This is a most desirable chrome bumper era Bentley T, finished in beautiful Dawn blue with gold fine lines to the body waist-lines and hub-cap beauty rings. The Connolly interior is finished in an elegant mid grey-with a lighter grey floor rugs and moutons. The colour ensemble is very classic.
The Bentley T (“T1 “) is the rare derivative of the Silver Shadow. It was the twin sister to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and is differentiated by a Bentley radiator grille, mascot and “Flying B”. It has a slightly lower bonnet (hood) with different shaping in the sheet metal and is distinguished further with “Bentley” hubcaps and boot badging. Unique to these earlier Bentleys, is the fitment of “B” logos on the speedometer and brake pedal (a nice touch – something that was sadly deleted by Rolls-Royce in later years). Out of some 32,000 4 door Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow sedans produced, only 1,700 of these were Bentley Ts (that is only some 5% of the model series). Take into account that the number of remaining survivors would be considerably less and discount further those that are in poor condition, then this T1 Bentley may well be 1 out of only a few dozen examples in the US in this very fine condition.
As important, is the history of this car having been owned by a member of the Coors beer family, a sportsman, recognised war veteran and politician.
The first owner of this Bentley T was The Honourable Hartland de Montarville Molson. He was a member of the Molson family of brewers (now Molson Coors), an athlete and hockey player, a Battle of Britain Pilot, and a Canadian Senator.
Molson enlisted in Montreal, Quebec on 21 September 1939 within weeks of the onset of World War II becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He earned his wings on 11 April 1940 and was assigned to Number 115 Squadron in Montreal. He was one of a handful of No.115 Squadron pilots transferred to Number 1 Squadron In the RCAF in the spring of 1940 to bolster its numbers in preparation for shipment to the United Kingdom. Arriving in England in June 1940, the squadron underwent rapid training in the Royal Air Force (RAF) procedures before being thrown into the desperate battles in the skies over the UK. During the Battle of Britain he damaged a Dornier DO17 on 26 August, damaged two Messerschmitt BF110s on 4 September and claimed a Heinkel HE111 destroyed on 11 September. Molson was shot down during combat with enemy fighters over Canterbury on 5 October, baled out, wounded, and was admitted to Chartham Hospital. His Hurricane, P3873, crashed at Deering Farm, Smarden. It was his last operational flight. Molson had flown 62 combat missions. For this he was made an Officer of the Order of The British Empire in 1946.
In 1786, Hartland’s Grandfather English immigrant John Molson founded Canada’s oldest beer brewery on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. Hartland was the President of the family business Molson Breweries between 1953 and 1966, then Chairman until 1974 and Chairman emeritus until 1983, retiring completely in 1988. During his tenure, the company experienced substantial growth, expanding operations across Canada. Outside of the Molson family businesses, Hartland Molson served on the Board of Directors of The Bank of Montreal and Sun Life Assurance.
In 1957 Hartland and his brother Thomas purchased The Montreal Canadiens Hockey team and he retired in 1968 after The Canadiens won The Stanley Cup ending The Detroit Red Wings dominance. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup 6 times 1958-59-60-65-66-68. In 1973, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the ‘builders category’.
From 1948 to 1968 he was president of Montreal’s McGill University.
In 1955, Prime Minister Louis St Laurent appointed Molson to the Senate of Canada. Hartland Molson retired from the Senate in 1993 at the age of 86—one of the last Senators to serve past the mandatory retirement age of 75 as he was appointed prior to the institution of the limit in 1965 and thus exempt.
His high-profile image made him a prime target for the Quebec FLQ terrorist organisation dedicated to Quebec sovereignty during the 1970 ‘October Crisis’. After the FLQ had murdered a British Diplomat and the Vice-Premier of Quebec was kidnapped, Hartland Molson’s name was found on a terrorists’ list of future victims.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in1995 and Ordre National de Quebec in 2000 – the highest civilian honor of his country and his native province. Hartland Molson Hall at Bishops College School is named for him. 438th Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Saint-Hubert, Quebec named their hangar and a cenotaph after him on August 28, 2009. Also in 2009, The Honourable Hartland de Montaville Molson, OC, OBE, OQ, DCL, FCA (1907–2002) was added to the wall of honour at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.
This Bentley T is a stunning example that has recently been gone-through by the Park-Ward Motors Museum – a leader in Rolls-Royce restoration with over 30 years Rolls-Royce and Bentley experience. Indeed; “Masters of the Art”.
The exterior presentation of this Bentley T is simply lovely. The body is exceptionally straight and the paint is of a good level of presentation. It was repainted in its original factory colour some 15 years ago. It was done to a very high standard at estimated cost of $25,000. There are barely even the tiniest and minor little marks here and there so she presents beautifully and without issues. The paint finish is overall completely consistent, very shiny and deep lustered. From a driver perspective, she is 10-out-of-10.
Fitments and finishes are in excellent to flawless condition; chrome, bright-work, glass, lights, lenses, handles, grille and badges.
The interior of the car is in stunning presentation. The African burl walnut wood is lovely. All the wood, dash, console, door cappings and vanity mirrors are in excellent condition and appear to have been redone at some point. Perhaps when the car was repainted. The rest of the interior is very clean and tidy and requires no attention. And speaking of “patina”, the Connolly hide leather is superb showing just the right amount. There are definitely no tears or unsightly scratches or marks and it all remains soft and supple. There is some beautiful “hand-wear” and sign of use that makes all the seats look like a gorgeous well-kept antique Chesterfield couch. Have a close look at the driver seat, the way the colour has burnished over the years – simply delicious. On this point of patina, if you are the sort of person that likes the seats to look like brand new, please do not ask as to refinish them as we believe what we have here is stunning. We have clients that would pay us their weight in salt to have new leather be finished like this so we could not bear to lose this! The headliner is very clean and in perfect original condition. The dash board and rear parcel shelf are factory excellent. Carpets are clean and tidy and the trunk is pretty much close to perfect!
All interior features and functions are fully operational including all electrics – seats, windows and gauges. The heater is hot and A/C blowing icy cold.
Mechanically, the car is in superior condition and the presentation under the bonnet clearly shows that. It has not been “done-up” for sale but maintained in original condition which is very impressive for the age of the car. The car has been recently serviced. All hydraulics and brakes have been regularly serviced and recently inspected, pressure tested, bled and working perfectly. As expected of a fine example, the car comes with its correct jack, tools and operating manual. At some 33,000 miles, the mileage is not verifiable but the current condition makes it look exactly that.
It is very important to note, this Bentley has NOT been “tarted-up” but simply very well maintained in original factory condition. Anything repaired or attended to has been done so professionally and with pride & passion by its last 2 owners of 20 years. The car is an extremely beautiful presenting example that is well in advance of any Bentley T and is in excellent driver condition. It easily ranks a 10 out of 10 driver and very much show worthy.
~~ This is a significantly well-above average example of a Bentley T1. As a top-class driver condition example, it needs absolutely nothing doing or spent on her. Given the unique presentation and condition of this classic and rare Bentley sedan, it is also show worthy and could be taken as-is to your next Rolls-Royce meet with great pride. ~~
International buyers welcome!
For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photos are of super high resolution so if you right click on any, you can zoom in and see every little detail and defect in considerable detail.
Click HERE to see some 200+ high resolution photos
Click HERE to see some 200+ high resolution photos
