A unique single-seat Bentley racing car built in the 1970s and developed with the direct assistance of Rolls-Royce, has been brought back to the UK and fully restored after spending more than 20 years languishing in Florida.

The so-called T-type SSSC2 was created by Barry Eastick, who had the idea in 1974 and took three years bringing the car to fruition. Featuring a 6230cc V8 motor from a standard T-type saloon, Eastick fitted a Roots-type supercharger to provide a healthy 400bhp power output. The car has been recovered by his son Ben who, having shaken the car down, intends to develop it further during the course of the year before racing it in anger next season.

The T-type is built up around a unique spaceframe structure, clad in aluminium panels, but using the all independent front and rear suspension from the T-type/Silver Shadow. It has a four-speed manual gearbox from an R-type Continental, which the younger Eastick acknowledges is probably a weak link in the train, given the torque produced by the blown V8 will be out of all proportion relative to what it was designed to transmit.

Jeremy Walton tested the car for Motor Sport when it was new (October 1977), reporting: “If the dead steering and adequate, rather than inspiring, brakes left me little desire to actually race the beast, the memory of that hearty engine is unlikely to fade.”

We look forward to hearing it at UK circuits again soon.

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