A classic Rolls-Royce for US$30,000? It could easily be yours

In London last September, some lucky duck paid £826,250 (HK$8.5 million) for a 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon. Its pristine condition, timeless curves, and original big Bentley inline-six engine surely justified the cost for that guy.

But you don’t have to dig that deep to get a classic Bentley of your own.

The discerning buyer can find one for a fraction of that price, from the current average sale price of US$31,000 for an Arnage, according to Hagerty, to less than US$25,000 for a Brooklands. A vintage Bentley may be expensive to maintain, and it may not gain more than a few percentage points in value each year, but it will hold its value for decades.

And from behind the wheel, it’ll make you feel like a million bucks.

“There are plenty of examples of Rolls-Royces and Bentleys that can be purchased for entry-level prices,” says Jonathan Klinger, spokesman for Hagerty. “For someone getting into the fun side of the car industry, just the name Rolls-Royce or Bentley is all you need.”

At the moment, they are valued “properly” in the relative market, Klinger says.

This means that now-obscure models such as the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (manufactured from 1998-2002) and Bentley Arnage (1998-2009) can be had for the same price as a mid-sized Toyota, but with scads more personality and style.

“For the Arnage, a savvy buyer can watch that market and expect it to gain value over five years,” Klinger says. “Certainly, over the next couple years, the Arnage is one to watch.”