Bentley T-series
Encyclopedia
The Bentley T-Series is an automobile
which was produced by Bentley Motors Limited in the United Kingdom
from 1965 to 1980. It was announced and displayed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show on 5 October 1965 as a Bentley-badged version of the totally-redesigned chassis-less Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
.
The Bentley T series was available as a four door saloon and as a long wheelbase four door saloon. A small number of two door saloons were built with coachwork by James Young
and Mulliner Park Ward
and a two door convertible with coachwork by Mulliner Park Ward was introduced in September 1967.
by GBP 50.
The formerly more sporting image of Bentley motor cars differing from Rolls-Royces was gone by the time the Silver Shadow/Bentley T was introduced and thus couldn't motivate buyers any more. "For a while Bentley´s sporting character has been as absent and as lamented as [deceased racing driver] Mr Seaman
. The last batches of Bentleys have, to be rather frank, been a little hard to distinguish from their Rolls-Royce stablemates" was the opinion of Archie Vicar in the Motorist´s Illustrated Digest (Dec 1965). The same correspondent gave the car a favourable review, especially in comparison to its Rolls-Royce stablemate.
The outward appearance of a Bentley T is slightly more dynamic because the bonnet design is a few centimetres lower and the radiator shell shape with its rounded edges is smoother. In addition, the badging on wheel covers, boot lid and gauges featured Bentley motifs rather than Rolls-Royce ones.
. It is totally different from its predecessor the S series.
Other major improvements:
steering, improved air conditioning, rubber-faced bumpers, a new fascia and a front air dam, similarly to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II.
The T1 was manufactured from 1965–1977 and the T2 was made from 1977-1980.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
which was produced by Bentley Motors Limited in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from 1965 to 1980. It was announced and displayed for the first time at the Paris Motor Show on 5 October 1965 as a Bentley-badged version of the totally-redesigned chassis-less Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury car that was produced in Great Britain in various forms from 1965 to 1980. It was the first Rolls-Royce to use a monocoque chassis, a response to concerns that the company was falling behind in automotive innovation....
.
The Bentley T series was available as a four door saloon and as a long wheelbase four door saloon. A small number of two door saloons were built with coachwork by James Young
James Young (coachbuilder)
James Young Ltd was a British coachbuilding company. The business was started in 1863 in LondonRoad, Bromley. originally producing horsedrawn carriages....
and Mulliner Park Ward
Mulliner Park Ward
Mulliner Park Ward was a bespoke coachbuilder in Hythe Road, Willesden, London UK.Mulliner now is the personal commissioning department for Bentley....
and a two door convertible with coachwork by Mulliner Park Ward was introduced in September 1967.
Point of difference
The Bentley was differentiated from its Rolls Royce sibling by its simpler and lighter front grille. The other point of difference to attract comment was said to result from the lower production cost of the Bentley grille. In October 1966, the T saloon's pretax 'list price' of GBP 5375 undercut that of the Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Silver Shadow
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury car that was produced in Great Britain in various forms from 1965 to 1980. It was the first Rolls-Royce to use a monocoque chassis, a response to concerns that the company was falling behind in automotive innovation....
by GBP 50.
Customers
The Bentley, being technically an identical twin of the Rolls-Royce, seems to have been bought mostly by owners wishing a little more understatement.The formerly more sporting image of Bentley motor cars differing from Rolls-Royces was gone by the time the Silver Shadow/Bentley T was introduced and thus couldn't motivate buyers any more. "For a while Bentley´s sporting character has been as absent and as lamented as [deceased racing driver] Mr Seaman
Richard Seaman
Richard John Beattie "Dick" Seaman , was one of the greatest pre-war Grand Prix drivers from Britain....
. The last batches of Bentleys have, to be rather frank, been a little hard to distinguish from their Rolls-Royce stablemates" was the opinion of Archie Vicar in the Motorist´s Illustrated Digest (Dec 1965). The same correspondent gave the car a favourable review, especially in comparison to its Rolls-Royce stablemate.
The outward appearance of a Bentley T is slightly more dynamic because the bonnet design is a few centimetres lower and the radiator shell shape with its rounded edges is smoother. In addition, the badging on wheel covers, boot lid and gauges featured Bentley motifs rather than Rolls-Royce ones.
Fundamental redesign
The T series is the first Bentley (or Rolls-Royce) without a separate chassisChassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
. It is totally different from its predecessor the S series.
- new steel and aluminum monocoqueMonocoqueMonocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
body with subframes to mount the engine and suspension, more space inside but smaller outside, more passenger room, particularly in the rear compartment, more luggage space
dimensions: - radiator grille 5 inches lower and 2 inches wider; the whole car - 7 inches shorter, 5 inches lower and 3½ inches narrower - independent suspension on all four wheels with automatic height control according to loading
Other major improvements:
- disc brakes on all wheels with a triplicate hydraulic braking system
- new and lighter power steering, improved automatic transmission, eight-way adjustable electric front seats, weight reduced 150 lbs, larger fuel tank
- Engine is the least changed unit but a re-designed cylinder head allows a speed increase to 118 mph
1977 upgrade
The upgraded T2 featured rack and pinionRack and pinion
A rack and pinion is a type of linear actuator that comprises a pair of gears which convert rotational motion into linear motion. A circular gear called "the pinion" engages teeth on a linear "gear" bar called "the rack"; rotational motion applied to the pinion causes the rack to move, thereby...
steering, improved air conditioning, rubber-faced bumpers, a new fascia and a front air dam, similarly to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II.
The T1 was manufactured from 1965–1977 and the T2 was made from 1977-1980.
Production of Bentley T-Series
| Model | Period | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Bentley T1 | 1965-1977 | 1703 |
| Bentley T1 LWB | 1971-1976 | 9 |
| Bentley T1 Coupé | 1966-1971 | 114 |
| Bentley T1 Pininfarina Pininfarina Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,... Coupé |
1968 | 1 |
| Bentley T1 Convertible | 1967-1971 | 41 |
| Bentley T2 | 1977-1980 | 558 |
| Bentley T2 LWB | 1977-1980 | 10 |