Another year, another adventure? For those unfamiliar with who, or what Bertie is, I thought I’d reflect on the key attributes of the Bentley T2. Produced between 1977 (48 years ago!) and 1980, the T2 is the automotive equivalent of a tuxedo wearing slippers: elegant, comfortable, and a little eccentric.
To the untrained eye, the T2 looks almost identical to its slightly more flamboyant cousin, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II. But no, this is Bentley - the cooler, more understated sibling in the family. Where Rolls-Royce waves a monogrammed handkerchief and insists you pronounce “schedule” with a soft “sh,” Bentley is in the corner sipping Earl Grey with nothing to prove.
Let’s talk features. The T2 came with the revolutionary (at the time) split-level air conditioning system, which is a fancy way of saying “your feet can be in August while your head is in January.” The suspension is self-leveling, which sounds impressive until you realise this is code for “a hydraulic headache waiting to happen.” But hey, you’re not *just* paying for a car - you’re paying for the privilege of asking, “Why is there fluid leaking from *there* now?”
Under the hood, the T2 packs a 6.75-liter V8 engine. That's right - 6.75 liters of sheer British stubbornness. It wasn’t built to go fast; it was built to glide. Driving one is less about acceleration and more about momentum, like piloting a cruise ship through a quiet village. Every turn of the wheel is a reminder that “sporty handling” was considered an American fad in the 1970s.
Step inside the Bentley T2, and you'll be greeted by wood veneers polished to such a mirror-like finish that they reflect your surroundings with elegant precision. The leather seats are so exquisitely soft, it's like receiving a warm, approving pat on the back from your affluent grandmother. The car boasts an impressive array of features - electric windows, seats, (central) locking, and even fuel flap. Frankly, from where I stand, it's hard to imagine what more one could possibly add to a car for utility or luxury?
Today, owning a Bentley T2 is less about driving and more about storytelling. You'll regale friends with tales of electrical gremlins and the time the window decided to stop working on the one rainy day of the year. But you’ll do so with a smile, because if you own a T2, you know life isn’t about perfection, it’s about excitement. Here’s to 2025’s adventures!