1997 Bentley Turbo RT

This really quite exceptional 1997 Bentley Turbo RT was supplied new by P&A Wood to its one and only owner, the car being first registered in his name and then that of his business.

Today, it is showing just 38,992 on the odometer and its excellent condition is far more a reflection of that figure than its age.

In 2006 the mileage was recorded as being 27,425 so, as you can see, it really hasn’t done very much over most of the last 20 years.

In fact, it’s covered just 5,000 miles in the last decade and fewer than 3,000 in the last 5 years.

Always garaged and carefully cared-for and curated, the car is in pretty much time-warp condition, inside and out, and is just a few minor jobs away from looking more-or-less like it would have done when it left the factory. 

The bodywork is very straight and true, and there are no dimples, dinks or dents of any note anywhere that we can see. 

The shut-lines and panel gaps are crisp and even. The doors close with the satisfying heft and certainty you would want and expect to find in a car of this calibre.

Bar the odd minor scuff here and there, the wheels are very good, too.

The matching Goodyear Eagle RS-A tyres look reasonable but may be a little long-in-the-tooth.

The ‘Sherwood Green’ metallic paint has retained plenty of lustre and shine. To our eyes, it adds an entirely appropriate level of gravitas and understated class to this majestic vehicle.

Mostly very decent wherever you look, the paintwork is showing a few minor blemishes here and there.

There are some scratches and scuffs at the n/s/r corner of the bumper. The chrome strip is a little bent out of shape there as a consequence.

There are a few light scratches and scuffs on the forward-facing aspects of the rear wheel arches and on the nearside corner of the front bumper.

We found an entirely standard number and distribution of stone chips around the front grille, on the bodywork just ahead of the bonnet, and on the wing mirrors.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are entirely beyond reproach.

The interior is in quite remarkably good order.

We suspect there may be a portrait of a rather more decrepit version of itself gathering dust in an attic somewhere. 

The quality, preservation and condition inside are impressive even for the low mileage, let alone the car’s age. 

If you squint and use a torch you can just about make out some nascent creasing on the driver’s seat squab bolster.

Elsewhere, the ‘Sandstone’ with green piping upholstery looks to be several years away from acquiring so much as a crease, never mind any sort of patina.

The door cards are excellent, as are the rich and glossy wood veneers on the dashboard, door cappings and other inserts. 

The headlining is taut and pristine. The carpets and mats are seemingly untroubled by the passage of time.

The green lambswool over-rugs are deep enough for you to easily lose sight of your feet.

The steering wheel, gear selector and controls look good, as do the other dials and instruments.

We didn’t tweak every lever, press every knob or flick every switch, but those we did tweak, press and flick did as they were told. 

Deviations from perfection?

Well, a tiny section of rubber trim inside the front passenger door has come loose.

We suspect that this revelation probably won’t be a game-changer for you.

Entirely unsurprisingly, the boot is every bit as impressive as the rest of it. In it you will find a spare wheel encased in its elasticated black cover, a full toolkit and a selection of replacement bulbs – always good indicators of a car that’s lived a happy life.

The car drove to our Oxfordshire HQ without missing a beat or using more than just a small number of the horses at the driver’s disposal. 

The engine bay is very full and notably clean, tidy and fresh in appearance. Which is as it should be: for a tried and tested 6,750cc V8 unit like this, 38,992 is frankly little more than a delivery mileage.  

The car’s undersides look to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and we saw nothing to make us tut or shake our heads. 

The car comes with plenty of paperwork covering earlier work, the bulk of which was done by Bentley Pangbourne, P&A Wood and Hofmann’s of Henley.

We understand that later routine maintenance was attended to by the owner’s local garage over more recent years when the car was barely used.

The original owner has passed away and, unfortunately, some of the paperwork, manuals, service books, etc, have gone missing. If any of it can be found in the coming days we will, of course, post it to the listing.

While missing paperwork is clearly never a great thing, we think it matters rather less with this particular Bentley, which is clearly in excellent condition, than others we have encountered over the years. 

One owner from new.

Looked after by, among others, the revered Bentley whisperers P&A Wood.

Exceptional condition inside and out.

Fewer than 40,000 miles on the clock.

Rare, and getting rarer with every passing year.

This splendid Bentley Turbo RT ticks all the right boxes for us. 

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £18,000 - £23,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.