Bentley T-Series
| Bentley | |
|---|---|
 Bentley T2
|
|
| T1 | |
| Production period: | 1965-1980 |
| Class : | Upper class |
| Body versions : | Sedan , coupe , convertible |
| Engines: |
Gasoline engines : 6.25–6.75 liters ("sufficient" kW) |
| Length: | 5170 mm |
| Width: | 1820 mm |
| Height: | 1520 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 3035 mm |
| Empty weight : | 2061 kg |
| Previous model | Bentley S3 |
| successor | Bentley Mulsanne |
The Bentley T (or T1) and Bentley T2 models are summarized under the term Bentley T-Series . The vehicles were identical to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow ; Bentley was a second brand from Rolls-Royce. The T series replaced the Bentley S series in 1966. The vehicle was called Bentley T during its construction; after the introduction of the revised T2 series, the first series was subsequently given the designation T1 for better differentiation.
History and sister model Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
The Bentley T was a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow with different branding emblems. Only the radiator grille, hubcaps, nameplates were external distinguishing features. However, the double "R" of the Rolls-Royce brand is also affixed to the instruments on the Bentley; also on the engine block and the valve cover. Otherwise, the body and equipment designed by Rolls-Royce were identical. The Bentley T presented in 1965 was, like the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the first Bentley model with a self-supporting body; a separate chassis was omitted. With the exception of the motor, the drive technology was completely redesigned. The car had four disc brakes and an automatic level control system that was licensed to Citroën . Compared to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the chassis was slightly tighter. The Bentley T was slightly cheaper than its Rolls-Royce sister model. In October 1966 the T-sedan was offered at a pre-tax list price of £ 5,375; it was £ 50 cheaper in Great Britain than a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. In other countries - like Germany , the vehicles were just as expensive; In Switzerland, Bentleys were sometimes slightly more expensive than the identical Rolls-Royce.
In 1977 the Bentley T2 came on the market with the improvements that had been developed for the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II. The updated version T2 differed from the previous model with a new rack and pinion steering , improved air conditioning, a new dashboard and a front apron.
The eight-cylinder V-engine with a displacement of 6230 cm³, which was initially used , was replaced in 1970 by a unit with 6750 cm³. At the time, Bentley kept silent about the specific engine output and simply described it as “sufficient” or “sufficient”. The 6230 cm³ engine actually made 178 hp (131 kW) at 4000 rpm and the 6750 cm³ engine built from 1970 developed 180 hp (147 kW) at 4000 rpm. The maximum torque is around 500 Nm at a speed of 1750 rpm or 550 Nm at 1750 rpm.
Body versions
The T1 was offered as a sedan and temporarily also as a coupé and convertible; the further developed T2, however, was only available as a sedan with different wheelbases.
Long wheelbase sedan
T1 and T2 were offered as a “saloon” and with an extended wheelbase as a “sedan”. These models, T1 LWB (Long Wheel Base) and T2 LWB, were each identical to the corresponding Rolls-Royce models Silver Shadow I LWB and Silver Wraith II (the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II with long wheelbase had its own name Silver Wraith II). The wheelbase of the sedan was extended by 10 cm; this extension benefited the rear passenger compartment. Accordingly, the rear doors on the LWB vehicles were 10 cm longer; in addition, the LWB received the hubcaps of the higher Corniche and Camargue series. The LWB vehicles were available with a partition between the rear passenger compartment and the driver's compartment; In this case, the rear vanity mirrors in the C-pillars were omitted in favor of the forced ventilation. While the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I LWB and Silver Wraith II were usually delivered with an Everflex roof and thus also with a smaller rear window, the Bentley T1 LWB and T2 LWB were mostly supplied without an Everflex roof and therefore with a normal rear window. However, these were only recommendations from Rolls-Royce; there are also reversed vehicles.
T coupe
Based on the Bentley T, there have been three different two-door models with a closed body over the years:
James Young Two Door Saloon
The first two-door version of the Bentley T1 was designed by the independent British body shop James Young Coachbuilder . The traditional company, which in previous years had designed numerous special bodies for Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis, left the wheelbase, the technology and the structure of the factory body basically unchanged; this also applied to the rear roof line. Finally, James Young also kept the straight belt line of the sedan body. Instead of the four side doors, the body shop only added a longer door on the driver and passenger side. The James Young structure was called the Two Door Saloon. Overall, it was more like a two-door sedan than a coupe; the lines were sometimes perceived as strict. Between 1966 and 1967, James Young manufactured 15 two-door vehicles based on the Bentley T-Model. 35 other two-door models, identical apart from the radiator grille, were built based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. The two-door versions of the T-Model and the Silver Shadow were the last special bodies by James Young; the plant was closed in 1967.
Mulliner Park Ward Coupe
After James Young presented his two-door version of the T-model, Bentley presented its own coupe with a body designed by Bill Allen. The structure was independent in the rear area. The coupé showed clearly curved lines over the rear axle and a slightly sloping rear section. The body of the factory coupé was manufactured by Mulliner Park Ward , a traditional British bodywork company that had been part of Rolls-Royce for several years. The factory coupé - and its counterpart at Rolls-Royce - remained in the range for a long time. Initially it was sold under the name Bentley T. From 1971 to the end of production in 1982, it was called the Corniche - just like the identical Rolls-Royce version .
Pininfarina Coupe
In 1968, Pininfarina designed a two-door coupé with a semi-hatchback based on the Bentley T for a customer. The body was completely independent. Pininfarina used numerous attachments from high-volume vehicles. These included the round rear lights of the Opel Rekord B and the rectangular headlights of the Opel Rekord C . The vehicle remained a one-off.
Cabriolet
A four-seater convertible was derived from the body of the factory coupé , which was initially called the Bentley T Drophead Coupé and later sold as the Corniche (1971 to 1983) or Continental (from 1984) (see Rolls-Royce Corniche (1971–1987) ).
Performance data of the Bentley T2
The Bentley T2 accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 11.1 seconds. The top speed is 185 km / h. The vehicle consumes 22 liters / 100 kilometers.
Bentley T-series production figures
| Type | Period | number |
|---|---|---|
| Bentley T1 | 1965-1977 | 1703 |
| Bentley T1 LWB | 1971-1976 | 9 |
| Bentley T1 Coupe (Mulliner Park Ward) | 1966-1971 | 99 |
| Bentley T1 Coupe James Young | 1966-1967 | 15th |
| Bentley T1 Pininfarina Coupe | 1968 | 1 |
| Bentley T1 Cabriolet | 1967-1971 | 41 |
| Bentley T2 | 1977-1980 | 558 |
| Bentley T2 LWB | 1977-1980 | 10 |
Web links
- Rolls Royce Wiki (German)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Overview of the history of the Bentley T1 on the website www.rrab.com (accessed February 28, 2011).
- ↑ Lillywhite, Schrader: Classic Cars, p. 73.
- ^ Basil Cardew: Daily Express Review of the 1966 Motor Show . Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd, London 1966.
- ↑ [1] , archive link ( Memento of the original dated May 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , [2]
- ↑ Overview of the history of the Bentley T1 on the website www.rrab.com (accessed February 28, 2011).
- ^ Brief history of James Young Coachworks on www.coachbuild.com (accessed February 28, 2011).
- ↑ The Corniche was the only vehicle that Rolls-Royce had the same designation as Bentley.
- ↑ Images of the Pininfarina Bentley T Coupé on the website www.madle.org (accessed on February 28, 2011).
- ↑ Data sheet T2 1979
- ^ The Rolls-Royce Wiki , July 30, 2009
