2001 MDL Bentley Continental R Mulliner

Many elements of the Continental 'R' design were first seen at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show in Rolls-Royce's "Project 90" concept car, a mock-up of a future Bentley coupé. The Continental debuted at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show where the Sultan of Brunei purchased the show car on-site. The car's body was a departure for the marque. A slight curvature in stark contrast to the flat-sided Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles of the time, roof-cut door frames, a subtle spoiler effect in the rear and 18-inch alloy wheels secured the interest of the motoring community.

The Continental R Mulliner model range, of which only 131 vehicles were built from 1999-2003, was equipped with the enormously capable 6.75 Litre turbo powerplant with an output of 420bhp and a maximum torque of 650lb/ft capable of a top speed of some 170 mph with handling and stopping ability to match.

The car offered here today is a 2001 model Continental 'R' Mulliner, built to an exceedingly high specification with many bespoke features over and above the 'R' Mulliner including the Continental 'T' uprated brakes and steering rack to ensure this 174mph vehicle is utterly controllable. Immaculate Silver Pearl paintwork is complimented by Cotswold magnolia hide interior with black piping, top roll split magnolia and lambswool over rugs. A special order Continental 'T' Centre console was fitted, including special gearlever selector, turbo boost gauge and starter button.

Seat switch surrounds are trimmed in hide, cheetah panels are colour coded, wing vents are fitted, and electrically folding convex door mirrors too. The Bentley logo motif is embossed to seat headrests and inlaid in Silver to waistrails; reversing sensors, shaded band to both front and rear screens, special brightwork to headlamp bezels, chrome instrument bezels, and the eye-wateringly expensive self-closing and opening boot mechanism finishes off this most comprehensive list of extras.

Although only a mere sub 12,500 miles has been covered, this incredibly rare and hugely specified Bentley has been more than regularly serviced by Broughton's of Cheltenham and latterly, Jack Barclay Ltd - as well as the service voucher booklet being fully stamped there are copies of service invoices in the history file too.

With an option list as comprehensive as this, it is nigh on impossible to pinpoint a comparative car to gauge current value. The nearest similar car to it currently for sale in the retail marketplace, with a marque specialist, is offered for a sum above £120,000, meaning X32 ADF represents exceptional value in the marketplace today...