1991 Bentley Continental Convertible III

• One of only 574 Bentley convertibles produced between 1967 and 1995
• Absolutely delightful combination of Royal Blue over blue-piped magnolia hide
• Excellent electric hood in matching blue mohair with a blue-piped magnolia fitted cover
• Just over 39,000 miles from new supported by the comprehensive service history
• Freshly MOT'd, spare keys, full and original book pack set and service schedule
• The cherished registration H20 BCT will remain with the car

The Bentley Continental and Rolls-Royce Corniche convertibles were built in Crewe and both utilised the traditional 6.75-litre Rolls-Royce alloy engine, and GM auto gearbox found in their saloon variant, the Silver Shadow. The Series I Bentley and Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible versions of the Shadow and T1 models first appeared in 1967, and production continued up until the first major face-lift in 1988, renamed the Corniche II when ABS and airbags became standard. The Series III debuted at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show when new alloy wheels, a revised interior, colour-coded bumpers, more advanced suspension, and MK-Motronic fuel injection were introduced. The final iteration, the Series IV, arrived in 1992.

This particular Continental Series III has the benefits of the Rolls-Royce Corniche III upgrades and is a UK-car supplied through Jack Barclay when new. It's finished in the stylish colour combination of Royal Blue with Magnolia hide, piped blue, and a blue electric soft top, the car sits well, drives superbly and looks very smart in the metal. The full and comprehensive service history supports the current indicated mileage of just over 39,000 miles. Between 1967 and 1995 just 574 Bentley soft tops were produced compared to 4,548 Corniche convertibles, making this car a rare and special opportunity underpinned both by its condition and provenance. On offer from a private Bentley collector, this delightful motor car is offered with an MOT valid until May 2021, spare keys and its original book pack and service records.

The essence of Continental ownership was once most aptly summed up by Autosport's inimitable John Bolster. Writing in 1958, Bolster noted that the Continental was a classical design that achieved a high degree of excellence by its sheer quality of construction: