2002 Bentley Continental T
- 46,000 miles from new
- Stunning specification of black with black leather
- Featuring turned aluminium dash, chrome wheels and vents
- Full respray in 2023 and extensive maintenance on file from specialists
| YEAR | 2002 |
| MAKE | Bentley |
| PRICE | £90,000 |
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION
Any Bentley Continental T has a muscular, old-school appeal, but this particular car has even greater presence thanks to its combination of immaculate black paintwork and chrome wheels.
First registered in September 2002, late in the model’s production run, it is one of the desirable ‘second series’ Continental Ts. These cars featured a matrix grille – evoking the legendary sporting Bentleys from the 1920s Cricklewood era – plus a more powerful, 420bhp version of the 6.75-litre, turbocharged V8 engine.
Its pre-delivery Customer Assurance Check was carried out at supplying dealer Bentley Leicester, and it returned there in August 2003 to be serviced at 6822 miles. The car’s service book then records twice-yearly servicing at the same dealership through to March 2007, by which time it had already covered 27,452 miles.
Later that year, the Bentley was sold to its second owner. In 2013, and having been acquired by the current custodian, the engine was rebuilt by Hoffmans in Henley on Thames. Since then, it has continued to be maintained with no expense spared, and not only does the history file contain numerous invoices from marque specialists, the car also had a full respray in 2023.
Inside the beautifully trimmed cabin, the black leather and carpets contrast beautifully with the turned aluminium dashboard, and the driving position is every inch as commanding and imperious as you’d expect. Having still covered only 46,000 miles from new, it is in exceptional condition throughout.
Now being offered for sale as one of only 350 Bentley Continental Ts that were built, it is a superb example of this rare, powerful and charismatic ‘two plus two’ Grand Tourer.
MODEL HISTORY
Five years after it had introduced the Continental R, Bentley unveiled a more powerful, short-wheelbase version of the car as its flagship model: the Continental T.
Beneath the bonnet was the same 6.75-litre, turbocharged V8 engine, but it gained an extra 15bhp for a total output of 400bhp. The wheelbase was shortened by four inches, making this more of a ‘two plus two’ than a full four-seater, the suspension was made slightly stiffer, larger brake discs were specified, and the body gained flared wheelarches.
Suspension was via struts and lower wishbones at the front, with trailing arms at the rear, while electronic dampers were fitted all round. Steering was via power-assisted rack and pinion.
In 1997, the T was upgraded along with the rest of the Continental range, and power was increased to 420bhp, with torque up to an immense 650 lb ft. That made it the most powerful production Bentley ever made, and was enough to propel the big coupé from 0-60mph in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 170mph.
Despite testing the car in wet conditions, Autocar recorded a 0-100mph time of 18.5 seconds. They said it would have been at least two seconds faster in the dry, and commented that it was ‘astonishingly rapid for any coupé, let alone one that weighs the same as five and a half Caterham 7s.’
Noting the luxurious interior, the magazine also concluded that ‘there is no finer place in motoring than behind the wheel, staring at the turned aluminium dash, of a Continental T.’
A Mulliner variant, with modifications including revised suspension settings, was introduced in 1999, and production of the Continental T lasted until 2002. It marked the end of an era in that the Continental GT that replaced it became the first new car to be launched under Volkswagen’s ownership of the Bentley marque.