Bentley Turbo

ENGINE 6750cc/V8/OHV POWER 300bhp@5000rpm TORQUE 350bhp@2000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 128mph 0-60MPH 7.0sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 11-16mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, three-speed auto MoT 12 months ODOMETER 59,000 miles

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The 6.75-litre V8 awakens with an earnest thrum and settles to a relaxed, super-soft burble. This is a long wheelbase model, designed to be chauffeured in. If you’re very tall you may struggle to get comfortable behind the non-adjustable steering wheel. There’s no hesitation through the automatic gearbox, and no presence of slop or dead zones in the steering. There are no groans or clonks from the suspension and bumps are smoothed over like honey on a freshly-toasted crumpet.

BODYWORK CHECK

The Sherwood Green metallic paint looks statesmanlike in the sun and has survived the last 23 years well. There are a few scuffs here and there, but there’s no corrosion around the door handles, wheelarches or sills. The chrome presents well, with no clouding or stone chips to the trademark vast grille. There are no cracks to the glass, and the lights are equally free of blemishes. The Bentley wears matched Avon TurboSpeed tyres, and all have a good level of tread remaining. The alloy wheels are in good condition, with no evident corrosion or kerbing. The only obvious blemish is a spot of lacquer scuff to one of the front wheelarches.

HOW’S THE INTERIOR?

The cabin trim – comprising light stone leather piped dark green, a dark green dash top, beige Wilton carpets and green lambswool overmats – is in generally good condition. There are a few marks here and there on the dashboard but nothing to be overly concerned about. There’s also a spot of out-ofdate technology to savour – the Alpine satellite navigation system would have cost its first owner something in the region of £6000 back in the 1990s. It no longer works – the satellite probably went AWOL some time ago – but the rest of the electrics work perfectly and the air conditioning blows plenty of icy cold air. Most importantly, the wood is in fantastic condition, with none of the cracks or lifting veneers that often blight Bentleys and Roll-Royces of this era.

UNDER THE BONNET

The vast engine bay presents well – it’s not in concours condition, though it wouldn’t take much effort to get it there. All the fluids are to maximum and none leaked during our test. The car comes with a vast amount of documentation, with full Rolls-Royce service history that backs up the mileage, along with paperwork pointing to regular oil changes and regular general care and maintenance.

THE CCW VIEW

There are just 230 Bentley Turbo RLs left on the road, and it’s hard to imagine that many will present quite as well as this one. Plus, 300bhp of turbocharged thrust in a Bentley is always endearing, and this one’s been very well looked after.