Bentley intends to complete it by next year.
In 2016, Bentley started restoring the first T-Series model. When it decided to upgrade its product line, and explore electrification, it put this on hold. The company’s Heritage Collection is gaining more attention and Bentley plans on restoring the original 1965 T-Series. It won’t take six more years.
After an 18-month restoration, the bespoke brand stated that the car will be completed in 2023. The vehicle will then be entered into the expanding Heritage Collection, which is the company’s car collection that documents Bentley’s history.
Six years ago, the car was restored by an apprentice group. They began by removing trim and reconditioning body-in-white. Bentley claims that the engine has been restored and the chassis is still in its original condition. Bentley has started the engine, a 6.23-liter V8 engine of 225 horsepower (167-watts) and has reported that it is in good condition, despite years of storage.
On September 28, 1965, the first T-Series was produced by Bentley. It made its way to Paris Motor Show on October 5, just a few days after it was built. It was the first Bentley to use a monocoque (a unitary construction method). The 6.25-liter V8 that was first introduced for the Bentley S2 in 1959, would remain a mainstay of the brand for 50 years before its retirement in 2019.
Since then, Bentley has made great strides. The T-Series was a four-door sedan with a Shell Gray exterior and a Blue Leather interior. It reached 62 mph in 10.2 seconds. After 1,868 T-Series (T1) models were produced, a second-generation model was released in 1977. The T2 was the new model.
Bentley may be looking to the future, but it is also preserving its past. We are eager to see the final product, complete with wheels-up restoration. We are hopeful Bentley will adhere to its timeline, as we don’t know how long we can wait.