Bentley Turbo R

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Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1982, the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo marked the return of the legendary 'Blower Bentley' and restored the high performance image of the marque with its prodigious power.

Fitted with a Garrett AiResearch turbocharger, the venerable 6.75-litre V8 now pumped out 300bhp and could propel the Bentley's considerable bulk to 60mph in less than 8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 135mph. In truth this towering performance was rather more than the chassis could handle and, in 1985, the Mulsanne platform was upgraded to Turbo R spec with stiffer damping and springing, better location for the rear subframe, more precise steering and alloy wheels with lower profile tyres.

Under the bonnet, Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection replaced the old Solex carbs which, combined with various other tweaks, upped engine power to 330bhp and a staggering 480lb/ft of torque – sufficient to hurl the brute to 60 in less than 7 seconds and 143mph flat out. Up front, new quad headlamps gave the car a more modern look while the interior remained as sumptuous as you would expect for £100,000 with a revised dashboard that now housed a rev-counter.

Few cars were – or are – better suited to fast long-distance touring. “An outrageous concoction of sledgehammer performance and sybaritic luxury” was how Autocar summed it up. By the time production came to an end in 1997, some 7,230 examples had been sold and good ones are increasingly sought after today.

Dating from January 1994, this Masons Black example incorporates many of the improvements that were made during the 12-year life-span of the model (active suspension, air bags, centre gear shift, engine covers etc). It has covered 90,250 miles and although the handbook and service book have gone astray, there is a hand-written summary of the service history which details the dates and mileages of 20 services from new until July 2011 at 84,027 miles. There is also an invoice for a service in 2006 at 77,428 miles by noted Bentley specialists, DEW Car Services of Eynsham, which cost £2,707 and included new turbo seals, engine mountings and suspension bushes.

The vendors acquired the car in 2012 from a titled gentleman, Lord Burnett, to use in their wedding car business. They have maintained it well and it is said to have proved totally reliable and to drive as it should with an MOT until June 2019 with no advisories recorded. There are also many old MOTs to help warrant the mileage.

Now surplus to requirements, this brutishly fast and luxurious motorcar is being offered here at a very modest guide price but still makes you feel like a millionaire every time you step aboard. Go on, you only live once...

Please note that the private plate shown is not included and will be replaced by an age-related number prior to the sale.