This Ex-Top Gear Bentley Turbo R Race Car Could Be Yours

A 1988 Bentley Turbo R built for Matt Le Blanc to race in an episode of Top Gear is going up for auction in the U.K.

While the Bentley brand is certainly no stranger to endurance racing, the Turbo R was never conceived to take to the track, yet the conversion looks right. Maybe it’s just the classic Racing Green paintwork and white roundels…

The British bruiser was also treated to lowered suspension, a questionable front splitter and rear diffuser, a stripped-out interior, a race seat, a harness, a full roll cage, and a fire extinguisher system.

Together with Chris Harris in his Mercedes-Benz S600 and Rory Reid in a Roll-Royce, Le Blanc entered the Birkett Six Hour Relay at Silverstone, but before forming up on the grid, the Bentley had a few issues. In fact it required, “New block, new crank, new pistons, new con-rods, new valves, new cams, new water pump, new oil pump, basically new everything,” said Le Blanc.

Even then the race didn’t exactly go to plan. The trio all fitted wheel spacers to their cars, and all of these failed during the heat of battle, resulting in the Top Gear team finishing 69th out of 70 entries.

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The Turbo R has covered almost 108,000 miles and had 13 owners—the last of whom was certainly rather unlucky.

According to the advert on Car and Classic, “None of which matters now. Here is a chance to nab a professionally race-prepared Bentley with great provenance and purposeful aesthetics. Whether you choose to take it racing or draw gasps at a track day, this is one for those who want to follow in the footsteps of the Bentley Boys. And Matt Le Blanc.”

In the show the Top Gear trio were tasked with buying luxury barges for less than the £6000 (approximately $8000 at the time) asking price of a Dacia Sandero, so it’s unlikely to fetch big bucks, despite the provenance. Bidding begins on March 14 for a week, and there’s no reserve.