Offered from the estate of the late Peter Phillips
2010 Bentley Brooklands Coupé
Registration no. CN59 AUT
Chassis no. SCBCC42M5ACH00552

"Big, beautiful, rapid and surprisingly fine-handling; one of the most desirable coupés there is. The Brooklands is Bentley's new flagship coupé, and a deeply impressive, deeply seductive machine it is too." – Autocar.

Introduced at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show for the 2008 model year, the 2nd Generation Bentley Brooklands was a fixed-head version of the Bentley Azure Convertible (itself related to the Bentley Arnage). Bentley Motors' owners since 1998, Volkswagen had kept the existing Continental R-based Azure Convertible in production until 2003 but delayed introducing its successor for a further three years. Production of the new Azure thus began for the 2006 model year. This time the Azure was based on the more modern Arnage platform. The latter had been built in two forms: Green Label (with BMW power) and Red Label with the long-running Rolls-Royce/Bentley 6.75-litre pushrod V8. A legacy of the Rolls-Royce/Bentley takeover battle with BMW, Volkswagen's use of a rival manufacturer's engines could only be a temporary measure, and so future models would use the 'old' Bentley V8, suitably up-rated with twin turbochargers for the new Azure Convertible. As well as the twin turbochargers, replacing the single unit used previously, this venerable engine was extensively reworked, Bentley claiming that more than half the parts were new. In this form it produced 450bhp and 645lb/ft of torque, while a new ZF six-speed automatic transmission fed power to the rear wheels. "In a word, wonderful," was how Autocar magazine greeted the new Azure, which was also reckoned "notably better for the new gearbox. Overall, it's amazing how much difference a decent auto 'box can make."

A two-door, four-seater, pillar-less coupé, the new Brooklands was a hand-assembled car made in limited numbers, employing traditional coachbuilding skills in wood and leather. As such, it was a worthy successor to the glamorous Bentley Continentals of the past. Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe was highly impressed: "Before you so much as turn the key or press the starter button it's best to drink in and enjoy what surrounds you in a Brooklands. Which, in a nutshell, is just about the best place to find yourself on four wheels, even by Rolls-Royce or Ferrari standards of interior design."

Production was to be limited to 550 cars, with deliveries commencing in the first half of 2008. Like the contemporary Azure, the Brooklands was powered by the 6.75-litre Bentley L-Series twin-turbocharged V8 engine, in Brooklands specification producing 530bhp at a lowly 4,000rpm with a mighty 774lb/ft of torque available at 3,250 revs. As in the Azure, a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox transmitted power to the rear wheels. Bentley claimed a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 183.9mph (296km/h). The list price at launch was £230,000, though customers that chose the optional carbon/ceramic brakes could expect to pay an additional £14,000. Autocar concluded its Brooklands test by declaring it to be "the best car Bentley has produced since VW took charge, and no mistake".

Finished in Peacock blue with Imperial Blue-piped Cotswold leather interior, this lovely Centenary-model Brooklands was ordered from Bentley Cardiff by Peter Phillips to his personal specification. Noteworthy options include the following:

Bright stainless steel matrix to lower bumper apertures
Flying 'B' radiator mascot
Radiator shell painted, with stainless steel matrix
Burr walnut interior with contemporary cross-banding & inlay to fascia
Veneer cruise control switch surround on steering wheel
Waist rail with contemporary cross-banding & inlay
Naim premium audio
Ultrasonic park distance control front & rear with reversing camera
iPod interface
NavTrak
Mulliner split-rim alloy wheels

The Brooklands was maintained initially by Bentley Cardiff and more recently has been looked after by Bentley Bristol. Fully serviced, the car has covered only 7,311 miles from new and is presented in excellent condition. Accompanying documentation consists of sundry bills, a V5C Registration Certificate, and MoT to 24th October 2019. Although not used for the last 18 or so months, the car has been started regularly and been stored in a modern purpose-built car storage barn commissioned by Peter Phillips. A wonderful opportunity to own one of these ultimate Bentleys at a fraction of its cost new.