- Formerly owned by the shipping magnate Bob Lalemant

- One of just 191 LHD cars built

- Only two owners

- Rare condition

- Meticulously maintained

- No reserve

Equivalent to the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, from which it inherited its monocoque body and 6.75-litre V8, the Bentley T2 is considerably rarer, with just 558 examples produced, compared with 8,424 Silver Shadows. The example offered here is one of only 191 left-hand-drive cars, and is distinguished above all by its prestigious provenance.

It was ordered new on 16 July 1979 by Bob Lalemant, the Belgian shipping magnate, through Royal Motor Company in Belgium. Completed at Crewe on 19 February 1980, it was delivered to its first owner on 11 March in its elegant “Honey” livery with “Walnut” roof, complemented by a beige interior. Regularly used by its owner, the car was driven by his chauffeur. Its exceptional condition is largely due to Bob Lalemant’s meticulous approach to maintenance: he had his automobiles maintained to the same exacting standards as his aircraft, with any defective component systematically replaced with a new one. As a result, this Shadow remains in remarkably rare condition today, further benefiting from the attentive care of his two personal mechanics. Following Mr. Lalemant’s passing in 2006, the 34 cars in his collection were offered for sale. On 31 August of that year, Thierry Dehaeck acquired the T2, which retains several unique features associated with its first owner. Passionate about music, automobiles and thoroughbred racing, Bob Lalemant commissioned an Asprey silver-and-enamel mascot from London for each of his cars, depicting a jockey on horseback; the mascot remains fitted to the dashboard. The car also retains the “gold” key specially created for Lalemant’s automobiles.

The Bentley is accompanied by an extensive history file comprising numerous invoices in Bob Lalemant’s name, period photographs, its original owner’s manual, factory inspection and build documentation, a factory data sheet, period invoices, a FIVA Identity Card, and a period catalogue. Combining its exceptional rarity, remarkable originality, distinctive features and prestigious Bob Lalemant provenance, this Bentley T2 represents an unusually exclusive opportunity for the discerning collector, bringing together outstanding preservation, documented history and remarkable provenance.