1996 Bentley Turbo R

Regular watchers might recall we sold this very car two and a half years ago, and it’s spent most of the intervening period being run as a daily driver by a well-known engineer who specializes in classic Citroens like the DS, SM, and CX. This means that the Bentley’s complexity holds little fear for him, and nor does that turbocharged V8 engine.

Not that his knowledge of, and willingness to probe, cars that would baffle you and I has been of any use whatsoever because it’s been 100% reliable and has needed nothing other than the usual servicing.

This is entirely due to the fact that he bought the right car, a car that had been fettled to within an inch of its life by Stewart Walker Ltd. shortly before sale. The chaps there went through it from stem to stern looking for trouble and the resulting two bills had a combined value of well over £12,000…

Why so much? Well, he spent an awful long time finding the right car initially, one that didn’t have the usual alloy corrosion, a blight that manifests itself as spider web-like cracks under the paint. His patience was rewarded when he came across this example which was almost free of the problem, leaving him free to spend the appropriate amount of money to make sure the mechanicals didn’t let the side down.

This means that the only two real obstacles to owning a Bentley Turbo R have been eliminated, leaving you free to indulge yourself in what we think might be the finest example on offer today.

That it is one of the ultra-rare and highly desirable long-wheelbase models that has more rear legroom than any sane family would ever need further sweetens an already very attractive sporting carriage…

The Wildberry Red coachwork is in very good condition, having gathered only the very lightest of stonechips on the front and the odd small mark elsewhere. We’d add that the car is ‘good for its age’ but we really don’t need to because it is utterly lovely. The doors still open and close with a reassuring thud and the panel gaps are as good as you’ll see on any car, regardless of price.

It is also completely free of rot, rust, and the rest of the nasties that plague the sort of cheap Bentleys that live their lives under the railway arches, as well as the spiderweb corrosion we mentioned earlier. It gleams and glistens in the sun in a way that lesser cars don’t and needs no work, other than an appreciative glance every now and then.

The alloy wheels are immaculate with only one showing any signs of alloy corrosion. None are, obviously, kerbed. They are shod with matching tyres too, all of which still have good tread.

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.

Problems? Well, none as such although we have noticed a couple of small bubbles in the paint (#84 and #106), a scrape on one door mirror (#124), and a small chip on the edge of one door (#111).

The interior is every bit as good as the rest of the car being fresh and clean and so well-constructed that it could pass for a car with half-a-dozen years under its belt rather than a quarter of a century.

The leather seats, for example, bear only the lightest of patinas. The carpets, still protected by the matching lambs’ wool rugs and featuring footrests in the rear, are perfect and almost ankle deep.

The wooden veneer, as carefully matched as you’d expect from a period when Bentley was still building up to a quality rather than down to a price, is free of cracks, blemishes, and chips - and the chromed controls, designed by engineers rather than accountants, still operate with the crispness of a freshly plucked apple on a cold autumnal morning.

That everything still works perfectly will come as no surprise to anyone who’s made it this far; that two of the most previous owners are perfectionists is the biggest understatement I’ve written this year.

The only problems we could find are some rubbings marks on the outer bolster of the driver’s seat (#53) and one door pull (#156), and a short crack in the veneer on one door capping (#104).

The stamps in the service history booklet tell a lovely story:

• 16.10.1997 and 4,005 miles – service by HR Owen London

• 22.05.1998 and 10,373 miles – service by HR Owen London

• 30.11.1998 and 13,699 miles – service by HR Owen London

• 22.09.1999 and 17.091 miles – service by HR Owen London

• 16.06.2000 and 19.001 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 28.12.2000 and 21,331 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 13.08.2001 and 24,091 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 11.03.2002 and 29,372 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 27.01.2003 and 32,576 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 28.05.2003 and 33,466 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 24.11.2003 and 36,750 miles – service by JCT600 Leeds

• 11.03.2005 and 38,897 miles – service by James K Seymour

• 23.09.2005 and 40,661 miles – service by James K Seymour

• 15.03.2007 and 44,149 miles – service by James K Seymour

• 23.02.2008 and 45,302 miles – service and MoT by Nigel Grant

• 12.03.2010 and 46,049 miles – service and MoT by Nigel Grant

• 01.05.2018 and 50,407 miles – service by Stewart Walker Ltd

The vendor has carried out an oil and filter change each spring, and has replaced the front damper bushes. Having only covered around three thousand miles since we sold it last, everything we said about it then remains true: It is still running beautifully and drives as it should.

If we were to pick two blokes to buy a car like this from, these would be it: The first is ridiculously OCD – he spent £500 getting one headlamp washer to work correctly, for example – while the other is one of the most talented automotive engineers of his generation and a published authority on his subject.

Both have also driven more than their fair share of Turbo Rs too and that they both settled on this example speaks volumes as to its condition. But don’t take our word for it; get in touch and we’ll arrange a socially distanced viewing or a remote video call.

In the meantime, why not make yourself a cup of tea and go through the bills, line by line? Then click on the video and admire how easily its starts, how well it ticks over and revs, and how good the oil pressure is.

With a MoT until October 2021 it has just the one advisory point for an oil leak, but one that is “not excessive” according to the MoT tester that examined the Bentley.

Oh, and as you might have guessed, the previous advisories were all sorted as part of the car’s £12,000 recommissioning.

This means that the car’s paper trail is extensive. Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find a large number of old invoices and bills along with a variety of other bits of paperwork - including a fully stamped service history book - to support our claim that this car has been maintained without any regard as to the cost.

It goes without saying that the car also comes with its original owner’s manual, stamped service history booklet, slipcover and two sets of keys.

If you’re going to buy an old Bentley Turbo R, then it’s a good idea to let someone else do all the heavy lifting; this is such a car and, with a following wind, you could enjoy this car for a few years with nothing more than routine servicing before selling it on for a small profit.

Which would make it a very cheap car, which is an expression you wouldn’t normally want to hear when used in conjunction with ‘Bentley’ and ‘Turbo’.

How cheap? Well, we think it’ll sell for around £14,000 - £20,000, which is a little more than it sold for two and a half years ago and while we aren’t saying it’s going to continue to appreciate like this, it might…

Inspection 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’.