Bentley Turbo R - My Passion
Discussion
I cannot think of another thread on pistonheads that embodies so much passion, joy and great sadness within. For some time I have been eyeing the Bentley Turbo R. I have asked you guys all sorts of silly questions and posted links to cars that I have lusted after. Crunching numbers in my head to try and make the financials work.
Showing a miriad of pictures to my long suffering other half who has lived with a petrol head for some 30 odd years.
Trying to persuade her she needs a Bently Turbo in her life. Although she has driven other cars, the majority of her driving life has been behind the wheel of a Smart Car. Four over the past fifteen years so perhaps I was being a little ambitious in such a minor jump in size.
Then I read that Hatty was for sale.
I have re read this thread so many times. A lump in my throat is putting it mildly. When funds allowed I had already decided that my Turbo R had to be dark blue or black with Magnolia hide. Pre 95 as I prefer the wing mirrors on the doors and the individual arm rests. Column change rather than the floor change that imo spoils the look of the centre console. I am not a great fan of the 15" wheels and the 17" Turbo S wheels are by far the best looking Bentley wheels you can buy.
Sometimes things just happen for a reason.
Call it kismet.
I wrang my very good friend and mechanic Brian who looks afer all of our vehicles and told him about Hatty. Brian cut his teeth at Hillier Hill and knows his onions. But he is off to the states tomorrow for four weeks.
So I spoke with WG on Thursday. Drew the cash out of the bank on Friday and arranged for Brian to drive up in his covered waggon lorry on Saturday. Stay over night and to view the car today.
My heart and head said that Hatty would be given a clean bill of health. Brian arrived with Hatty at just before 9:30pm this evening. I took her for a spin around the block with the missus and she is everything that I had hoped and dreamed for. They are just magnificent cars.
WG can take heart that she will be well cared for buy a guy that spoke the word car before mum or dad.
Thank you WG for making my dream come true
Showing a miriad of pictures to my long suffering other half who has lived with a petrol head for some 30 odd years.
Trying to persuade her she needs a Bently Turbo in her life. Although she has driven other cars, the majority of her driving life has been behind the wheel of a Smart Car. Four over the past fifteen years so perhaps I was being a little ambitious in such a minor jump in size.
Then I read that Hatty was for sale.
I have re read this thread so many times. A lump in my throat is putting it mildly. When funds allowed I had already decided that my Turbo R had to be dark blue or black with Magnolia hide. Pre 95 as I prefer the wing mirrors on the doors and the individual arm rests. Column change rather than the floor change that imo spoils the look of the centre console. I am not a great fan of the 15" wheels and the 17" Turbo S wheels are by far the best looking Bentley wheels you can buy.
Sometimes things just happen for a reason.
Call it kismet.
I wrang my very good friend and mechanic Brian who looks afer all of our vehicles and told him about Hatty. Brian cut his teeth at Hillier Hill and knows his onions. But he is off to the states tomorrow for four weeks.
So I spoke with WG on Thursday. Drew the cash out of the bank on Friday and arranged for Brian to drive up in his covered waggon lorry on Saturday. Stay over night and to view the car today.
My heart and head said that Hatty would be given a clean bill of health. Brian arrived with Hatty at just before 9:30pm this evening. I took her for a spin around the block with the missus and she is everything that I had hoped and dreamed for. They are just magnificent cars.
WG can take heart that she will be well cared for buy a guy that spoke the word car before mum or dad.
Thank you WG for making my dream come true
Thanks for such a great post Graeme.
I'm so pleased 'Hatty' has gone to such a good home, it means a great deal. She has helped me through some very dark times and, even now, in her absence, she will continue to help me get through whatever lies ahead, because by going to a new home, it enables me to continue to be treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a round trip each time for me of around 500 miles. I was in tears as she left, as was my girlfriend Anna.
Brian was great and really knows his stuff. I learnt a few things from him today.
I appreciate your text this evening inviting us both to keep in touch, which I'm sure we will. I look forward to it.
I wish you happy, safe and enjoyable motoring in 'Hatty' and, am so pleased that you have been able to achieve your ambition.
Your friend
WG
I'm so pleased 'Hatty' has gone to such a good home, it means a great deal. She has helped me through some very dark times and, even now, in her absence, she will continue to help me get through whatever lies ahead, because by going to a new home, it enables me to continue to be treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a round trip each time for me of around 500 miles. I was in tears as she left, as was my girlfriend Anna.
Brian was great and really knows his stuff. I learnt a few things from him today.
I appreciate your text this evening inviting us both to keep in touch, which I'm sure we will. I look forward to it.
I wish you happy, safe and enjoyable motoring in 'Hatty' and, am so pleased that you have been able to achieve your ambition.
Your friend
WG
Many thanks for all of your kind words. 2013 has been one of the toughest years of my life. My father in law passing away just four weeks ago after a long term illness. My mother in law needing an emergency operation and of course the ambulance taking her to a different bloody hospital. My mother being recently diagnosed with both vascular and senile dementia plus a miriad of other issues and problems. It really has been one thing after another.
Hatty is the answer to putting a bit of sunshine back into our lives. I've owned lots of different cars over the years but very few make me just want to go take a peek in the garage. Open her door, sit in the seat and just soak up the aroma. Amusingly when I spoke to the missus yesterday morning she said I suppose you took a peek in the garage before going off to work. Of course I did I said. She laughed and said, so did I.
