Stay Classy With One Of The Last “Real” Bentleys, The 2008 Brooklands

If you find Ares Design’s Bentley Mulsanne Coupé conversion prohibitively expensive, then the equally spectacular Brooklands will seem like a bargain.

Instead of paying around $800,000 for the coachbuilt Mulsanne, you can have the real deal for a fraction of the price. A rare model that came out as a two-door straight from the Crewe factory, the Brooklands is a special car that many experts consider the most collectible modern Bentley.

Everything about it was excessive – but then again, it’s what people expect from Bentley coupés. The automaker produced the Brooklands between 2008 and 2011 as a high-performance model limited to just 550 cars worldwide of which only 430 were eventually sold. Most of them found a home in the United States, the Middle East, and East Asia.

Based on the second-generation Azure convertible, it featured an elegant coupé body with no B-pillars. It was built entirely by hand and thus continued Bentley’s long-standing tradition of coach-building and craftsmanship, which is why it is considered one of the last “true” Bentleys.

Under the hood lurked a twin-turbocharged version of the venerable 6.75-liter V8 engine. It produced 530 hp (537 PS) at 4,000 rpm and the highest torque of a production V8 at the time: 1,050 Nm (774 lb-ft) at 3,250 rpm.

Mated to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission that drove the rear wheels, the mighty engine allowed the Brooklands to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 296 km/h (184 mph). Amazing performance for a 5.4-meter (212.6-in) long coupé that tipped the scales at 2,655 kg (5,853 lb).

The fine example you see here is one of only 50 cars sold in the UK. It combines a Moonbeam Silver exterior with a glorious cabin featuring quilted Cotswold Cream leather piped in French Navy Blue and optional Burr Oak veneers. Other extras fitted to the big Bentley include Ultrasonic parking with reverse camera, satellite navigation, and 20-inch wheels.

It looks spotless inside and out, having covered only 23,881 miles (38,433 km) since it was first registered on September 25, 2008. At the time, the buyer splashed £275,000 ($361,000) on the Brooklands, but you can have it now for £90,000-£110,000 ($117,650-$143,800).

The ad says the Bentley “has been very well maintained and lightly used” by its current owner, Silverstone Auctions Managing Director, Nick Whale. It comes with both sets of keys, three umbrellas, a recent set of new tires, the original handbooks and an extensive main dealer history.

The car will go under the hammer at the NEC Classic Motor Show Sale 2018 on November 10-11.