1972 Bentley T1 Corniche Fixedhead Coupé

For sale by auction on Saturday 07 March 2015 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
The Bentley T-Series was launched in 1965 alongside its sister
car. the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. It was a pure badge-engineering
exercise and ended up being sold for the same price as the
Rolls-Royce. The Bentley T-series was a quiet revolution. it was
the first car produced by the company to feature unitary
construction instead of a more traditional separate chassis. The
Corniche models were derived from the T1/Silver Shadow. starting
out as the Mulliner Park Ward two-door fixedhead coupé. 140 Bentley
badged-engineered Rolls-Royce Corniches were made; of which just 69
were fixedhead coupés and all were built at the Mulliner Park Ward
factory. In 1984. the Corniche was rebranded Continental while
receiving a number of mechanical improvements. This was to open up
some distance between Rolls-Royce and Bentley - it worked. as the
Continental continued to sell well into the 1990s. only to be
replaced by the Azure in 1995.

We are lead to believe just 31 T1 Bentley Corniche fixedhead
coupé were produced between 1971 and 1976. this fantastic recently
restored example presented in Diamond Silver metallic is a credit
to its late owner who meticulously spent the time and the effort to
ensure this example survives and impresses for generations to come.
Offered with near unmarked and blemish free paintwork complimented
by black leather interior. which some would say is the best
combination. and being seated behind the original wooden steering
wheel. it is a pleasurable place to be and certainly gives no
impression as to its 43 years of age.

The car itself had. for a term of no less than 15 years. been
locked away safely in a dry garage until one day. the owner decided
that something must be done to restore the car into its splendid
former beauty before forgotten and thus began ringing around to
source the best candidates to take on the work. Having been dry
stored thankfully very little damage. if any. had been done by the
dreaded corrosion but having been sat in one place for so long had
caused the engine to seize as had the brakes and so a full engine
rebuild seemed prudent by Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists. br/>Centurion Motor Co. of Brokley. Centurion. along with the vendor
who was no stranger to the mechanical or other workings of such a
car. then undertook the task to fully restore the car with the
intention to thoroughly enjoy touring the finished project and even
installed a bespoke Rockford music system for those long drives
through the continent. Unfortunately the vendor fell into ill
health shortly after the cars completion hence why the low mileage
and this splendid example has again found itself back in the
garage.

Offered with a valid MoT test certificate until July 2015 which
carried no advisories. a full detailed invoice from Centurion and a
log of restoration from the former vendor coupled with invoices and
receipts from Ghost Motor Works. Flying Spares and many more plus
the full original build specification provided by Bentley Motors
and tool kit. this rare and well restored car is certainly a
collectors example. Offered at near half the price that we have
seen similar Bentleys offered for recently. this could be a very
astute purchase of the car that Bentley motors enjoyed so much
success with.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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