Estimated Price: £100,000 - £120,000
The 2008 Bentley Brooklands Coupé is a rare, hand-assembled luxury grand tourer representing the final evolution of the 'traditional' Crewe-built Bentleys. Based on the Arnage chassis, it was designed as a pillarless version of the Azure convertible, offering an 'iron fist in a velvet glove' experience with immense power and hushed refinement
At launch Bentley planned to build 550 units, however, the Brooklands' launch in 2008 coincided with the arrival of the global financial crisis resulting in only around 430 finding homes with only 105 of these in right-hand drive. No direct successor has ever taken the Coupé’s place, and it marked the end of the true hand built era at Crewe where modular platforms from the VW Group became the starting point for most future models. The Brooklands Coupé took an astonishing 650 man-hours to build, with 130 of those spent on constructing the body alone. For context, a modern Continental takes around 110 man-hours in total to build.
Powered by Bentley’s stalwart 6.75-litre L-Series twin-turbocharged V8, the Brooklands shared its formidable heart with the contemporary Azure, however, in Brooklands specification, output was elevated to an impressive 530bhp at just 4,000rpm, accompanied by an extraordinary 774lb/ft of torque at 3,250rpm. Drive was delivered to the rear wheels via a smooth-shifting ZF 6-speed automatic transmission, endowing this elegant Grand Tourer with effortless performance. Bentley quoted 0-60mph in a remarkable 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 183.9mph, figures all the more astonishing given the car’s scale and refinement.
The car presented here is a 2008 Bentley Brooklands Coupé, first registered on the 28th April 2008 and supplied new via Bentley Glasgow to Mr Grieves, a well-known Scottish Businessman. As to be expected with only 3,672 miles covered in the intervening 18 years, the Brooklands offered here shows in absolutely exceptional condition. The history folder is well organised and commences with its original purchase invoice which in 2008 came to a healthy £237,532, and also details the full specification list when the car was commissioned by Mr Grieves. The Burgundy paintwork with Le Mans wing vents and the 20" split rim alloy wheels appear in almost unused condition. As also expected, the interior remains beautifully unspoiled with the contrasting Oatmeal hide and Burgundy leather trim and carpets still carrying its, impossible to replicate, new Bentley smell.
Interestingly the Bentley remained with Mr Grieves until his passing in 2016, where he elected to split his then £13 million fortune between a group of friends, former employees and family members. Articles regarding this story are available online and a copy of The Scottish Sun’s article remains present in the car’s file, and it's evident from an invoice from Bentley Glasgow that the Brooklands was passed to his cousin, a Mrs Black, who kept it until 2021.
Since our vendor's purchase the Brooklands has been used on a handful of occasions and largely stored, however, we understand that it has diligently been started, allowed to reach operating temperature, taken on a short drive, and then safely stowed away again. Recently in March the Brooklands Coupé received its latest MOT Certificate showing no advisories and on the 15th of April received an engine oil service.
Reportedly just 50 Brooklands Coupés were destined for UK delivery, therefore the example on offer here with incredibly low mileage and in collector quality condition surely must be one of the very best remaining of Bentley's epitomising Brooklands.
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