A Bentley parked on the drive is a pretty clear signal you’ve made it. Your suits are British, your shoes Italian, and your cigars? Cuban, naturally.

But not all Bentleys are created equal. For a time, Bentley was subjugated to Rolls-Royce. Producing the cruellest examples of British badge-engineering, but glimmers of hope shone through. The Continental R was a glimmer. For the first time in more than two decades, a Bentley left a production line with a unique body.

This example was supplied new in 2000, finished in yellow over a red leather interior. A previous owner deemed this specification too lairy for their tastes and opted to have the car refinished in Fireglow red, a factory Bentley colour.

It is a striking hue, with plenty of flake to accentuate the flared arches and smooth-styled 18” alloys. The paintwork is in great shape, protected by a full covering of paint protection film; however, the sacrificial film shows some areas of imperfection.

The exterior makeover necessitated a similar interior restyle. The red leather was dispatched, with the full interior subjected to a total retrim in black hide. The leather is supple, the wood is warm, and the carpet is deep; it’s as much a car as it is a cigar lounge.

There is an elephant in the room… the Continental R is not a small car. It weighs in at around 2.4 tonnes, a similar weight to the much maligned G90 BMW M5. Like the M5, though, the Continental can hustle, and that is thanks to a 6.75-litre turbocharged V8.

At the time, Rolls-Royce and Bentley preferred not to divulge power figures, but we know today that it’s somewhere around 385bhp. The engine is mated to a GM-sourced automatic transmission; after all, the Americans are rather good at automatics.

As you’d expect of a car of this calibre, it comes complete with an extensive history file, which comprises regular servicing, routine maintenance and overhauls alike. The service records show:

02/2001 — Serviced at 1,764 miles by Michael Powles Ltd
10/2001 — Serviced at 8,322 miles by Michael Powles Ltd
09/2002 — Serviced at 17,567 miles by Bentley Manchester
05/2005 — Serviced at 31,206 miles by Bentley Pangbourne
05/2006 — Serviced at 40,680 miles by Hanwell Car Centre
07/2007 — Serviced at 50,424 miles by Bentley Hampshire
02/2013 — Serviced at 76,934 miles by Bentley Hampshire
12/2013 — Serviced at 79,074 miles by Thomas Barclay Ltd
10/2014 — Top-end engine refresh at 79,896 miles by Silver Lady Services
03/2015 — Major Service at 80,179 miles by Cris Lee’s Specialist Cars Ltd
10/2017 — Serviced at 82,120 miles by Iconic Motors Ltd
07/2019 — Service, N/S/R damper rebuild and O/S/R calliper rebuild at 82,736 miles by Cresta Motors
11/2024 — Service, coolant radiator and fuel pipe replacement at 87,746 miles by The Chelsea Workshop

Corner cutting is not in the vocabulary of this Bentley, with its most recent service totalling nearly £5,000, no expense has been spared.

It’s no secret that we’re big Bentley fans here, but even more so of the Continental R. They’re ineffably cool, seamlessly blending muscle car tendencies with a subdued regal elegance.

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London

Duke of London