This car, Lot 234, sold for $64,960, including buyer’s premium, at Worldwide Auctioneers’ Auburn, IN, auction, on April 27, 2024.
The story of the Bentley Turbo RT, produced only in the concluding two years of its series life cycle, intersects with a significant transitional period for its makers. In 1998, Volkswagen AG acquired Rolls-Royce Motors from Vickers, taking over Bentley and its trademarks — though not the Rolls-Royce name, which was separately obtained by BMW. This change heralded the sunset of the Vickers Era, a time characterized by the introduction of new models as the longstanding SZ series drew to a close.
End of an era
Launched in 1980, the SZ series paved the way for the succeeding Bentley Arnage and its Rolls-Royce sibling, the Silver Seraph, in spring 1998. These featured alongside the Azure, Brooklands and various iterations of the Continental series. The Bentley Turbo RT, a limited “runout special” marking the end of the SZ series, was produced in a scant total of 252 units globally over its two-year production span. Of these, only 49 were left-hand drive, including all five units from its final production year in 1999.
The Turbo RT distinguished itself with a robust 400 horsepower and a substantial 590 lb-ft of torque from a 6.75-liter V8 engine, augmented by a Garrett AiResearch T04 turbocharger and a Zytek EMS3 engine-management system. Its sport wheels, mesh radiator grille and color-coded bumpers with bright mesh inserts emphasized its luxury pedigree. Uniquely, Bentley opted not to promote the Turbo RT through traditional publicity materials, underscoring its exclusivity.
Primarily available in a long-wheelbase format, the Turbo RT also offered a short-wheelbase version through special order. Only two SWB versions are known to have been built, one each with right- and left-hand drive. All models utilized the Continental T’s powertrain and targeted a niche market of affluent drivers who might otherwise favor grand-touring Ferraris or high-end German cars from Mercedes and BMW. Compared with top-tier German luxury sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz S600, BMW 750iL, and Audi S8, the Turbo RT was priced at a premium $211,600 — well above its contemporaries.
Hits and misses
Our subject 1999 Bentley Turbo RT boasts celebrity provenance, having once been owned by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. The vehicle’s documentation includes direct communications between the Crewe factory and Barry Gibb, supplemented with letters, specification sheets and service records bearing Gibb’s signature.
In 1998 and 1999, the Bentley Turbo RT shared a series of chassis numbers with other models such as the Silver Spirit, Silver Spur and various Brooklands and Mulliner versions. While the catalog claims this particular unit as the final North American delivery, it does precede recorded chassis numbers SCBZP24E7XCX66582 and SCBZP24E9XCX66583 — which doesn’t necessarily invalidate the claim.
Last year I shared my over-six-year-long quest for a well-loved SZ-series Rolls-Royce in the pages of SCM (Online Roundup, August 2023, p. 146). This culminated in the acquisition of a 1994 Silver Spur III in 2022. The experience, while rewarding, brought to light the challenges of maintaining such a complex vehicle, given the high costs and scarce availability of parts from the U.K.
Despite its well-maintained condition, this Bentley has an obvious mechanical issue. The rear of the car sits higher than the factory-set ride height, likely due to incorrect or failing dampers, or a misadjusted height-control valve. It’s worth noting that Rolls-Royce and Bentley dampers are not intended to be interchangeable.
Rare car, fair price
This Turbo RT’s ownership history is intriguing yet not fully documented in public records. Initially sold in 2012 at an Auctions America event in Fort Lauderdale for $37,400 (SCM# 197888), the auction catalog from that sale surprisingly omits any mention of the Barry Gibb connection. Subsequently, the car surfaced again in September 2020 through a dealer in Palm Beach, FL, with an undisclosed asking price, and most recently at Mecum’s 2024 Kissimmee auction, where it failed to sell at a high bid of $75,000.
It’s notable that most Bentley Turbo RTs successfully sold at auction in recent years have been Mulliner editions, with non-Mulliner versions often failing to find a buyer. The Mulliner benefited from distinctive cosmetic enhancements inside and out, and most notably, a bump in horsepower to 420. Though initially planned for 50 units, 55 were actually produced and sold to selected customers. For these reasons, the Mulliner designation significantly affects market value. For example, a Turbo RT Mulliner with fewer than 6,000 miles achieved $134,400 at an RM Sotheby’s sale in Miami in December 2022 (SCM# 6956446).
The rarity of the Bentley Turbo RT, with its additional variations such as the Mulliner and Olympian editions, and distinctions like right- versus left-hand drive, complicates direct market comparisons. Additionally, factors such as the country of original delivery and, in this case, the celebrity provenance, add layers of complexity to their valuation. Considering these nuances, this car’s sale price was fair, and despite the added Bee Gees allure, such provenance had little effect on the final value. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Worldwide Auctioneers.)
