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(including buyers premium)
Registration No: L500 ATS
Chassis No: SCBZB03C0RCH52242
MOT: October 2026
The Continental R, code-named ‘Nepal’ by the engineering department, was designed and built entirely at Crewe. It filled the space left by the Camargue, sharing with that model an eye-watering list price. When launched in 1991, the initial press release had the price as £160,000, only for that to be tweaked upwards to £175,000 soon afterwards, when the new VAT rate was announced in that year’s budget. The sleek shape benefitted from work in the wind tunnel; the windscreen was raked to lower the vehicle’s drag coefficient, enhancing fuel consumption, lowering wind noise and raising the model’s top speed. It is said that when the model was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the assembled audience broke out into spontaneous applause, with the Geneva Show car being sold to the Sultan of Brunei on the spot! Riding on 16-inch wheels with low profile Avon tyres, the new Continental R was powered by the company’s revered 6750cc V8 engine, now using a new four-speed GM automatic transmission The 325bhp turbocharged power unit would offer a near 150mph top speed and somehow heave Bentley’s 2.4-tonne bulk to 60mph in just over six seconds.
1 of just 1,292 examples produced and displaying a highly credible c.41,100 miles and with current ownership since 2014, ‘L500 ATS’ has seen just 5 former keepers, with ownership prior to the vendor’s for 8 years, from 2009-2014. Early into its current ownership c.£3,000 was spent which included a new air conditioning unit being fitted in 2014 and also shod with new Avon tyres in 2015. 'L500 ATS' has benefitted from regular oil changes and mechanical fettling in the vendors care. The subject of recent expenditure by marque specialists Bowling-Ryan Ltd, 2023 saw attention paid to the brakes and spheres and a replacement coil pack. Offered with the cherished registration ‘L500 ATS’ the Bentley has recently been subject to expense and comes to the sale with its original owner's wallet, handbook and service book in the bookpack, a collection of invoices and old MOT certificate. Two keys are present along with the current V5C.
For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760
Auction: Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire, 15th Oct, 2025
An auction of classic, collector and performance motorcars to be held in the beautiful surrounds of the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire.Venue Details
To enquire about entering your classic or performance car into the auction please call our sales office on 01925 210035, email sales@HandH.co.uk or click here: Enter Your Classic Motorcar
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Tues 14th October from 1pm
Wed 15th October from 9am
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