Car & Classic is currently offering a range of classic Rolls-Royce and Bentleys for auction, which when totalled up, cost less than buying one brand new Rolls-Royce Phantom. The line-up includes the last Rolls-Royce Silver Spur to leave the line, which was a bespoke build for a former tech mogul, alongside a rare 1982 Bentley Corniche Mulliner Convertible, which forms part of Bentley’s coach-built history and affiliation with Rolls-Royce. Seven other attainable modern and classic Bentleys and Rolls-Royce models are also currently being auctioned on Car & Classic’s platform.
Headlining the current spread of classic Bentleys and Rolls-Royce models for auction is an iconic 1982 Bentley Corniche Mulliner Convertible. Marking a key part in the Bentley’s history, the Corniche Mulliner started life at the famous Park Ward coachbuilding headquarters in London as a continuation of the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow coupé and 1966 drophead.
With low ownership status and having covered just 37,000 miles since it was built in the early Eighties, this particular model is set to be highly sought after. Being one of 77 convertible models made, this Bentley Corniche Mulliner Convertible, in a rare silver over black specification has a guide price of £100,000 – £120,000.
Joining Car & Classic’s auction listing is another rare luxury British classic, a later 1998 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur. It’s known to be the last off the production line, most probably due to its individual specification, which was chosen by tech mogul Cliff Stanford who made his fortune by being the first to offer subscriber-based internet in the UK through his Demon Internet brand.
This car, which tech mogul Stanford said was ‘his favourite present to himself’ was sold by Jack Barclay Ltd at a cost of £150,000 new, and today has a guide price of £22,000 – £25,000. It comes to the sale with just two former owners and with all of its original bespoke factory orders, many so typical of the period, in present and correct condition. This includes a wine cooler in the rear seats, centenary specification door panels, electronically adjustable lumbar support, TVs in the headrests and onboard video, and is in luxurious black on black with black leather and black carpets specification.
Seven more affordable Rolls-Royce and Bentley models are also currently offered by Car & Classic’s auction platform, including a 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III which is one of 2,044 built with the legendary whisper quiet V8 and specified with electric windows, parking lights, and finished in Sable over sand with matching beige leather trim. With a previous restoration, its guide price is £40,000 – £50,000. Joining it for auction is another 1985 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur with just 35,900 miles and previous chauffeur experience. It’s also powered by a smooth V8 in excellent order and finished in blue paint with matching blue vinyl roof and blue leather interior, guide price: £12,000 – £15,000.
Meanwhile five other Bentleys are also offered on Car & Classic’s auction site. A 1987 Bentley Eight, finished in white over red trim, with a good history and maintenance folder is offered with a guide price £15,000 – £18,000. Meanwhile, a 37,308-mile 1993 Bentley Brooklands finished in a similar hue, being one of 50 Brooklands models sold in Cream from new, has a guide price of £14,000 – £19,000. Those who are keen on a project will also be interested in the 1987 Bentley Mulsanne which is being offered for restoration or spares at no reserve.
Two modern Bentleys finishes Car & Classic’s current crop of luxury British cars, including a meticulously maintained 2010 Bentley Continental GTC Supersports sold from a private collection with a range of driver-focused upgrades. Having covered just 33,000 miles and with carbon fibre-reinforced silicon carbide brake discs (the largest brakes ever fitted to a production car, at the time), a Torsen T3 centre differential, and continuous damping control, it’s being offered with a guide price of £55,000 – £60,000. For those wanting a modern Bentley but to buy without a reserve, there’s also a 2006 Bentley Continental GT that has been maintained regardless of cost with bills totalling £17,000 in the last four years alone.
Car & Classic is Europe’s number one classic and specialised vehicle website*. Its development and engagement of its auction platform has become the fastest-growing online vehicle auction site. It is the world’s first and only platform to include free escrow for secure payment and has 0 per cent buyers’ fees and has facilitated over 200 sales since its launch in July 2020 and continues to grow at a rapid pace.
*Costs are created using the upper estimates of each car, which total £332,000 (based on the 2006 Bentley Continental GT reaching £20,000 and the project 1993 Bentley Brooklands making £5,000, but sold at no reserve). New Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII prices start from £371,790. This is the manufacturers on the road price (OTR) including VAT, Road Tax, Tracker, First Registration and Glass Coat as of February 2020.