HomePick of the DayPick of the Day: Bentley Brooklands sedan, a spectacular luxury bargain

Pick of the Day: Bentley Brooklands sedan, a spectacular luxury bargain

All original with fewer than 20,000 miles, the turbo-V8 showpiece remains in excellent condition

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There is really no other car like a Bentley sedan from the 1990s. Bentleys from this time offer a level of extreme luxury and best-of-market fit and finish, combined with performance that sets them apart from every other luxury manufacturer.

I have owned two of these cars and loved every single mile I covered in each. Arriving in this-era Bentley guarantees a premium parking spot at any restaurant or resort hotel no matter where in the world you happen to be. They exude the concept of British elegance, and the turbocharged models exude that elegance with a hammer.

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The Pick of the Day is an end-of-run 1998 Bentley Brooklands, a very-low-mileage turbo sedan finished in Black lacquer paint over a Sandstone Connolly leather interior with Soft Tan piping.

The Brooklands was originally designed as the entry-level Bentley model when it was introduced in 1992 as a replacement for the outgoing Mulsanne. As the Brooklands evolved, it was offered with all the added luxury options standard on the top-of-the-line Turbo R, and in 1997, it gained a turbocharger as well.

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The turbo transformed the Brooklands from a higher-level competitor to the Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL sedan into something else entirely. It became a big 5,200-pound performance car that was capable of a 0-60 time of 8 seconds and a top speed in excess of 140 mph. Not bad for a plus-size sedan that weights almost twice as much as a Toyota Camry.

This Bentley is described by the in Kentwood, Michigan, dealer advertising the sedan on ClassicCars.com as a 2-owner example that has covered fewer than 20,000 miles, making it all but a new car.  Completely original and with documented service history, it is optioned with many Mulliner interior features including walnut-burl door panels.

In 1998, this Bentley Brooklands cost its original owner more than $156,000, which is confirmed by its original sales invoice, which is included along with all owner’s books and a complete tool kit.

The asking for this as-new Bentley is only $34,900, a mere fraction of the original MSRP. Don’t you love depreciation?

So, you might be thinking for that kind of money you could run out and buy a certified pre-owned Lexus LS, a luxury car that will never break and require almost no servicing while you own it. Or you can spend the same money and get this stunning masterpiece of a Bentley.

The choice depends on whether you see yourself as the kind of person who drives a Lexus LS or one who arrives in a Bentley. For me, there really is no choice.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andy Reid's first car, purchased at age 15, was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe. His second, obtained by spending his college savings fund, was a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Since then, he has owned more than 150 cars—none of them normal or reasonable—as well as numerous classic motorcycles and scooters. A veteran of film, television, advertising and helping to launch a few Internet-based companies, Reid was a columnist for Classic Motorsports magazine for 12 years and has written for several other publications. He is considered an expert in European sports and luxury cars and is a respected concours judge. He lives in Canton, Connecticut.

10 COMMENTS

  1. I AM INTERESTED BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT HAS CAMERAS. MY 2016 INFINITY HAS FRONT AND REAR CAMERAS AND AT MY AGE I HAVE COME TO DEPEND ON THEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS.
    JOE

  2. So at 5200 lbs it “weights” almost TWICE as much as TWO Toyota Camrys? That would mean a Camry weighs only 1300 lbs? Uh, I don’t think so. Does anybody check this stuff?

  3. Gotta check your math, twice 1300 is only 2600… And that’s where you’d want to start. 5200 pound divided by 2 equals 2600.

    Just saying…

  4. I am sure its expensive to run and maintain, yet its a Bentley!!! If you cannot afford it, your not a Bentley customer!!

  5. Even if you drive it.. rarely… Yearly maintenance costs will be $3-5.000.00/ yearly….. but it’s worth it……the old RR and Bentleys are amazing…. the new ones are Glorified BMW’s Buy a Genesis G90 if you want luxury and style from yesteryear,,,,

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