Bentley Turbo R, a future classic?

Bentley Turbo R, a future classic?

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keith9849

Original Poster:

97 posts

146 months

Sunday 17th June 2018
quotequote all
When I started work in the City in 1974 I remember scanning the pages of Exchange & Mart for a Bentley Mark VI. I saw one for £900, but as that about equalled my annual salary, it was out of my reach. Even in 1974 the Mark VI, which finished production less than 20 years previously, seemed like something from a bygone era.

35 years on I was scanning Autotrader for a Turbo R. I figured that it made more sense to buy a top-of the-range car, than, say, the Bentley 8, which when new retailed at 60% of the cost of the Turbo R. I also supposed that previous owners would have better-maintain a car that cost new the same as a 3 bedroomed house in an OK outer-London suburb (bad call there!). So, I took the plunge.

In the last 6 years I have steadily spent money dealing with the mechanical and electrical issues, until I finally got round to dealing with the bodywork, and a lower-half re-spray. In the meantime the car has been my daily driver, and has been a pleasure to own.

This is a good car in the best colour (dark blue with parchment interior), runs strong, but will need a driver seat ECU (£200 from flying spares), a tidy-up of the our sill (no welding required but cosmetic finish was poor), and in due course a decent re-spray. Mechanics, hydraulics and electrics are all good.

Unfortunately due to illness I am not going to see the project complete, and I would like to pass it on to someone who will see the project through, and eventually have 'a classic'. Basically you have to leave a dedication and love of these cars for the joy of owning and driving them, and if there is anyone out there with that dedication please drop me a message.

keith9849

Original Poster:

97 posts

146 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
I agree with both posts. The SZ were, in their day, modern cars, with all the toys, and that means there are very many things to maintain. I think this means that no-one can say his car is perfect. They are always ongoing projects, needing very specialist knowledge (and tools) to maintain.

However, many examples are now in (and beyond) the breakers yard (perhaps like the Mark VI and R series, which were mass-production of sorts), so a situation of scarcity may eventually prevail, and market forces help to preserve the worthy examples that are out there.