Car Collector International
Modern Classic · 1985–1997

Bentley Turbo R

The car that turned Bentley back into a driver's marque.

Car Collector International Editorial
Bentley Turbo R
OverviewVariants & SpecsCollector VariantsBuyer's GuideOwnershipCommon ProblemsAuction ResultsInvestment OutlookRecommended Network
Overview

Why this car matters

Launched at the 1985 Geneva Motor Show, the Turbo R was the model that re-established Bentley as a distinct driver-focused marque after two decades as Rolls-Royce's badge-engineered sibling. Where the 1982 Mulsanne Turbo simply added a Garrett T04 turbocharger to the Silver Spirit floorpan, the Turbo R paired that engine with 'Roadholding' suspension: wider tyres, stiffer bushings, uprated dampers and a proper Panhard rod. It was the first modern Bentley engineered to be driven hard.

Over a twelve-year run, Crewe built 7,230 Turbo Rs across short- and long-wheelbase saloons (published references infobox; motor-car.net; corroborated by Conceptcarz, Classic Driver and Historics lot listings). The 1989 model year introduced fuel injection (K-Motronic, replacing the Solex 4A1 carburettor); 1995 brought the 'New Turbo R' with Zytek EMS3 engine management and modest interior updates; the short-wheelbase body was discontinued for 1996, leaving the LWB as the sole survivor and re-badged simply 'Turbo R'. The 60-car Turbo S of 1994–95 and the six-car Hooper Empress II coachbuilt coupes of 1990–91 sit above the standard cars as the family's genuine collector pieces. The 1997–99 Turbo RT and 56-car RT Mulliner are strictly speaking runout models that outlived the Turbo R nameplate, but every serious buyer's guide covers them together — they are included here for completeness.

Production reconciliation: published references's four core body-style figures — Original SWB 4,653 + Original LWB 1,211 + New SWB 543 + New LWB 823 — sum to exactly 7,230, matching the family total. The Turbo S (60), Hooper Empress II (5–6), Turbo R SE (12) and Turbo R James Young (6) are all built on those same SWB or LWB chassis and are counted within the four core figures, not added on top. The Turbo RT and RT Mulliner (252 and 56 respectively per published references) sit outside the 7,230 as a separate 1997–99 runout series after the Turbo R nameplate was retired. RRSilverSpirit's competing 4,458 SWB / 1,524 LWB figures do not reconcile arithmetically with the 7,230 family total (they leave a 195-unit shortfall on SWB and an unexplained surplus on LWB) and are treated here as the secondary figures rather than the primary.

The Turbo R is the model that separated Bentley from Rolls-Royce commercially, editorially and in the collector market — the first post-war Bentley whose specification, chassis tuning and marketing were engineered for a different customer to the equivalent Silver Spirit. It is also the last of the 'old' Crewe cars, hand-built with body-on-frame construction, real veneers and a 6.75L pushrod V8 that traces its lineage to 1959. Values remain a fraction of the Continental R coupes that followed, but the connoisseur cars — Turbo S, Empress II, RT Mulliner — are already trading independently of the standard-saloon curve.

Variants

Range and production

VariantYearsProductionNotes
Turbo R (SWB, original — carb then Motronic)1985–19944,653Original short-wheelbase Turbo R — carburettored at launch, Bosch Motronic fuel injection from 1987.
Turbo RL (LWB, original)1985–19941,211Long-wheelbase companion to the original Turbo R.
New Turbo R (SWB, Zytek EMS)1995–1996543Zytek engine management and revised interior; the SWB body was discontinued at the end of the 1996 model year.
New Turbo R (LWB, Zytek EMS — rebadged from Turbo RL)1995–1997823From 1996 the sole surviving Turbo R body style, continuing to 1997.
Turbo S1994–19956060 built of a planned 75 — the limited-run performance flagship of the SZ Turbo family.
Hooper Empress II (coachbuilt coupe, Turbo RL chassis)1990–19915–6Coachbuilt two-door on the Turbo RL chassis by Hooper. Exact production total not recorded; five or six cars built.
Turbo R SE (US-market Special Edition)199712US-market dealer special edition — twelve left-hand-drive cars in Black Garnet or Black Emerald with numbered dashboard plaques.
Turbo R James Young / H.R. Owen19966H.R. Owen dealer commission using the James Young name on the run-out of the SWB Turbo R; six examples built.
Turbo RT (LWB)1997–1999250SZ-body run-out special before the Arnage; 6.75-litre intercooled turbo, 400 bhp.
Turbo RT (SWB)19982Two short-wheelbase RTs built.
Turbo RT Mulliner (LWB)1998–199955Bespoke Mulliner run-out programme with wide-arch body and 420 bhp.
Turbo RT Mulliner (SWB)19981Single short-wheelbase car built.
Turbo RT Olympian (Jack Barclay dealer commission)19984Jack Barclay dealer commission of four cars — a dealer edition rather than a factory model.
Collector Variants

