Bentley T-Series (T1/T2)
1965–1980 · Bentley T-Series (T1/T2) — Luxury Saloon, V8, designed by John Blatchley.
The Story
The T-series is the classic Bentley almost nobody bought — which is exactly what makes it interesting. Launched in 1965 as the Bentley-badged twin of the all-new Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, it was the first monocoque Bentley, a clean break from the separate-chassis S-series and mechanically identical to its Rolls sibling.
But by the 1960s the Bentley grille had nearly become an afterthought. Of the roughly 30,000 Shadow/T cars built, only about 2,336 — some 7.8% — wore Bentley badges; among the two-doors the split was a brutal 279 Bentleys to nearly 5,500 Rolls-Royces. That scarcity, once a sign of the marque’s decline, is now its appeal: a T-series is rarer than the Shadow it shadowed, and the cheapest way into a genuine hand-built Crewe classic.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Luxury Saloon class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
John Blatchley
John Polwhele Blatchley was Rolls-Royce/Bentley’s chief stylist from the late 1940s to 1969 — responsible for the standard-steel saloons, the celebrated R-Type Continental fastback (aerodynamics by Ivan Evernden) and, as his last design, the Silver Shadow/T-Series.
Studio Motors POV
The classic Bentley almost nobody bought — which makes it rarer than its Rolls twin and the most affordable way into a genuine hand-built Crewe car. A contrarian’s bargain.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About T-Series (T1/T2)
Worth Knowing About the T-Series (T1/T2)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. It was the first monocoque (unibody) Bentley — a total break from the separate-chassis S-series.
- 2. The Bentley badge had nearly become irrelevant: only ~2,336 T-series were built against 30,057 Rolls Silver Shadows — about 7.8% chose the Bentley grille.
- 3. Among the two-door cars the split was starker still — roughly 279 Bentleys to nearly 5,500 Rolls-Royces.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. Bentley twin of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow; the first unibody Bentley.
- 2. 6.2 L V8 (1965) enlarged to 6.75 L (1970); ~220 hp.
- 3. Only 2,336 built (1965–80) — about 7.8% of Shadow/T production.
- 4. Mechanically identical to the Silver Shadow.
- 5. John Blatchley's last design.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
No single celebrity owner cleanly documented for the T-series.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The rare Bentley badge makes a T-series scarcer — and cooler — than the equivalent Shadow; the 6.75 (post-1970) and the T2 (1977, rack-and-pinion steering) are the better drives. Hydraulics, rust and complexity are the cost centres.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley T-Series (T1/T2)
- Class
- Luxury Saloon
- Production years
- 1965–1980
- Units built
- 2,336 cited total; T1 1,868 + T2 568 = 2,436 (sources conflict — left unresolved)
- Variants
- T2 (1977, rack-and-pinion steering); 2-door Mulliner Park Ward coachbuilt
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
- Displacement
- 6,230→6,750 cc (6.2/6.75 L)
- Power
- 220 hp
- Torque
- 258 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 10.9 s
- Top speed
- 118 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 102 hp/tonne · 21.6 lb/hp
- Transmission
- automatic (GM 3-speed)
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 4762 lb
Questions
T-Series (T1/T2) FAQ
What was historically significant about the Bentley T-Series?
Launched in 1965, the Bentley T-Series was the first Bentley built on a monocoque unibody structure, replacing the separate-chassis construction the company had used since the 1920s. It shared its engineering entirely with the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, the most advanced production car Crewe had built to that point.
How many Bentley T-Series were produced?
Approximately 2,336 Bentley T-Series saloons were produced from 1965 to 1980, representing roughly 7-8% of the combined Silver Shadow and T-Series production run of approximately 30,000 cars. Sub-series breakdowns vary by source.
How does the Bentley T-Series compare to the Silver Shadow?
The Bentley T-Series and Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow are mechanically identical, sharing the same monocoque body, 6.2-litre V8 enlarged to 6.75 litres in 1970, and all chassis components, differing only in their grilles, bonnet lines, mascots, and instruments. Roughly 7.8 percent of buyers chose the Bentley badge, making a T-Series meaningfully rarer than the equivalent Shadow.
Can you lease a Bentley T-Series?
Yes, specialty lenders structure collector-car leases regardless of model year.
What did the Bentley T2 improve over the T1?
The T2 of 1977 introduced rack-and-pinion steering in place of the T1’s recirculating-ball system, substantially improving steering feel and precision. The T2 is generally considered the driver’s choice within the T-Series, and was the final evolution before Bentley adopted its own name again with the Mulsanne in 1980.
The Bentley Lineup
Explore every Bentley
3 Litre ’216½ Litre / Speed Six ’264½ Litre ’27Blower 4½ Litre ’29
R-Type Continental ’52S1 Continental ’55S-Type Saloon (S1/S2/S3) ’55S2/S3 Continental ’59
T-Series (T1/T2) ’65
Mulsanne (1980) ’80Turbo R ’85
Continental R ’91Azure ’95Arnage ’98
Continental GT (1st gen) ’03Continental Flying Spur ’05Azure (2nd gen) ’06Brooklands (Coupé) ’08
Mulsanne (2010) ’10Continental GT (2nd gen) ’11Flying Spur (2nd gen) ’13Bentayga ’15Continental GT (3rd gen) ’18Flying Spur (3rd gen) ’19
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