Turbo R by Hooper

[atomicpunk]

A very interesting car coming up for auction, and with a somewhat colourful history I didn't know these cars existed.

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/pu...

[2708420018]

What a stunner. I have never seen one of these before and the two door format really suits it. Pity about the crash and the previous owner. Calling him a careful owner might be pushing things a bit!!

Paul

[andyh68]

Check Bentley Spotting which has a lot of information about Hooper cars from the mid 80s. I think there are about 20 worldwide, but I've not been able to confirm.

JK Seymour sold this one last year:



Sorry for the small pic. There was also a white example for sale on ebay USA quite recently. Does any one have any other information? I've been collecting articles etc but would like to know more.

Cheers,

Andy

Edited by andyh68 on Saturday 28th November 09:33

Edited by andyh68 on Saturday 28th November 09:34

Edited by andyh68 on Saturday 28th November 09:34

[andyh68]

I've seen this Silver Spirit 2-door parked in Belgravia - I think it's even rarer than the Turbo R version...

Edited by andyh68 on Saturday 28th November 09:52

[andyh68]

And this is the original Mulsanne Turbo 2-door:

[buyer&seller]

Andy, sorry to be a pedant, but that is not a Spirit 2 ( 90 model year ). All Spirit 2's where on a G plate and onwards. As a visual you can tell the difference between them, a 2 has two tweeter speakers on the dash board and from the inside has four air con vents on the dash. This I think is an 88 model year car.

Either way he's got a problem with his wiper blades.

[buyer&seller]

Oops sorry, missed read that, I'm a fool.

You didn't say it was.

[andyh68]

No worries! Just found a photo of the one that was offered on US ebay:

Edited by andyh68 on Saturday 28th November 11:36

[andyh68]

And this one is reputed to have been made for the Sultan of Brunei...

[Bluebottle911]

Uttely pointless. Why pay more for restricted access to the rear seats?

These things were made for people with more money than sense. Same applies today.

If you must have a 2-door Turbo R, then buy a Continental R, which is at least a better looking car.

[Balmoral Green]

Bluebottle911 said:

"The Emperor is naked"

[AndrewW-G]

andyh68 said:

I've seen this Silver Spirit 2-door parked in Belgravia - I think it's even rarer than the Turbo R version...

Edited by andyh68 on Saturday 28th November 09:52

This looks a little like a late 70's to mid 80's Cadillac / Lincoln, all its missing is the porthole / opera windows and a squishy vynil roof

Think I'll stick to my new(to me) Corniche Coupe .................just need to sort out 35 years of rot, dodgy handling and maybe if I've been good Father Christmas will bring me a Turbo R motor!

[andyh68]

Each to his own, but I like them - I think its works well as a 2-door. The Continental R wouldn't have been available at the time, but do agree that they were built for people with too much money to spend. Nevertheless, must have been nice for the first owners to be able to specify a coachbuilt car, just as many customers would have done in the fifties.

Edited by andyh68 on Sunday 29th November 01:54

[derestrictor]

L Jubbly.

[Trommel]

Been on my list for ages, there are only around 12 of them. Sorely tempted, despite the colour ...

[2708420018]

What a small world. There is a letter in Classic and Sports Cars this month from an owner of one in Japan. I have e-mailed him the link.

Paul

[2708420018]

It appears Hoopers were busy boys and made 6 called "Empress"

Not as pretty as the Bonhams model



Paul

[andyh68]

Here's another example...

[FlyingB]

Gents - I recently purchased the white Hooper Turbo R that was on eBay a few months ago and is pictured (badly!) on this thread. The car is under 9,000 miles. The car has many bespoke features, and, is a US export model (with left hand drive). Coachbuilt cars from this era are quite rare and doubly so in the US. As for the car itself, it is currently under repair for the types of things you might expect from a car that has until recently spent a good bit of time in a dealer showroom -- the fuel injectors are gummed up, as well as few other problems that will be sorted. The car is as new throughout and stunningly original - down to the tires - which have recently been replaced.
I was in London and saw the red car last week. Also a nice example despite it's damage history. IMHO, thses cars look better in person than they do photographed. The proportions are quite well done.

[Rollcage]

2708420018 said:

It appears Hoopers were busy boys and made 6 called "Empress"

Not as pretty as the Bonhams model



Paul

Pretty is not a word I would use in association with that car!