Limited & special editions

The models below represent the most significant limited and special edition variants — factory-produced cars that command meaningful premiums over standard examples and warrant specific attention from serious collectors.

Bentley Turbo S · 1994–1995

60 built (of 75 planned). RRSilverSpirit chassis-range data (SCBZT05C8SCH56801 – SCBZT05C2SCH56860); published references; bentleyregister.com; Historics Brooklands 2015 catalogue; betterparts.org — five sources agree.
Distinguishing features
The rarest of the entire Bentley SZ Series. Chargecooled 6.75L L-Series V8 with F1-derived Bosch Motronic engine management, larger Garrett AiResearch turbocharger, 408 bhp / 590 lb-ft (a period Bentley record), viscous limited-slip differential, traction control and 17-inch wheels with 255/55 tyres. Interior features the front-of-engine numbered badge (of 75) and unique upholstery specification. All cars sit on standard-wheelbase bodies except car #1, which was accidentally built on a long-wheelbase shell (bentleyregister.com). 29 RHD / 31 LHD.
Value premium
Substantial multiple of a standard Turbo R; the highest-power SZ-generation Bentley. Public hammer prices within the last five years are absent — the sole fetchable auction reference is Bonhams Rockingham June-2006 at estimate £25,000–£28,000, period only. Standing dealer asks now sit meaningfully higher.
Inspection points
Chargecooler circuit pressure-test is critical (unique to Turbo S in the standard SZ range); verify the front-of-engine numbered badge is factory-fitted and matches the chassis; the F1-spec Motronic ECU must be original and correctly mapped — replacement ECUs are effectively unobtainable. Standard Turbo R hydraulic, turbo and cooling checks apply.
Authentication
Bentley Heritage build sheet by VIN is definitive; chassis-number range SCBZT05C8SCH56801 – SCBZT05C2SCH56860 (RRSilverSpirit) is a useful pre-check. Note that badge numbering is not strictly sequential — at least one car carries a badge numbered above 60 despite total production being 60 (bentleyregister.com).

Bentley Hooper Empress II (coachbuilt coupe) · 1990–1991

5–6 — Bring a Trailer Aug-2017 and BentleySpotting.com Feb-2008 state 6; Top Gear Nov-2018 and Classic Car Weekly (citing RM Sotheby's catalogue) state 5. Provisional 5 completed client cars + 1 prototype/show-car.
Distinguishing features
The only coachbuilt Turbo R-era Bentley. Hooper & Company — a revived royal coachbuilder of the period — supplied bespoke two-door aluminium coupe bodywork on long-wheelbase Turbo RL rolling chassis, sanctioned by Rolls-Royce/Bentley Motors. Reported conversion cost £500,000 at time of build (Bring a Trailer 2017). Distinctive quad-round-headlight nose, low glasshouse, and fully bespoke interior; mechanical spec inherited from the donor Turbo RL.
Value premium
Extreme scarcity places these cars in a separate market to any standard Turbo R. No fetchable public hammer price surfaced in the five-year review; standing asks sit well into six figures.
Inspection points
Aluminium bodywork requires Hooper- or Bentley-Heritage-competent inspection; body panels are not interchangeable with any other Bentley. Bespoke interior components (trim, headliner, unique switchgear) are essentially unobtainable in original form. Turbo RL mechanical checks apply.
Authentication
Bentley Heritage build sheet for the donor chassis and, ideally, Hooper's own build documentation. VIN prefix follows Turbo RL practice (SCBZ..) rather than a dedicated Hooper series — provenance file is the primary authentication.

Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner · 1998–1999

56 (55 LWB + 1 SWB per RRSilverSpirit and bentleyregister.com; published references's alternative 7/49 split is rejected here — see below). 17 RHD / 39 LHD (bentleyregister.com).
Distinguishing features
The final flourish of the SZ platform before the Arnage. H.J. Mulliner-badged, factory-authorised limited edition of the Turbo RT with a 420 bhp engine remap, revised turbocharger compressor, wider track, flared wings, 18-inch alloys and fully bespoke interior built to individual customer order. Effectively the saloon-body sibling to the Continental T Mulliner.
Value premium
Public auction data within the review period is essentially absent — verified hammer prices for RT Mulliner cars do not exist in the verified sample. On the Continental T Mulliner precedent (23 built; trading at multiples of standard T money), the RT Mulliner is likely undervalued today.
Inspection points
Confirm the 420 bhp engine map, revised turbo hardware and wider-track chassis are still factory-original — previous owners have been known to soften cars back toward standard RT spec. Confirm all Mulliner-bespoke interior fit-out is present and un-refurbished; standard chargecooled RT mechanical checks apply.
Authentication
Bentley Heritage build sheet by VIN is definitive; RRSilverSpirit RT Mulliner LWB chassis-range (SCBZP27C9WCX66432 – SCBZP25EXXCX66543) is a useful pre-check. On the SWB/LWB split, RRSilverSpirit and bentleyregister.com corroborate 1 SWB + 55 LWB; published references's contradictory 7 SWB / 49 LWB figure appears to be a data error.
Buyer's Guide

What to look for

Provenance and originality

Start with identity, paperwork and originality. For the Bentley Turbo R, the strongest cars have continuous ownership history, matching numbers where applicable, original books and tools, factory build documentation and evidence of work by manufacturer-approved specialists. Documented Crewe-era Bentley specialist history, matching numbers, original interior wood and hide, evidence of the multi-thousand-pound top-end / turbo service having actually been done, and — for Turbo S, Empress II, RT Mulliner and James Young cars — factory or Bentley Heritage build documentation are the value anchors.

Mechanical inspection priorities

The 6.75L L-Series turbo V8 is fundamentally robust but low-mileage cars are punished by disuse: brittle vacuum hoses, perished Ram induction rubbers, Garrett T04 turbo oil-seal weep and leaking timing-case gaskets are all near-universal on unrestored cars. Carburettor cars (pre-1989) are the simplest to sort; Motronic (1989–94) and Zytek (1995-on) cars need specialist diagnostic access. Chargecooled cars (Turbo S / RT / RT Mulliner) add a chargecooler radiator, pump and coolant circuit that must be pressure-tested during any PPI. A proper pre-purchase inspection includes cold-start behaviour, ECU diagnostics and fault-code history (where applicable), leak-down or compression testing, underbody photography, suspension and chassis inspection, brake condition and a long enough road test to expose heat-related faults. Deferred maintenance on a car of this class is almost always more expensive than buying a better-sorted example.

Body, paint and accident history

Use a paint-depth gauge, lift access and a specialist familiar with the model's factory panel gaps and finish standards. Collector value is dramatically affected by structural repairs, refinished panels, poor paintwork and missing factory trim or option content. Documented cosmetic refresh is acceptable; concealed accident or fire damage must be priced severely.

Specification strategy

The 1995-on 'New Turbo R' with Zytek engine management, the 1994–95 Turbo S (60 built) and the 1998 RT Mulliner (56 built) are the connoisseur's picks. Standard Turbo R saloons remain the accessible entry point in the entire Crewe hand-built canon. Specification, colour, options and limited-build variants move values significantly. Buy the best-documented example in the most desirable specification you can justify, rather than a tired example of a rarer derivative that will need years of corrective work.

