Bentley T2

Bentley  

T2  

 1978

Rare UK spec car

~ Presented as its “creator” intended ~

Beautifully presented in Willow Gold (metallic) with hand-painted dark-almost-black fine-lines to the waist rails and hubcap beauty rings. Interior finished in delectable and nicely patinaed beige Connolly hides.

The car is Right Hand Drive (“RHD”) and is the rare derivative of the Silver Shadow II – the Bentley T2 – where only some 1-in-10 were made.

This is a “Rest Of the World” (“ROW) specification T2 and, as such, is manufactured to true Rolls-Royce designs. It has the correct specification chrome and rubber bumpers and not the over-protruding “5 mile an hour” bumpers developed for American standards. Stand back and look at profile pictures of a ROW spec Silver Shadow/T and you will see it has better lines with a more “integrated” look.

The engine in the car is UK version higher compression (8:1 vs 7.3:1 for the US) and was designed and built without catalytic converters using regular silencers instead. So extra power is noticeable. And, without the plethora of anti-pollution “add-ons” (which did very little) this not only provides for better fuel economy but less maintenance cost. The gas tank is located as per earlier Shadows/Ts with the filler cap on the right rear quarter panel as opposed to the left rear “C” pillar for all US-spec cars. Subtle differences include the plush Ambla head-liner, dash padding and finer chrome and trimmings throughout the interior, as well as the exterior (headlight brushes), which were not available on American cars.

Being an ROW car, it has a front air-dam (spoiler) fitted with Lucas fog lamps and covers in the front and rear red fog-lamps to the rear, with the number plate mounted below the front bumper and not on it. These are all unique to non-US specification cars.

The car was originally delivered by Jack Barclays in London. Some time within the first 15 years it was transported to the US for private use.

This car came to us from an excellent source; JE Robison Rolls-Royce of Massachusetts who have been servicing her for the previous caretaker for the last 5+ years. As you would expect from the reputation of John Robison, she is in top mechanical and operational condition.

The body is straight with the paint presenting very nicely. Much of the paint is original and shows small blemishes and marks with minor buff-through marks in various places, but I am a firm believer, originality outweighs perfection. When we received the car, we repaired a scrape in the left rear quarter and attended to some paint repair on the left front wing (fender) and a section near the antennae. The rest, again, appears to be all original which is very hard to find as most Shadows and Ts have been repainted by this time. Especially metallic paints, so this gives some testament how well she was looked after (indoor garaged). The colour “Willow Gold” is a beautiful, slightly greenish tinged light gold that presents very much as you would expect its namesake – a Willow tree – to look in early autumn showing gorgeous pale golden hues. Very stunning and not often seen in the US market.

The interior is in amazing patinaed condition. At this point, let me say, if you do not like or understand good old-world patina, then this would be the time to move one. The leather in this T2 carries all the charm of an antique chesterfield couch. If you like brand new single coloured leather, like you would find in a brand new Lexus, then this car is not for you. Maybe the Lexus is.

The leather has lovely grains and creases to every bit of the tradition one expects of Connolly Vaumol hides. I’m sure every crease and grain-line tells a story. There are no rips, tears or fading, just the normal crease lines on the seats which occur naturally with high quality Connolly hide leather. Beyond the patina, if you look at some of the close-up pictures of the interior, you can better understand the nature of Vaumol hides. The colour is not just plain beige, but with a “burnished” tone to the leather. You can see the cream base and then in the fine natural grain and pores of the leather is a darker tone. This natural “antique” leather look was achieved by the hand rubbing Vaumol Connollising technique that made this leather so famous. Leather that has been re-dyed by typical methods is “mono-toned” featuring only the 1 primary colour. As such, it lacks depth and richness that unrestored Connolly hide has to offer.

The burr walnut wood throughout the car is stunning. They were redone at some point and are in top near-new condition. The colour is deep, the grain rich and the finish smooth. With the added bonus of a gift from Mother Nature, the burl walnut grain is very detailed presenting with an intricate and rich grain. Absolutely stunning! Carpets are clean and in good condition. A beautiful brand-new set of genuine Rolls-Royce lambswool rugs adorn the floors.

On ROW spec cars, the headliner was never broadcloth wool but a nicer finish using “Ambla” (a high-end vinyl or leatherette material). The beauty of Ambla headliner is that it looks like leather and remains as-new its whole life. This one is just that; as new. The dash top and forward roll are the same for ROW spec cars and also finished in black to minimize glass reflection.

All items, functions and features are working as they should with the heater nice and warm and the A/C blowing icy cold.

JE Robison has maintained the car and as such, all presents in excellent condition. Mechanically, she is in good shape. We have carried out our inspections to include pressure testing the hydraulics, bleeding the brakes and ensuring all is working correctly. Various integral parts of the system have been overhauled as required with new hoses fitted. The car stops surely and firmly. The ride of this car is considerably better than an average example without any of the typical rattles, thumps or knocks often experienced on these models. Clearly, a well-maintained vehicle. The engine is very smooth and the higher compression 8:1 engine with the lack of anti-pollution “add-ons” is evidenced by a noticeable increase in power compared to US specification cars. Mileage is not verifiable. In reality, she looks like a car that has travelled half the distance.

As expected, all anciliaries come with the car; jack, tools, and handbook.

*Please note: Because of the non-catalytic specifications of this T2, she will is not suitable for registration in California.

~~ This is beautiful condition Bentley T2 and a hard to find “pure” example of the marque given its UK delivery. Notwithstanding its exceptional condition, it remains sensibly priced. ~~

 
International bidders are always welcome

For extra photos on this fine example go to the link below.
The photographs 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 additional photos!

Click HERE to see walk-around video

Click HERE to see additional photos!

Click HERE to see walk-around video