If you’ve ever wanted to take a victory lap of luxury, you could do far worse than to do so in today’s Nice Price or No Dice Bentley Continental R Turbo. Let’s see what such social climbing might appropriately cost.
Ten grand is a lot of money for an old mid-sized Mercedes. Fortunately, the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 wagon we looked at yesterday skated under that number with a $9,999 asking. That achievement, along with a strong presentation, earned the lust-worthy Benz a solid 64 percent Nice Price win.
You know, I came to the realization just now that we have been running an unintentional series of 1995 cars this week. Wednesday’s Aerostar was a ’95. So, too, was yesterday’s Mercedes. And now we’re pulling a three-pete by way of a 1995 Bentley Continental R Turbo.
Out of all three of these ’95’rs, which one do you think has aged the best? Personally, I’m going to have to go with the Bentley. In my mind, its old-school style feels just as elegant and purposeful today as it did when new, fully three decades back.
The Continental R was the last true Bentley, built on the Roll-Royce “SZ” platform first introduced in 1980 but carrying unique bodywork not shared with any Rolls model. The model’s successor, the Continental GT, arrived after the company’s purchase by Volkswagen and is more VW Phaeton under the metal than Bentley.
Under this car’s metal is Rolls’ famed 6.75-liter V8, here gulping through a massive Garret turbocharger. As equipped, the engine makes around 325 horsepower and a stonking 450 lb-ft or torque. A four-speed automatic, sourced from General Motors, does transmission duties, sending the ponies to the independently-sprung rear end. Massive disc brakes provide clamping at each corner.
All that is wrapped in what is arguably one of the most handsome coupe bodies ever to come out of Britain. This is a full four-seater with sufficient room in the back for two and a plenty-big boot. The doors are huge but offer redundant openers at the rear for those back-seat passengers. Honestly, it doesn’t matter which seat you happen to land in after the music stops. Regardless of position, you’ll be surrounded by luxury. No matter where you look or what you touch, you’ll be greeted by Connolly leather, Wilton wool carpet, or finely crafted burlwood trim.
The only discordant piece here is the airbag-equipped steering wheel, which rightfully looks like it was sourced from a lesser car. Aside from some signs of use in the driver’s seat upholstery, nothing seems to be amiss, either inside or out. And, with only 54,000 miles on the clock, there seems to be plenty of life left in the old girl.
According to the ad, the car comes with complete service records, a clean title, and the bragging rights that similar editions of the model were once owned by the likes of Mike Tyson and Sean P. Diddy Combs.
When it was introduced in the 1990s, the Continental R Turbo also had the distinction of being not just the most expensive Bentley model on offer but the most expensive production car of any kind. Back then, it cost over $270,000 to drop a butt in a Continental driver’s seat. That same action in this car costs $35,500. Holy depreciation, Batman!
What’s your take on this classic Bentley and that $35,500 price tag? Does that feel like a deal to wrap yourself in some fine British tailoring? Or does that feel like money better spent elsewhere?
You decide!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
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