Bentley Continental R Le Mans - 2001
46 ex.
In 2001 Bentley returned to Le Mans after an absence of 71 years, having last contested the world's most prestigious endurance race in 1930, scoring its fifth victory. Bentley's EXP Speed 8 sports prototype finished a creditable 3rd on its first outing at the Circuit de la Sarthe, and in developed form secured an historic sixth victory for the famous British marque in 2003.
To celebrate Bentley's renewed Le Mans campaign, the company introduced limited edition 'Le Mans' versions of the existing Continental R and Continental T models. This latest Continental had first been seen at Geneva in 1985 as a concept car - 'Project 90' - a mocked-up coupé intended to gauge public response to the idea of a high-performance car unique to Bentley, whose 1980s resurgence had hitherto relied exclusively on models sharing their basic architecture with other Rolls-Royce products.
When the real thing - the Bentley Continental R - was unveiled six years later, the waiting crowd burst into spontaneous applause. Styled with the assistance of consultants International Automotive Design, the Continental R benefited from computer-aided design and wind tunnel testing in the devising of its sleekly streamlined shape. Despite the need to incorporate non-traditional features such as doors recessed into the roof, the result looked every bit a Bentley, albeit one restated for the 1990s. Also new was the gearbox, a four-speed automatic with an 'overdrive' top ratio, but the main focus of interest was the newcomer's performance. Needless to say, this was outstanding, the combination of the 325bhp Turbo R engine in the new wind-cheating shape cutting the 0-60 mph time to under 6 seconds and boosting top speed to in excess of 150 mph.
For the exclusive 'Le Mans' variants, the 420 bhp engine of the Continental T was adopted together with a plethora of special features. The latter included flared wheel arches; green badges to the radiator, wheels and boot; 18" five-spoke alloy wheels; sports bumper package; four-pipe exhaust outlets; and 'Le Mans' wing badges. Interior upgrades consisted of drilled control pedals; pushbutton starter; sports seats with 'Bentley' headrest logos; stacked central instrumentation cluster with chrome bezels and green dials; dark walnut veneer with embossed Bentley badges; 'Le Mans Series' logo to the centre console; and a racing-style gear knob finished in chrome and leather.
This spectacular Bentley Continental R Le Mans was purchased by the current owner from Loris Kessel in Lugano, Switzerland, the official Bentley dealership in that region. It has been maintained by both Loris Kessel and Hessing Automotive (the official Dutch Bentley dealer), and later by Pon, which took over the official franchise from Hessing. The Continental Le Mans has been driven for some 145.000 kilometres, mainly on long-distance trips, and is in generally excellent condition. Accompanying documentation consists of Swiss registration papers and full Bentley service history.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Sold for € 79.350
Estimated : € 80.000 - 120.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017
Bentley Continental R Le Mans - 2001
46 ex.
In 2001 Bentley returned to Le Mans after an absence of 71 years, having last contested the world's most prestigious endurance race in 1930, scoring its fifth victory. Bentley's EXP Speed 8 sports prototype finished a creditable 3rd on its first outing at the Circuit de la Sarthe, and in developed form secured an historic sixth victory for the famous British marque in 2003.
To celebrate Bentley's renewed Le Mans campaign, the company introduced limited edition 'Le Mans' versions of the existing Continental R and Continental T models. This latest Continental had first been seen at Geneva in 1985 as a concept car - 'Project 90' - a mocked-up coupé intended to gauge public response to the idea of a high-performance car unique to Bentley, whose 1980s resurgence had hitherto relied exclusively on models sharing their basic architecture with other Rolls-Royce products.
When the real thing - the Bentley Continental R - was unveiled six years later, the waiting crowd burst into spontaneous applause. Styled with the assistance of consultants International Automotive Design, the Continental R benefited from computer-aided design and wind tunnel testing in the devising of its sleekly streamlined shape. Despite the need to incorporate non-traditional features such as doors recessed into the roof, the result looked every bit a Bentley, albeit one restated for the 1990s. Also new was the gearbox, a four-speed automatic with an 'overdrive' top ratio, but the main focus of interest was the newcomer's performance. Needless to say, this was outstanding, the combination of the 325bhp Turbo R engine in the new wind-cheating shape cutting the 0-60 mph time to under 6 seconds and boosting top speed to in excess of 150 mph.
For the exclusive 'Le Mans' variants, the 420 bhp engine of the Continental T was adopted together with a plethora of special features. The latter included flared wheel arches; green badges to the radiator, wheels and boot; 18" five-spoke alloy wheels; sports bumper package; four-pipe exhaust outlets; and 'Le Mans' wing badges. Interior upgrades consisted of drilled control pedals; pushbutton starter; sports seats with 'Bentley' headrest logos; stacked central instrumentation cluster with chrome bezels and green dials; dark walnut veneer with embossed Bentley badges; 'Le Mans Series' logo to the centre console; and a racing-style gear knob finished in chrome and leather.
This spectacular Bentley Continental R Le Mans was purchased by the current owner from Loris Kessel in Lugano, Switzerland, the official Bentley dealership in that region. It has been maintained by both Loris Kessel and Hessing Automotive (the official Dutch Bentley dealer), and later by Pon, which took over the official franchise from Hessing. The Continental Le Mans has been driven for some 145.000 kilometres, mainly on long-distance trips, and is in generally excellent condition. Accompanying documentation consists of Swiss registration papers and full Bentley service history.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Sold for € 79.350
Estimated : € 80.000 - 120.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017