Bentley is restoring the first ever T Series

Bentley is in the process of restoring the original T-Series, which survived for about 15 years. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2023, at which point the original T-Series will join Bentley's Heritage Collection, Bentley said in a press release.

Launched in 1965, the T Series was the first Bentley to use a unibody design rather than a body-on-frame construction. Until then, Bentley customers had procured coachbuilt bodywork, but all vehicles were shipped from the factory with identical sheet metal.

Bentley was then part of Rolls-Royce, and the T-Series sedan was essentially a badge-engineered version of Rolls' Silver Shadow. The appearance of the two cars was virtually identical, except for the brand-specific grille and hood ornament.

The two models also shared a hydraulic self-leveling suspension licensed from Citroën and the 225 hp 6.25-liter V-8 engine from the 1959 Bentley S2. At the time, according to Bentley, this engine had the highest specific output of any production engine at 2.7 pounds per horsepower.

This pushrod engine pushed the T-series to a 0-62 mph acceleration of 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 115 mph. This engine was produced through 2020 with modifications such as increased displacement, electronic fuel injection, and turbochargers.

A total of 1,868 units of the first T-series were produced, mostly sedans; a coupe was introduced in 1966 and a convertible a year later, but only 41 units of these two body styles were produced combined. A second-generation version, called the T2 introduced in 1977 and produced until 1980.

The car currently being restored was built on September 28, 1965. Finished in shell gray with blue leather interior, it was displayed at the 1965 Paris Motor Show and kept by Bentley for test drives.

Restoration began in October 2016, when a group of Bentley apprentices began removing trim and reconditioning the body. restoration work was suspended while Bentley focused on introducing a series of new models, but has recently begun again. According to Bentley, the engine was started for the first time in 15 years, and both the transmission (a General Motors-designed Hydramatic unit) and engine were found to be in good condition.

When the restoration is complete, the original T-Series will join Bentley's Heritage Collection, giving a more complete picture of Bentley's long history.