BENTLEY Continental T 1996-2002 Photos, engines & full specs

After the surprising appearance of the Bentley Continental R at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, the British car-manufacturer was overwhelmed by orders. Five years later they did a big improvement: the Continental T.

Before Volkswagen bought the Bentley, the British company desperately tried to find a way to build its products and stop being a re-badged Rolls-Royce. The Continental R was showcased as a Rolls-Royce, but the final product was a Bentley and it was enhanced in 1996 by shortening the wheelbase.

Compared to the Continental R, the T version was shorter by 120 mm (4.72”) while the height and width remained the same. The four-round headlamps in the front, the mesh grille, and the corner-mounted slim turn-signals above the bumper were typical for it. Unlike the R version, the rear windows were smaller due to the shorter wheelbase.

Inside, the T desperately tried to resemble the old glorious Bentleys from racing. The designers mounted aluminum on the dashboard and enhanced the view with dials and gauges which nobody read. The adjustable steering column was useful when getting in and out of the car. There were four seats in the cabin, but despite the long wheelbase of 2962 mm (116.6”), there was not too much legroom in the back.

Power came from the legendary 6.75-liter V8 unit, aided by two Cosworth Engineering headers and a big Garret turbocharger. It was mated to a standard, heavy-duty, 4-speed automatic gearbox produced by General Motors. When it was introduced in 1996, then upgraded in 1997, it was the car with the biggest torque on the market.