Beschreibung:

The incomparable Bentley Continental sports saloon has been synonymous with effortless high speed cruising in the grand manner since its introduction on the R-Type chassis in 1952. This magnificent tradition seemed to have ended with the demise of the successor S-Type Continental - the final six-cylinder Bentley - only to re-emerge triumphantly in 1984 with the introduction of the T-Series Continental. Flagship of the range, the new Continental was a worthy scion of this noble British family, impeccably engineered and hand-built in the time-honoured manner by Mulliner Park Ward Limited’s peerless craftsmen. Like its illustrious forebears, the modern Continental represented the ultimate in bespoke coachbuilt motoring, designed to appeal to those discerning -and necessarily very wealthy - clients with the most refined of tastes, a well developed appreciation for the finer things of life and a refusal to accept anything less than the very best. Far from being an outmoded concept, this uncompromising approach was so successful and demand for the exclusive Continental so sustained, that it remained in production well into the 1990s, the last (Convertible) examples being delivered in 1995 by which time 441 had been produced and the UK price had risen to well in excess of £100,000. The essence of Continental ownership was most aptly summed up by Autosport’s inimitable John Bolster. Writing in 1958, Bolster noted that the Continental was a classical design that achieved a high degree of excellence by sheer quality of construction: “In doing so, it develops an individuality, a character, call it what you will, that makes it entirely different from any other marque. The man who drives a Continental lives in an enchanted world, for everybody calls him ‘sir’ and he may park where other lesser cars may never tread.” Despite the passage of more than 40 years, Bolster’s words ring every bit as true today as they did then. This example was first owned by Jack Allen Sales & Services Ltd of Aldridge, Birmingham and next by Adrian Allen Ltd of London W1 before being sold to the vendor’s late husband via Jack Barclay Ltd in 1998 and re-registered on cherished plate ‘5 HRH’. The vendor’s ownership of this Bentley was preceded by that of three Rolls-Royce Corniche convertibles, demonstrating a discerning preference for open car driving. This Continental has been used as its maker intended, for pleasurable touring around England and mainland Europe, proving capable of swallowing sufficient luggage while still leaving room to bring home gifts for the children and grandchildren. In the vendor’s own words: “She has style from the badge on the front, to the decanters and shot glasses that sit in the doors, to her lined boot. This beautiful motor car has enjoyed nothing other than super roads, great views and beautiful locations and I hope that her purchaser will see all that she has seen before and more.” Accompanying documentation includes a print-out of the car’s full service history with Rolls-Royce/Bentley specialists Hadley Green Garage for the period 1st February 1999 to 12th November 2004 (at 61,440 miles) as well as assorted invoices and expired MoTs dating back to 2001. Finished in green with tan leather interior, and equipped with tracker device, the car is offered with current road fund licence, MoT to October 2005 and Swansea V5 registration document.