Ltd

• 17.10.2001 and 21,797 miles – service by Michael Powles Ltd

• 04.08.2003 and 31,337 miles – service by Harvey Wash Ltd

• 25.06.2004 and 35,030 miles – service by The Chelsea Workshop

• 22.07.2006 and 35,927 miles – service by The Chelsea Workshop

• January 2008 and 36,217 miles – service by The Chelsea Workshop

• February 2009 and 36,590 miles – service by The Chelsea Workshop

• 06.05.2010 – service by Bentley Edinburgh

• 26.11.2010 – service by Bentley Glasgow

• 01.03.2013 – service by Bentley Edinburgh

As you can see in the video, it starts well and ticks over beautifully. However, the vendor points out that because it has been standing in storage for at least the past five years, the brakes will need a service and the rear suspension arms will probably need replacing. Please see the attached photos, including #45 that shows the sort of surface corrosion on the arms he is referring to.

The engine bay is a little dusty but otherwise well-presented and impressive in its scale and scope.

As you would expect given its years in storage, the Bentley’s MOT expired in March 2016. It also still has its original owner’s handbook, a very well-stamped service history, and two sets of keys and fobs.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

Because the vendor is a pragmatic man, he’s taken into account the fact that it needs some gentle recommissioning and a damn good service ahead of its next MOT – and his calculations mean the Bentley’s guide price is as reasonable as he is.

How little do we think it will set you back? A very reasonable £25,500 to £33,000 is our best guess, and while we accept this is far from the cheapest route into classic luxury motoring, we do think it might just be the pinnacle - and viewed in that light only having to pay the price of a decently spec’d Ford Focus makes it something of a bargain.

That’s only possible because while the Continental R’s huge depreciation might have stung its former keepers in previous years, it does make them all the sweeter now. Plus, they surely can’t stay this cheap forever and we suspect it won’t be long before we rue the day we passed on buying cars like this.

Best of all, the need for some minor fettling means it will also give you the perfect excuse to spend some time alone in the garage – and a bit of peace and quiet after a year of being locked-down with your family is priceless, surely?

Viewing is always encouraged, within the current guidelines and this particular car is located with the seller in Edinburgh; 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’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.