When you have the money to buy a new vehicle you’re interested in, there are two basic ways you can go: go out and purchase it or, depending on where it is in its product lifecycle, wait until the updated version or a completely new generation. In the 1980s, those who waited to pull the trigger on a Bentley Mulsanne Turbo were rewarded with the Turbo R. One of those from later in the model run, a 1990 Bentley Turbo R posted on ClassicCars.com by a New York dealership, just happens to be our Pick of the Day.
According to The Spirit, the official magazine of the Roll-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club SZ Register, “The Mulsanne Turbo was a quick, comfortable car and the model would herald the start of the Bentley revival. The main objection customers (and the press) had to the Mulsanne Turbo concerned its soft ride and road holding, which were not considered a match for its performance. The factory decided to overcome this problem by offering a handling package.”
Bentley’s response was the 1985 Turbo R. Although some say the “R” stood for “Roadholding,” Bentley states “this was never officially confirmed.” It kept the same 298-horsepower turbocharged 6.75-liter V8 its predecessor had, but paired that with a significantly altered suspension. Engineering Director Mike Dunn and his team gave the Turbo R 50 percent greater roll stiffness by fitting it with 100 percent stiffer front and 60 percent stiffer rear anti-roll bars, firmer shocks, and a rear Panhard rod. A deeper front air dam that provided seven percent less drag and 15 percent less lift helped keep the big Bentley stable at high speeds. Bentley updated the Turbo R with anti-lock brakes and fuel injection in 1987. By 1994, it was time for the Turbo R to evolve into yet another model.
As a 1990 model, the Turbo R you see here has those enhancements as well as an undeniable flair. Bentleys of this time period were essentially a three-box design. Yes, they were handsome, but because they had so few curves, they were also visually conservative, especially in low-key colors such as black or dark blue. Whoever originally configured this particular Turbo R in St. James Red didn’t want it to fly under the radar – he or she wanted people to see their British ultra-luxury sedan and know who was driving it.
There’s more red inside the cabin, which is full of leather, wood, and metal, but that’s tempered by the cream hides used on the seats and door panels. Luxury amenities include power windows, cruise control, upper and lower climate zones, and a Pioneer head unit with a retractable touchscreen. The column-mounted shifter for the GM THM400 three-speed automatic leaves room on the center console for the power, memory, and heating controls for the front seats.
If you wanted to buy a Bentley Turbo R back in the day but missed your chance for some reason, why wait any longer? You don’t have to. You can buy this 1990 Bentley Turbo R right now for $33,900.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
