1998 Bentley Continental T Wide Body Coupé

• Two owners from new
• Present ownership since 2005
• Left-hand drive
• Circa 43,900 kilometres (approximately 27,300 miles) from new

Bentley's 1980s resurgence had hitherto relied exclusively on models whose basic architecture was shared with other Rolls-Royce products, but on display at Geneva in '85 was 'Project 90', a mocked-up coupé intended to gauge public response to the idea of a high-performance car unique to Bentley. When the real thing - the Bentley Continental R - was unveiled six years later, the waiting crowd burst into spontaneous applause. Styled with the assistance of consultants International Automotive Design, the Continental R benefited from computer-aided design and wind tunnel testing in the devising of its sleekly streamlined shape. Despite the need to incorporate non-traditional features such as doors recessed into the roof, the result looked every bit a Bentley, albeit one restated for the 1990s. Also new was the gearbox, a four-speed automatic with 'overdrive' top ratio, but the main focus of interest was the newcomer's performance. Needless to say, this was outstanding, the combination of the Turbo R engine in the new wind-cheating shape cutting the 0-60mph time to 6.2 seconds and boosting top speed to in excess of 150mph.

There was even more to come in the form of the Continental T. Introduced in June 1996, the latter was a short-wheelbase version of the Continental R, some 4" (101.6mm) being taken out of the chassis aft of the doors. With 400bhp at its disposal and crouching aggressively on 18" wheels, the low-slung Continental T looked every inch the thoroughbred Bentley sports car, the cockpit with its engine-turned dashboard recalling the heroic exploits of W O's 1920s racers. The engine start button was another neat 'retro' touch. The luxuriously appointed Continental T was certainly no slouch, racing to 60mph (96.5km/h) in a tyre-shredding 5.8 seconds on its way to a (governor limited) top speed of 156mph (251km/h). Equally eye-watering was the price: £220,312 at time of launch.

This gorgeous Bentley Continental T has been owned by the current (second) owner since 2005 having previously belonged to Alfred Krauthahn of Bentley Hamburg. Finished in black with matching leather interior, the latter featuring a machine-turned aluminium dashboard, the car has covered 43,900 kilometres (approximately 27,300 miles) from new and is described by our vendor as in excellent condition throughout. MoT'd to June 2024, this magnificent modern Bentley motor car is offered with a V5C document and all books and tools.