Ownership

Living with it

Typical mileage
1,000–4,000 miles typical for collector use
Service interval
12 months; mileage interval varies by model and use
Annual running cost
$3,500 – $10,000
Fuel economy
15–28 mpg depending on use
Insurance
Use an agreed-value collector or specialist supercar policy with limited mileage, secure storage, documented photography and an annual value review. Premiums vary sharply by age, storage location, declared value and driver profile.

Maintenance planning

Budget annually even if the car is used sparingly. Fluids age, tyres and date-coded rubber components must be replaced regardless of mileage, and stored cars need exercise. A documented maintenance rhythm protects both reliability and resale value.

Parts and specialist access

Crewe-era specialist support is concentrated around P&A Wood, Frank Dale & Stepsons, Fiennes Restoration, Royce Engineering, Introcar, Chelsea Workshop and Jack Barclay in the UK, and Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque houses in North America. Bentley Motors' Heritage department at Crewe holds full build records by VIN and will confirm original spec and factory options for a modest fee — essential for the limited-run derivatives. Before purchase, confirm parts availability for model-specific bodywork, electronics, gearbox and engine components. A discounted car waiting on unobtainable parts or a factory service slot is rarely a saving in collector ownership.
Common Problems

Known issues by system

Engine

Garrett T04 turbo oil-seal weep, wastegate wear, downpipe cracking

Major$6,000 – $14,000 for turbo rebuild + associated pipework
Symptoms — Blue smoke on start-up, oil misting around turbo, boost variation, exhaust leaks at downpipe joint.
Inspection — Boroscope inlet tract; check turbo shaft play; inspect oil in intercooler / chargecooler pipework on Turbo S / RT / RT Mulliner; log-check boost pressure on Motronic and Zytek cars.
Cooling

Ram induction rubbers, header-tank corrosion, chargecooler circuit (Turbo S / RT / RT Mulliner)

Major$2,500 – $9,000
Symptoms — Poor throttle response and misfire at boost due to perished Ram rubbers; coolant loss with no external leak; misfires and pre-ignition on hot runs.
Inspection — Pressure-test cooling and, where fitted, the chargecooler circuit; inspect Ram induction rubbers directly (a universal service item on any un-refreshed car); verify header tank has been replaced.
Suspension

Hydraulic self-levelling accumulators, height-control valves, rear-strut leaks

Major$3,000 – $8,000
Symptoms — Rear-end sag when parked; hard ride; hydraulic warning lamp; audible pump cycling with engine off.
Inspection — Check accumulator pressure; inspect for mineral-oil leaks at pump, valves and rear struts; confirm system bleeds correctly. Deferred hydraulic work compounds — full refresh routinely runs into five figures.
Body & structure

Sill, rear-arch, front-wing and jacking-point corrosion; sunroof-drain rust

Major$5,000 – $25,000+
Symptoms — Bubbling behind rear arches and at sill lower edge; chipping around headlight surrounds; corrosion at boot-floor and spare-wheel-well seams on cars parked outside.
Inspection — Lift the car; paint-depth gauge every panel; inspect sunroof drains; the body is unstressed steel over a full frame but rust repair is expensive at Bentley labour rates.
Electrical

Body electronics, dashboard illumination, climate stepper motors, seat memory

Moderate$2,000 – $8,000
Symptoms — Failed climate stepper motors, non-functioning cruise, intermittent instrument backlighting, seat memory failures. A fully-functional early Turbo R is now uncommon.
Inspection — Test every switch and function on the PPI; budget for repair or replacement of specific modules rather than a full rewire.
Interior

Wood veneer lacquer crazing, hide fade and cracked door cappings

Moderate$4,000 – $15,000 for full veneer refinish
Symptoms — Cracked lacquer on dashboard and door cappings; sun-faded hide (especially Magnolia / Parchment); loose piping.
Inspection — Inspect every capping and door top under strong light. Original correctly-lacquered veneer is expensive to replicate faithfully.
Transmission

GM 4L80-E slippage, torque-converter shudder; GM 400 delayed engagement on early cars

Moderate$4,000 – $8,000 rebuild
Symptoms — Delayed 1–2 shift, harsh 2–3 shift, judder at light-throttle cruise.
Inspection — Service history for ATF changes; road-test at operating temperature.
Auctions

