'Last of line' Continental R Mulliner for sale
If Blenheim Palace had wheels...
There’s certainly no denying that Bentley wouldn’t be where it is today had Volkswagen not taken it under its wing. A few years back, the British marque (let’s not get into all that) claimed to have shifted 80,000 examples of the Continental GT since the luxury coupe arrived on the scene in 2003, but that figure’s likely closer to six figures now given the rate Crewe seems to be firing them out. Even more extraordinary is that Bentley sold nearly 7,000 examples of the Conti GT in its first full year on sale in 2004 - three times that of its predecessor’s 12-year production run.
True, the Continental GT was leaps and bounds ahead of the pre-VW Continental R. At least from a technical perspective, anyway. But it’s arguably for that reason, along with sky high production numbers and the astronomical running costs of a W12, that you can pick up a new-age Conti for the price of a base-spec Dacia Sandero. Meanwhile, the older, more regal Continental R commands a considerably higher entry fee - especially something as rare and exquisite as this R Mulliner.
It’s pretty obvious why that’s the case. Though the follow-up Continental GT represented a giant leap forward in 2003, it’s understandably looking a bit tired two decades on. Conversely, the R has always been dated. Like a stately home or countryside cottage, the charm comes from the wood veneers, the sumptuous leather upholstery and the assortment of dials that reads everything from speed to ambient temperature. Bentley continues to build its cars by hand, but the Continental R looks as though its been lovingly put together by a handful of seasoned coach builders, rather than a team of assemblers scattered along a bustling production line.
Then there’s the fact that it’s one of the rarer Mulliner cars. Not just limited to an even snazzier interior and glossy exterior trim, the Continental R Mulliner essentially combined the best bits of the range to create the ultimate version of the long-wheelbase Conti. This included the same engine spec as the short-wheelbase Continental T, bringing the 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 up to 426hp and 650lb ft - 41hp and 100 torques more than the regular R. Even better, it gained the extended wheel arches from the sportier T, too, providing the merest of hints at the extra grunt below the football pitch-sized bonnet.
What makes this model particularly special, mind, is that it’s one of the run-out models from the last year of production in 2003. That means every option ticked from the R and T, which the ad claims includes the sportier suspension from the T and wider wheels. It’s also packing a glorious cream leather upholstery with navy carpets and dark blue lambswool rugs. It really is the perfect example of pre-VW era Bentley.
It wasn’t that long ago when Continental Rs were relatively inexpensive, even a Mulliner. But considering how gracefully these have aged, and that this 40,000-mile example is a ‘last of line’ car crammed full of old-school Bentley goodness, they command a bit more of a premium these days. This car’s listed at £120,900, which is still a decent discount on what the original owner would have been invoiced (these were quarter of a million 20 years ago), and a fair bit cheaper than a modern Mulliner-ised Conti. Bentley’s regained a lot of its street cred with its old-school fans in recent years, if you really want to fit in at the croquet club this summer, you need look no further.
Beautiful old thing, the only thing I think let’s it down is the wheels which to me look quite ‘cheap’ in design and not quite becoming of this behemoth.
Unless I needed the extra few inches of rear leg space I’d plump for a Continental T, and it’s thuggish looks..
I would install a floozy half my age with fake boobs and a pony.
Lucky for them I'm an estate-less peasant and they don't exist.
I remember him being relieved that he got back what he paid, bet he wished he kept hold of it now!!
I loved it but at the same time felt very embarrassed travelling anywhere in it
I remember him being relieved that he got back what he paid, bet he wished he kept hold of it now!!
I loved it but at the same time felt very embarrassed travelling anywhere in it
I was doing a classic car for sale-type review for a classic mag on a North London dealer's car about a decade ago – it was a peculiar mixture of red and yellow inside and out, and LHD. I remember being so impressed with the refinement on my test route around some of the less capitalism-friendly parts of North London, especially when the only sound I could hear was the lovely sound of phlegm splattering the driver's side window courtesy of pedestrians.
This one, similar specification, 420 BHP etc., appears to be better value.
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