Vehicle Description
Where ostentatious tastes saw bell-bottom plaid suits, Marlboro man
moustaches and Studio 54 night-clubs. When the films of the era
were "Clockwork Orange", "Annie Hall" and "Taxi Driver", the
broadway show was "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Chicago" and Liza
Minnelli won best actress Oscar for Cabaret. TV was all about
"Charlie's Angels" in the US whilst we watched "The Sweeney" and
"Minder" in the UK. On opposing sides of that big pond we laughed
at Richard Pryor and the Morecambe & Wise duo. Whilst some loved
Liberace with all his glitz and glamour, so did others fan to Elton
John displaying similarly outrageous stage get-up and showmanship.
America had boat-sized Cadillacs whilst the UK had groovy Minis and
sexy E-type Jaguars. The world was changing towards atomized
individualism and away from communitarianism. The 1970s was all
about being showy and flashy - for one's self - with big statements
and plenty of pizzazz - where "too much" was just enough. In the
midst of all this, this one Bentley surely spoke out - in every bit
of the language - she is the epitome of the 1970s. This is a
striking combination Bentley T, finished in Regency Bronze (a rich
gold colour) with a deep brown Everflex top and hand-painted fine
lines in matching brown to the waist lines and hub-cap beauty
rings. The Savoy velvet interior is finished in a very rich and
well over the top gold-tan colour with contrasting dark cigar brown
carpeting and dash. The Savoy velvet option was a factory one and
rarely ordered - no doubt because of its rather flamboyant
presentation. The colour combination is completely 1970s and if you
are not into the 70s look, you will most likely find it in poor
taste. But this is for the lover of that era and you have to "get
it". The Bentley was designed to be the conservative man's
Rolls-Royce, so we can well visualise its original purchaser
ordering this "over-stated understatement" with its strong gold
colour scheme. Not nouveau riche because it is a Bentley after all.
But a young man from old money. Ordered by Saville Row from Berkley
Square, the Bentley of Bentleys of the 70s. To those in the
Rolls-Royce & Bentley club and circles, this car needs little
introduction and is extremely well known as a multiple show winning
car owned by Mr David Irvine, renowned Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
and Bentley T enthusiast. David founded and administers the very
successful Facebook forum; "Eccentric Hobbyists", dedicated
exclusively to these 4-door Crewe cars. And, which to date,
features over 30,000 photographs of these great cars from all over
the world. This Bentley T has also been featured in various
magazine and articles around the world and I can't tell you how
many awards she has won. This is a European delivered example that
has been incredibly well maintained over the years. As the most
obvious alteration from what might be expected to be found on a
Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor car from this time could be
considered that the seats are not trimmed with leather. As
specified by the customer these are "gold Parkertex Savoy Velvet",
a velvet cloth of the finest quality to be used throughout the
interior. The interior of the car is quite original; make no
mistake, the velour interior came this way from the Crewe factory.
And even though we are some 45 years on, it remains without a
single mark or blemish nor sign of wear (as you might otherwise
expect on such a fabric). The headlining, carpets, leather dash and
console are all in the most stunning original condition. Only the
wood has been redone, but at what a blessing. At a cost of some
$4,000 it is finished like glass with no less than 25 coats of
clear lacquer each wet-sanded and buffed between coats to deliver a
very deep and rich finish. It is the dark Milanese Burl walnut with
a straight walnut crossbanding. Absolutely flawless in
presentation. In keeping with the flare design choice of its first
owner, the car has a 70s "state of the art" Blau
