Bentley Continental Odd Vin Numer

[rswift]

Good evening,

I'm not usually on the Bentley Forum, or any for a while to be honest, but I have a query, maybe someone can help with.

In the past I've had a Silver Shadow, and Mulsanne so not completely unaware of the cars.

So, as a project I've been to view a non running, and not particularly loved 1992/3 Continental R. It's UK registered, LHD.....part of an estate sale, so no history at the moment. Now here is the intriguing bit. The chassis/serial number is only 5 digits.....(N 00**) I'm not putting the actual numbers up for obvious reasons. This is on the plate in the door (I'll try and post pics later).

Bentley can't help, appears to be to old for them.

Anyone got any ideas....my initial thoughts are a pre-production, or development car ?

All help/ideas gratefully received.

Thank you

[Lockhouse]

My guess is that it may only be a partial number. N is the year for 1992 which is followed by a five digit chassis number.


https://www.flyingspares.com/chassis-number-refere...

[rswift]

Thank you for the reply, I am aware of the Flying spares website.....this is what is on the car. It is also stamped into the engine bay.

[alabbasi]

That's interesting. I expect it to be the 94th Continental R that was built

[MrReg]

If you pm me or post the reg number I'll try and get the serial number for you on DVLA records.

[JP13]

The fact that the manufacturers plate only shows the chassis number and nothing else, makes me suspect it’s a prototype that was never intended to be released to a customer but should’ve been dismantled after use. Very interesting.

[JP13]

Btw, the codename for the Continental R was ‘Nepal’, hence the N on the chassis number.

Edited by JP13 on Saturday 22 April 19:55

[alabbasi]

JP13 said:

it’s a prototype that was never intended to be released to a customer but should’ve been dismantled after use. Very interesting.

Rolls Royce didn't have any money at the time so I'm guessing that they'd sell the bathroom sink if they could.