Lot details Registration No: RRV 2 Chassis No: SCBZB03C6RCH52116 Mot Expiry: June 2010
Though launched at the Geneva Motor Show of 1991, many elements of the John Heffernan/Ken Greenley-penned Continental R had been seen at the same Salon as far back as 1984, when Bentley unveiled their `Project 90' concept car; a suitably enthusiastic reception leading the company to develop the car for production. Clearly the Sultan of Brunei approved of the end result, as he bought the 1991 show car at the exhibition. The Continental tag was intended to recall memories of the elegant Bentley Continentals of the `50s and `60s, while the `R' was a hark back to R Type Bentleys of the `50s and the Turbo R of the `80s. The new car was based on the Turbo R floorpan and powered by that model's 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 engine, that was believed (the Rolls-Royce/Bentley company of the day never quoted horsepower figures) to produce in the region of 324bhp. Whatever, it was sufficient to give a top speed of some 145mph and a 0-60mph acceleration time of around 6.6 seconds - the best of any Bentley in its day. The engine drove through the then new 4-speed GM 4L80-E transmission.
The striking two-door coachwork featured more curvature than the Rolls-Royce and Bentley saloons of the time and while its drag coefficient of 0.465 was hardly groundbreaking, it was nevertheless a huge improvement over that of previous Bentleys. Unlike all other Bentleys since the S3 of 1965, its body was unique to the marque and not shared with any model of Rolls-Royce. It was a big car by any standards, being some 17.5 feet long and over 6.5 feet wide. The 24 gallon fuel tank was a clue to the fuel consumption when the full performance was employed. The Continental R was produced from 1991 to 2003, during which time some 1,290 examples were made. Its successor was the Continental GT that remains in production today. The righthand drive 1994 Continental R offered features red coachwork and cream/red leather upholstery. It is MOT'd into June next year and taxed until the end of January. `RRV 2' reportedly comes with "a full service history" to substantiate the odometer reading of just 40,000 or so miles and is described by the vendor as being in "excellent" condition with regard to its engine, automatic transmission, electrical equipment, interior trim, bodywork and paintwork.
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