Great Golf Magazine Sep/Oct 2017 September October 2017 | Seite 60

Bentley.qxp_Layout 1 28.09.2016 13.01 Side 3

GREAT CARS

Bentley Flying Spur V8

y editor’s remit was clear and unequivocal:
‘Drive to Bentley Glasgow and imagine you are
in the market for a prestigious car, bearing the
iconic ‘Flying B’ on the tip of its bonnet.’ While
the prospect of owning a Bentley seemed an
otherworldly notion, I readily accepted my task. I arrived at
Bentley Glasgow, located to the south of Scotland's largest city
and conveniently positioned close to the A74(M). The retailer is
actually located in Hamilton, a charming town famed for its
racecourse, interestingly named football team, Hamilton
Academical F.C, and Chatelherault Country Park, the former
hunting lodge and summer house of the Duke of Hamilton.
It surprises me how car dealerships have evolved in the last
30 years. As a young boy, I visited car garages with my parents
whenever our modest family saloon needed replacing. This
ritual, which typically occurred every two years, was a schoolboy
treat I eagerly embraced. I can still recall the showroom floors
clad in linoleum and the air rich with an omnipresent octaneinfused odour.

M

NO CLUTTER. However, as I entered the modern showroom of

Bentley Glasgow, I noted the blemish-free marble floor and the
distinct absence of clutter. An array of new vehicles shimmered
beneath the bright halogen bulbs and the near aseptic
environment was a far cry from the garages of my youth. Large
plasma televisions perpetually showcased Hollywood-style
promotional videos and I spotted the pristinely attired staff,
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GREAT GOLF MAGAZINE

offering cappuccinos and espressos in ceramic cups. This seemed
a very civilised place to spend a morning.
I stood admiring the drop-dead gorgeous new cars in the
showroom and was momentarily lost in a sea of leather, walnut
and sinuous bodywork. However, with my editor’s words still
ringing in my ears, I entered the office of Neil McCallum, Brand
Manager of Bentley Glasgow, eager to learn more about PreOwning a Bentley.
Access to a Pre-Owned Bentley can start from less than
£30,000, a sum which can easily be spent on a mundane,
medium-sized executive saloon. Higher up the price range, a
youthful Bentley may well prove an interesting alternative to a
Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7-series. This potentially brings a
finely executed luxury vehicle, imbued with a high quotient of
hand craftsmanship, within the financial grasp of many, including
yours truly. Moreover, a well-chosen, cherished car can offer much
better residual values than some newly registered vehicles.
DETAILED HISTORY. The words ‘Bentley Pre-Owned’ are
intended to grant a high degree of owner peace of mind. Firstly,
the provenance of the vehicle is checked. In fact, only Bentley can
provide such a detailed history, tracing the origins of the vehicle
to the day it left the production line. Moreover, the identities of
former keepers, as well as the authorised service history, are also a
matter of record. Neil explained that the vehicle is often known
to the retailer, for instance, they may have supplied it when new
or carried out the ongoing servicing.