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Hidden For Decades, Bentley’s First T-Series is Now Restored

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Bentley has completed an eight-year restoration of its first T-Series, a car that has been hidden for decades.

The T-Series was launched in 1965 as a sister model to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. Rolls-Royce owned Bentley at the time, and the T-Series and Silver Shadow looked virtually identical except for brand-specific grilles and hood ornaments.

Both models represented a move to unibody construction for their respective brands, and in the case of the T-Series, helped keep Bentley alive over the 15 years it was in production.

The first T-Series, the car bearing chassis number SBH1001, was originally used as a press car and at one point some decades ago was parked in a warehouse. When Bentley found it, the car wasn’t running and its entire interior was gone.

1965 Bentley T-Series bearing chassis number SBH1001

The restoration started in late 2016, when a group of Bentley apprentices began removing trim and reconditioning the body. Restoration work was put on hold for a period but started again a few years back, with expert Bentley restorer P&A Wood helping with the process.

According to Bentley, the 6.2-liter V-8 engine was in good condition, requiring only a thorough service before it could run. The transmission (a General Motors-designed Hydramatic unit) similarly also needed some minor work.

The hydraulic self-leveling suspension, which used technology licensed from Citroën, required more work. Bentley said the system was overhauled and had all hydraulic hoses replaced.

1965 Bentley T-Series bearing chassis number SBH1001

Since many of the required parts for the car, especially in the case of the missing interior, weren’t readily available, the team sourced another T-Series that was at the end of its life. Every detail was carefully checked, right down to the use of seatbelt buckles featuring Rolls-Royce logos.

The car will now form part of Bentley’s heritage collection at the automaker’s Crewe headquarters in the U.K.

A total of 1,868 examples of the first-generation T-Series were built, most being sedans. A coupe was introduced in 1966, followed by a convertible a year later, but combined production of those two body styles totaled just 41 cars. A second-generation version, called the T2, launched in 1977 and stayed in production until 1980.

High-Res Gallery: 1965 Bentley T-Series bearing chassis number SBH1001

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com

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