T2 or Continental running costs

[911Thrasher]

Anyone can help here on realistic running costs?

I’m about to pull the trigger on a T2 at the end of the month, but also looking at a Convertible Continental from 1982.
(I know not the same buying budget)

I’ll get the best car available at the moment of purchase.

But what are realistic running costs for say 3,000km a year (the car will be used all year long in our Biarritz house) and what does it need to be kept in mint condition : worse thing is showing up for a weekend and the car doesn’t start!!

Thanks for all feedbacks, really hope someone who actually runs one of these can share his/her experience.

Edited by 911Thrasher on Thursday 8th February 12:58

[911Thrasher]

Budgeting 30-35k£ on day one to buy the T2 - so is in top shape: no brakes, suspension etc to be done. Body will be rust free, wood leather already restored.

[911Thrasher]

Can you recommend good places around West London for upkeeping/servicing and possibly sales (even though I already have my eyes on 2 cars)

[911Thrasher]

Thanks guys - so nothing scary really if I buy the right car.

£2,000 is peanuts compared to my usual toys which I occasionally track (964rs, Stradale, GT3RS, etc.) moving on from those as I have no more time and cannot enjoy them with the little family: wife and two little boys under 4, so time for a “cruiser”

[911Thrasher]

OldBenz - why did you sell? If that one it looked amazingly beautiful and straight panels.

My view is that we will do easy 3/4,000km a year with it as our Biarritz run...surfing up/down the coast, and Andorra skiing in the winter.

I have a very decent budget for the T2: up to 35k£ and of course more for the Corniche, if we find a good one. I don’t want a low miles car, I want a car that has miles on it and regular miles.

[911Thrasher]

Well I have my eyes on a Corniche as well...but really I want a Bentley: softer front grille/bonnet lines

I’m prob going to bid on the Historics T2, chassis SBH32320
If anyone knows anything about it, and willing to share (here or by email) - i just love the colour combo: not bling, not dark and serious, not wedding...just hippie cool

Edited by 911Thrasher on Wednesday 14th February 21:37

[911Thrasher]

Thanks guys
went to look at a 1983 Bentley continental convertible...good from far but far from good: way too much rust to my taste

I have my eyes on a T2 (none of the DD Classics cars as I'm not a fan of the dark color), waiting to receive/understand what kind of restoration/works it has received in the past years. But it does present quite well (chassis SBH 32320)

and an Italian competitor (yet more expensive): Ferrari 412i auto

[911Thrasher]

Yes i had spotted the mileage discrepancy...maybe due to restoration (mechanical and interior/exterior): it looks like it's had had a lot of money spent on however.
And i do like the blue shade change it received.

Tried talking to Historics couple times, but they are so slow and never call back. Of course i will go and see it before bidding, but i dont think we can raise it to see the underside and spot any leaks if any.

[911Thrasher]

Voxy said:

Bear in mind that the auction catalogues indicate that a lot of the mechanical work was completed in 2009 - long enough to be largely irrelevant if not well maintained since.

Thanks - will bear that in mind indeed...bodyworks and interior recent, but you are right mechanical a while back (and few miles since).
I know i must check for religious annual oil/fluids changes...any other pointers

[911Thrasher]

Ok all good - speedo exchange, recorded, invoiced...

And it’s mine

We will run it in London for the next 6 months, make sure everything is alright then it will be sent to our beach house to serve as our surf wagon

Now trying to find a roof rack: has anyone tried the Thule 754 on it? It’s a universal fit, just worried that the roof might be too high







And to give you an idea of its future:

[911Thrasher]

Waow congratulations!

mine is finally coming out of its "light restoration" at big expense (so much more expensive than a Ferrari to run, i can tell you that!)...mechanically now 100% and ready to take us back and forth to France and my occasional surf trips in the UK.

This week in the bodyshop to correct some minor points...and then all good.

The family is super happy with it, the boys love being waft around London in it. They don't ask about the Ferrari so much anymore...that's how happy they are to go in the Bentley!

Edited by 911Thrasher on Friday 2nd November 14:06

[911Thrasher]

ruhall said:

VJA looks very nice. Purely as a matter of interest, do you know whether that wood finish was a special-order request? It looks slightly 'different' to me and I wondered whether you might have copies of the original order or the build sheets.

They're often interesting to read, the original order on mine requested that the factory provide a different demonstration music tape 'as Mr X buys a new Rolls Royce every year and would like a different tape this year, if possible'.

Yes I have the build sheet...sheets I shall say. Chassis SBH32320 late 1977 built for the Scottish Motor Show hence full options including picnic tables...registered early 1978 post-show.

More pictures of the woodwork here:
https://www.historics.co.uk/buying/auctions/2018-0...

Yes “sold” bought by me...but it did require 20k£ plus to make it perfect from the auction. Not cheap but a blast to own.

Edited by 911Thrasher on Saturday 3rd November 15:33