1968 Bentley T-Series MPW 2-Door Saloon

• The detailed history file build records date this car to 1968 with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner Park Ward
• An early car and one of just 98 Bentley T-Series Coupes and far rarer than its Corniche Coupe sibling
• Supplied in Black Cherry with a, believed original, interior in black leather, with factory piping and refreshed woodwork
• In beautiful condition with full body restoration, including paintwork and re-chroming by JD Classics 2016 - 2018
• Offered from two years of private ownership, the car's third registered keeper, and recently serviced in October
• Since 2018, bills of over ú15,000 have been accrued for the full overhaul of the brakes and suspension
• The odometer currently reads some 98,500 miles (atoc) which is largely immaterial in a car of this condition and age.

Rolls-Royce's adoption of unitary construction for its new Silver Shadow and T-Series Bentley necessitated the reorganisation of in-house coachbuilder H J Mulliner, Park Ward to meet the challenge of producing new designs on the Shadow floorpan. The variety of body styles offered was limited to just two - a two-door saloon or similar drophead coupe - the former arriving in March 1966 and the latter in September the following year. Some of the frontal panels were shared with the standard four-door saloon, but otherwise, the new bodyshells were unique, featuring a distinctive dipping upper wing line with parallel crease, and revised, more rounded posterior.

Despite a price some 50% greater than the standard saloon's, demand was strong right from the start, a state of affairs that resulted in the introduction of the outwardly similar Corniche in 1971. At this time, the Bentley marque's image suffered from its not being sufficiently differentiated from that of Rolls-Royce, a situation that would not be remedied until the introduction of the Mulsanne Turbo in the 1980s. This resulted in greatly reduced sales, making a Bentley of this period a much rarer car than the equivalent Rolls-Royce. For example, between 1967 and 1971, 571 Mulliner Park Ward-bodied Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow two-door saloons were manufactured compared to a mere 98 of the equivalent Bentley.

This beautiful Bentley T-series two-door saloon was sold to our vendor on the 8th September 2018, and according to the sales literature at the time, had only two private owners from new: the first for 20 years and the second for 27 years. The Bentley underwent a full body restoration and bare metal re-spray by JD Classics between 2016 and 2018, extensive photographs of which are on file. Since 2018, and to bring the driving experience up to our vendor's exacting standards, the brakes and suspension were attended to by Rolls and Bentley specialists Stewart Walker of Newbury and the car was just recently serviced by them at a cost of ú1,200.

Finished in Black Cherry with factory-ordered, red-piped black leather interior trim, which to this consignor's eye looks original. The odometer currently displays a total of some 98,500 miles, largely immaterial in a car of this age which has had significant restorative works and is in first-class condition. Seatbelts have been fitted, including the rear, which should appeal to anyone wishing to take their family on outings. The accompanying history file contains many invoices for ongoing maintenance undertaken while the Bentley was with its previous owner, an original handbook, a V5C document and bills since our vendor took over ownership. The vendor informs us that the MOT technician commented on the superb condition of the underside of the car, photographs of which we can supply, and naturally the car flew through the MOT, which is valid until October 2021.

The car is being sold to fund the restoration of other cars within our vendor's collection and having had his fun with the car regretfully offers it to auction. It must be noted that low-production, coachbuilt Bentleys of this era have always been desirable and recent auction results show how well regarded these T-Series variants are.