1969 Bentley T-Series Saloon

Chassis no. SBX6575

Footnotes

"In short: these cars combine advanced engineering and safety specifications with traditional Rolls-Royce standards of craftsmanship. In the manner of their performance they are as revolutionary as the Silver Ghost was 59 years ago." - Rolls-Royce, launching the Silver Shadow and Bentley T-Series in 1965.

The foregoing was no mere flight of fancy, for with the introduction of the Silver Shadow and its Bentley T-Series sister car, Rolls-Royce brought its body/chassis engineering bang up to date by switching to unitary construction, while at the same time retaining all the hallmarks of a traditional hand-crafted product. The Shadow/T-Series' all-round independent suspension and power-operated four-wheel disc brakes were both 'firsts' for Rolls-Royce, while John Blatchley's new styling appealed to the younger generation of Rolls-Royce and Bentley owner-drivers more prevalent from the mid-1960s onwards and enabled the company to keep abreast of fashion. Designed to be smaller and more manageable cars, they were intended to sell in larger numbers to a wider range of customers than hitherto. Elsewhere, the newcomers represented evolution rather than revolution, employing the well-tried 6.2-litre V8 engine of the preceding Silver Cloud III while maintaining the highest standards of traditional hand-built craftsmanship.

Predating Bentley's remarkable 1980s resurgence, the original T-Series (T1) was produced in far fewer numbers than the equivalent Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the ratio being 11:1 in the Shadow's favour, and is considerably rarer today (only 1,712 were built). And few would disagree with the assertion that the Bentley's shorter, smoothly profiled radiator grille was much better suited to the body than the taller and more angular Rolls-Royce item.

Finished in grey with black leather interior, this T-Series Bentley was delivered new on 7th February 1969. The car has not been driven for some considerable time and is offered for restoration. It failed to start when inspected and will need a thorough check over and careful re-commissioning at the very least before returning to the road. The car is offered with a Betriebsanleitung (operating instruction), sales and service manual, and the service booklet (unstamped and as new).