1989 Bentley Turbo R £16,950
Significant recent expenditure sets his Bentley apart from other examples currently for sale. Chris Hope takes a closer look
After a period of neglect, this Bentley today appears to be in fantastic condition throughout. Its first owner was a Mr Brian Scowcroft, followed by a gentleman in Scotland, and they both fully serviced the car at main dealers until 2002. The car then passed to the Scottish owner’s son, who only serviced it once between 2006 and 2016, although it was Mot’d each year.
Over the past four years the current owner has spent in excess of £16,000 with vendor Colbrooks on a combination of annual servicing, removing corrosion from both the lower corner sections of the front valance and rear wheelarches, replacing the air conditioning compressor and cruise control ECU and front and rear dampers, in addition to many other smaller tasks. Invoices for this have been retained, as have the original factory build sheets.
This Bentley presents very well. There’s no corrosion to speak of, no dents or signs of repairs to the roof, bonnet, or doors, which hang nicely on their hinges. The general finish of the Balmoral Green paint is very good, though we noted minor paint runs on the bonnet, front wing just ahead of the indicator, and the passenger side C-post. Coachlines are unbroken.
The chrome radiator surround and mesh were both replaced last year and are free from blemishes. Same applies to the windscreen surround, window trim, door mirrors and handles. All we could fault were some very minor scuffing to the sill plates.
Inside, the seats, in Parchment leather with Green piping, have only minor creasing. The leather headlining is taut and the door cards are undamaged. All its wood veneer is free from discolourations and chips. Likewise, the leather framing the instruments and armrest is free from scuffs. Picnic tables are undamaged and carpets and overmats show very limited wear.
All of the electrics, including the seats, window and door mirrors, work, as does the recently revived air conditioning system and cruise control. Under the bonnet, the fluids are all up to the correct levels and there are no signs of any leaks. Likewise, there’s zero corrosion either to the pipework or the bulkhead and inner wings. The radiator and all the coolant hoses were replaced in July last year, the water pump being replaced at the same time. In addition, there’s a new fuel metering head and alternator. The engine bay is also home to an original Scorpion alarm system.
The V8 runs quietly, responding immediately under acceleration, and power delivery remains smooth into the upper reaches of the rev range. At 60mph, just shy of 1500rpm, needles sit in the middle of oil pressure and engine temperature gauges.
The ride doesn’t wallow in the corners and there are absolutely no clunks or rattles on the move. Brakes are strong and progressive, without pulling to either side.
This is a nicely sorted Turbo R that has been thoroughly brought up to scratch. We don’t anticipate a price boom for Turbo Rs in the near future, but you’re unlikely to lose money on one as nicely sorted as this.