Bentley Brooklands | Spotted
Bentley does many things very well, but it hasn't done anything as enchanting as the Brooklands for far too long
Bentley never fails to remind us that it still has a sense of humour. Pikes Peak is just days away and it's an event the British marque has entered three times, including runs with a specially-prepared Bentayga and a bonkers GT3-based Continental GT prototype. On the road car side, the GT Speed continues to defy logic (because how can a 2.2 tonnes super coupe be that good to drive?) and is about to get even more mind-bending with the arrival of the new 782hp V8 hybrid version next week.
It’s managed to do that all while under the ownership of Volkswagen which, as when the company took control of Lamborghini, we wondered might be the nail in the coffin for Bentley’s brawlers. Although, looking back, and short of the Continentals of the '90s, the company wasn’t exactly churning out torque monsters left, right and centre before it was taken over. In fact, the German car giant was arguably responsible for putting Bentley back in touch with its mojo, starting with the really very silly Arnage T and then, in 2008, the even sillier Brooklands coupe like the one you see here.
When Bentley was independent, it was supposedly close to swinging the axe on its legendary 6.75-litre V8, an engine that could trace its roots all the way back to 1959. But when VW stepped in, it threw a duffel bag of cash Bentley’s way to bring the motor up to modern snuff, which included strapping a pair of Garrett turbos to it and overhauling more than 50 per cent of the internals. The Arnage first introduced the revamped L-Series V8 in 2001, though further updates were made with the arrival of the Brooklands seven years later.
Now with twin MHI turbos bolted to it, Bentley was able to crank out 530hp from the near-60-year-old engine and, more impressively, 774lb ft of torque. The highest torque output of any production petrol V8 at the time, in fact. Further improvements would be made until the engine’s retirement in 2020, but the Brooklands marked one heck of a turnaround given the L-Series was at death’s door by the end of the '90s. Of course, we all remember TG’s showcase of the Brooklands’ immense torque with Clarkson blowing a tyre while lighting the rears up in a Catherine wheel of smoke. Would the same happen in any rear-wheel-drive car after non-stop donuts? Of course, but the sheer grunt of the Brooklands certainly sped up the process.
The rear-end charm comes from the exquisite interior, from the sumptuous quilted leather seats to the cool touch of the metal switchgear. This is old-school Bentley at its finest, and the last time we’d see the dial- and button-filled dashes that was the brand's calling card. The Continental GT would duly haul the brand into the 21st century with modern underpinnings and the latest technology VW had to offer, and while the Mulsanne did a faithful job of combining cues from Bentleys of yesteryear with modern underpinnings, the Brooklands would be among the final remnants of the company’s independent era.
So it's a special car, with this example going the extra mile with a Mulliner-trimmed interior. These were exceptionally expensive cars back in the day (think north of £230,000), and while most Bentleys tend to plummet after a few years of use, Brooklands have held strong. Factor in the Mulliner interior, 12,700 miles tallied and extensive history, and you wind up at an asking price of £129,950. Shop around and you’ll find examples for a smidgen less than six figures, such as this 33,400-miler at £99,995. Bentley never made a coupe version of the Mulsanne, which would been the Brooklands’ spiritual successor, so this is where the line ended for the luxury two-door limo. A shame, but at least it went out on an almighty high.
SPECIFICATION | BENTLEY BROOKLANDS
Engine: 6,750cc V8, twin-turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 537@4,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 774@3,250rpm
MPG: 14.5
CO2: 465g/km
Year registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 12,700
Price new: £230,000 (standard)
Yours for: £129,995
In the flesh, stunning things to behold.
The Brooklands is such a superb vehicle - especially the one featured with proper cream leather and walnut, none of that modern turned aluminum and black leather nonsense.
Love the excess of it - the ridiculous pile of the carpet, the monstrous engine and thirst, the money-no-object build quality, everything about it!
Big fan of the 2 interior door handles per door, to allow the rear passengers easier egress.
king difference 
Seem to be a small dealer who perhaps doesn't have a physical showroom, I think the location is quite befitting the car (which is a lovely big thing).
I wish I owned a carpet warehouse....
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff