1988 Bentley Turbo R Saloon

The Bentley Turbo R was introduced at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show, and brought with it the added refinement of suspension better suited to the car's increased performance. It was visually similar to the preceding Mulsanne Turbo, except for cast-alloy wheels, and a slightly updated interior. The Turbo R received a revised fascia with rev-counter included amongst the instrumentation.

Bentley broke with tradition for the Turbo R and made public the engine's power rating, stating it could produce 320 bhp and 475 lb/ft of torque. The Turbo R could race from zero-to-sixty in around 7 seconds with a top speed being achieved at 143 mph.

This Turbo R example was completed by hand at the Crewe Bentley works in October 1988. Since that time, it has been driven less than 36,000 miles from new and has been used sparingly by just one owner, Mr. William M. Keck. Ordered for Mr. Keck in June of 1988, the new Bentley Turbo R was built as it appears today, finished in Royal Blue over a parchment Connolly leather interior, trimmed with a matching dark blue piping and dash top, and dark blue carpets trimmed with parchment edges. The car was delivered to Mr. Keck in December 1988 through the Pasadena-based Rusnak Bentley agency.

The car is powered by an overhead valve turbocharged V8 engine fitted with a Bosch Fuel Injection system and mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2015