Description
H&H Classic Auction @Pavilion Gardens | Buxton, Derbyshire
12th February, 9am
1967 Bentley T1
No Reserve
Registration No: TIA 1967
Chassis No: SBH1954
MOT: Exempt
Offered with an extensive history file
Subject to a recent £6, 448 mechanical refresh
One of some 1, 868 Bentley T1s produced
Current V5C document
By 1965, Rolls-Royce was well-practised in the art of badge engineering and, while the new T-Series Bentley was aimed at the world's many devotees of the 'Flying B' logo, it was essentially a re-badged version of the Silver Shadow. Its arrival was none too soon, however, and together with the Shadow, did much to reverse the notion that Rolls-Royce was falling behind the times. It certainly resulted in many firsts for the company, including unitary construction rather than separate body/ chassis units, disc rather than drum brakes and independent rear suspension. Though 7in shorter and 3. 5in narrower than the Bentley S3 it replaced, the John Polwhele Blatchley-penned T1 nevertheless possessed greater space for both luggage and passengers and boasted far more contemporary looks.
At launch, it was powered by a 172bhp V8 engine of 6230cc, though this was enlarged to 6750cc during 1970. Early cars employed the same GM automatic transmission as the S3, but this was superseded by the Turbo Hydramatic system from 1970 onwards. The car's famed 'magic carpet ride was achieved courtesy of a high-pressure hydraulic system licensed from Citroen. Initially, it featured self-levelling at both ends, but this was deleted from the front in 1969.
One of some 1, 868 Bentley T1s produced, this example was first registered on the 17th January 1967, and has been the subject of a mechanical refresh this year at a cost of £6, 448. Also benefitting from a stainless-steel exhaust there are written notes of a previous restoration on file along with a printed pack from Bentley which contains a trail of history of the car, with documents such as the original specification, a sales invoice and pages of history. With an appropriate ‘TIA 1967’ (‘T1 - A 1967’) registration, the T1 is offered with MOT history from 1990-2003, the extensive history file, an original sales brochure and a current V5C Registration Document.
