To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Amelia
Island event, 6 - 7 March 2020.
Estimate:
$100,000 - $140,000
- Number nine of ten Millennium Editions built
- Built to commemorate the turn of the century
- Showing less than 18,000 original miles
- Based on the Continental R Mulliner
Introduced in 1991, the Continental R was the first Bentley in 26
years to not share a body style with a concurrent Rolls-Royce. The
elegant two-door coachwork, inspired by the highly collectable
Continental R-Type of the 1950s, was styled by John Heffernan and
Ken Greenley. Five years later Bentley introduced a short-wheelbase
version dubbed the Continental T that was equipped with an uprated
engine developing 420 hp and an impressive 650 foot-pounds of
torque available at just 2,200 rpm.
Bentley customers expressed interest in equipping the "wide-body"
Continental R with the T's more powerful engine. The Continental R
Mulliner was thus introduced at the 1999 Geneva Salon. The name was
in homage to H. J. Mulliner, the British coachbuilder responsible
for the original R-Type's breathtaking fastback bodywork.
Individually tailored to order, the R Mulliner was produced in a
modest quantity of 131 examples.
To commemorate the turn of the century, Bentley built ten
Continental R Millennium Editions, all of which were delivered to
the North American market. The Millennium Edition was based on the
Continental R Mulliner and featured elegant and elaborate wood trim
elements, a green starter button, a stainless-steel laser-cut
matrix grille, and 18-inch chromed alloy wheels. The Millennium
Edition reportedly cost an additional $20,000 over the price of the
Continental R Mulliner.
This Millennium Edition is the penultimate example of the ten built
and is attractively finished in Silver Storm over Cinder leather.
Options include a burled wood dashboard, embroidered Bentley badges
on the headrests, heated front seats with memory package, a chrome
shift knob, wood veneers on the steering wheel, aluminum pedals,
and the spare wheel kit. With less than 18,000 miles from new, this
Millennium Edition is in well-preserved condition and offers the
performance of the Continental R Mulliner with even greater
exclusivity.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20.