Last night we took her to the Ace Cafe. Not too far away from me. Took an hour and a half for a journey that should have taken half an hour at most. A better journey on the way home but still did not get much opportunity to stoke the boiler room. But what an event. Allowed me to get far better acquainted with Hatty. A very different drive to my late father in laws Shadow 11 that I have driven a fair bit over the years.
I think this love affair is going to last many many years. I will stay in touch with my good friend WG and wish him well. I think it is about time that we both had a bit of luck
Hatty is the answer to putting a bit of sunshine back into our lives. I've owned lots of different cars over the years but very few make me just want to go take a peek in the garage. Open her door, sit in the seat and just soak up the aroma. Amusingly when I spoke to the missus yesterday morning she said I suppose you took a peek in the garage before going off to work. Of course I did I said. She laughed and said, so did I.
Last night we took her to the Ace Cafe. Not too far away from me. Took an hour and a half for a journey that should have taken half an hour at most. A better journey on the way home but still did not get much opportunity to stoke the boiler room. But what an event. Allowed me to get far better acquainted with Hatty. A very different drive to my late father in laws Shadow 11 that I have driven a fair bit over the years.
I think this love affair is going to last many many years. I will stay in touch with my good friend WG and wish him well. I think it is about time that we both had a bit of luck
Lovely outcome for both concerned - Hatty's in a good home and just made someone else's dream.
Graeme - I would love to see the smile when you do get to open her up properly. I never tired of my old Turbo R. It was always a complete thrill to drive whilst feeling like a fine drawing room inside. One tip only - Turbo R's just don't do ice! Impossible!
Graeme - I would love to see the smile when you do get to open her up properly. I never tired of my old Turbo R. It was always a complete thrill to drive whilst feeling like a fine drawing room inside. One tip only - Turbo R's just don't do ice! Impossible!
Once again. Thank you for all of your kind words.
I thought it about time I posted an update on Hatty.
What a magnificent beast. I wish I had bought one years ago. That said Hatty would still be my ideal choice. The midnight blue looks black in certain light yet has a purple hew to the metallic blue in others. Just beautiful.
So she has been in with my mate for a little fettling. Just to be absolutely clear this is not a moan. What works today can break tomorrow. WG is a top bloke and I am truly enjoying every moment of Hatty's company. This story becomes the continued passion for Hatty and ensuring that she remains as Bentley intended.
The one thing that detracted from Hatty's enjoyment was wheel shimmy when braking and a vibration through the car at speed. All four wheel bearings have been renewed and all four brake discs skimmed. There was a leak from the brake fluid reservoir and the return pipes have been replaced. The underside and the inner arches that hold crud have been thoroughly cleaned and re waxoyled. New gearbox oil and filter and fresh diff oil. Both rear springs had broken apparently a common fault and new ones fitted.
The not so essentials have been the addition of a flying B and a transient boost kit. I think we have a split hose as she is not performing as well as she was prior to the kit being installed. Back to my mate next week to be sorted.
Had my first opportunity to take her out today with the missus after the fettling. What a joy to drive and a pleasure to own.
What's left to do. Sort out the boost issue. Arrange for my mate Sav to sort out a few minor dents that are only really visible when the car is up on a ramp. Then in the spring attend to the minor rust issues on the rear arches. This in itself is a bit of a conundrum. Under harsh light you can see some minor corrosion around the door handles and each side of the trim down the bonnet. I don't want to paint the whole car as it is far to nice for that. My thoughts are sort out the rear arches as I don't want the rot to spread. Leave the rest as she lives in a heated garage and I don't think that the it will get any worse. I would be very pleased to hear your collective thoughts on this.
I'm off to sit in the car for a few minutes as I do every night. In my 35 years of car ownership this in only the second car I have owned that makes me want to do this. That's passion I guess
I thought it about time I posted an update on Hatty.
What a magnificent beast. I wish I had bought one years ago. That said Hatty would still be my ideal choice. The midnight blue looks black in certain light yet has a purple hew to the metallic blue in others. Just beautiful.
So she has been in with my mate for a little fettling. Just to be absolutely clear this is not a moan. What works today can break tomorrow. WG is a top bloke and I am truly enjoying every moment of Hatty's company. This story becomes the continued passion for Hatty and ensuring that she remains as Bentley intended.
The one thing that detracted from Hatty's enjoyment was wheel shimmy when braking and a vibration through the car at speed. All four wheel bearings have been renewed and all four brake discs skimmed. There was a leak from the brake fluid reservoir and the return pipes have been replaced. The underside and the inner arches that hold crud have been thoroughly cleaned and re waxoyled. New gearbox oil and filter and fresh diff oil. Both rear springs had broken apparently a common fault and new ones fitted.
The not so essentials have been the addition of a flying B and a transient boost kit. I think we have a split hose as she is not performing as well as she was prior to the kit being installed. Back to my mate next week to be sorted.
Had my first opportunity to take her out today with the missus after the fettling. What a joy to drive and a pleasure to own.
What's left to do. Sort out the boost issue. Arrange for my mate Sav to sort out a few minor dents that are only really visible when the car is up on a ramp. Then in the spring attend to the minor rust issues on the rear arches. This in itself is a bit of a conundrum. Under harsh light you can see some minor corrosion around the door handles and each side of the trim down the bonnet. I don't want to paint the whole car as it is far to nice for that. My thoughts are sort out the rear arches as I don't want the rot to spread. Leave the rest as she lives in a heated garage and I don't think that the it will get any worse. I would be very pleased to hear your collective thoughts on this.
I'm off to sit in the car for a few minutes as I do every night. In my 35 years of car ownership this in only the second car I have owned that makes me want to do this. That's passion I guess
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