Recent results

DateAuctionCarMileageResult
2025-11-08
Iconic Auctioneers
NEC Classic Motor Show, Birmingham, Lot 228
1996 Turbo R
Peacock Blue; £50,000+ receipts since 2019.
n/s
£25,875
Sold
2025-07-19
Historics
The Summer Serenade, Windsorview Lakes, Lot 163
1988 Turbo R (ex-Sir Barry Gibb / Lord Hornby)
Originally W H Smith chairman's car; repainted black under Barry Gibb ownership.
33,500 mi
£15,444
Sold
2025-05-03
Historics
Flight of Elegance, Farnborough International, Lot 122
1997 Turbo R
Catalogue listed LWB; auctioneer addendum corrected to SWB Turbo R.
73,220 mi
£10,582
Sold
2024-12-20
Bring a Trailer
Online, Lot 174785
1994 Turbo R
Arctic White / Beige Connolly; no reserve.
61,000 mi
$19,000
Sold
2024-11-23
Historics
The Brooklands Velocity, Mercedes-Benz World, Lot 183
1996 Turbo R
Peacock Blue / Sandstone; Royce Engineering history 2008–18.
63,322 mi
£17,160
Sold
2024-10-09
H&H Classics
Imperial War Museum Duxford, Lot 59
1996 Turbo R James Young (1 of 6)
Madagascar Purple; H.R. Owen dealer commission; moon roof deleted.
~72,000 mi
£21,938 (inc. premium)
Sold
2024-08-22
Bring a Trailer
Online, Lot 159622
1996 Turbo R
Black / tan; matte-black PPF; prior BaT-purchase June 2023.
43,000 mi
$22,250
Sold
2024-06-24
Bonhams
AMG Rediscovered — Online: Part 1, Los Angeles, Lot 218
1991 Turbo R Sports Saloon
Requires recommissioning; storage since 2006; no reserve.
~47,325 mi (2006 reading)
$9,200 (inc. premium)
Sold
2023-12-09
Iconic Auctioneers
The Christmas Sale, Warwickshire Event Centre, Lot 204
1993 Turbo R
Racing Green / Magnolia.
47,551 mi
£16,088
Sold
2023-02-14
Bring a Trailer
Online, Lot 98381
1989 Turbo R
Black / tan; no reserve.
48,000 mi
$21,000
Sold
Investment

Long-term outlook

StableHorizon: 5–10 years

The standard Turbo R is unlikely to rise sharply — supply is plentiful, running costs are non-trivial and the wider Silver Spirit / Turbo R generation remains under-appreciated. That is exactly what makes today's £15,000–£25,000 entry point defensible for a buyer who wants a genuinely hand-built Crewe Bentley at accessible money. The rarest variants (Turbo S, Empress II, RT Mulliner) are on a separate curve and, on the RT Mulliner precedent from the Continental T Mulliner market, likely to be revalued upwards over the next collector cycle. Buy on documented history and originality; standard-car values do the rest.

Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.

Recommended

The trusted network

Specialists

  • Bentley factory-approved specialist
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    UK / Europe
    Bentley Turbo R inspections, major service planning and originality reviews.
  • Model-focused independent
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    United States
    Pre-purchase inspections, scheduled service and market-correct preparation for the Turbo R.
  • Concours preparation studio
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  • Hagerty
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  • Lockton Performance
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    Specialist agreed-value cover for modern hypercars and limited-production supercars.

Storage

  • Windrush Car Storage
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    London & Cotswolds, UK
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  • AutoVault
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    Essex, UK
    Dehumidified storage at 55% RH in purpose-built sealed buildings, with maintenance programmes and individual motor-trade insurance cover.
  • Classic Car Club Manhattan
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    New York, NY
    Secure urban storage for collector and modern performance cars.

Transport

  • CARS UK
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    UK & Europe
    Enclosed event, concours and collection transport across Europe.
  • Reliable Carriers
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    USA (national)
    Enclosed coast-to-coast transport for premium supercars and classics.
  • FERRLOG
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    Italy / Europe
    Air-ride enclosed transport for Italian and European collector cars.
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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.