A magnificent Bentley, which has leather used to make King Charles’ shoes, is selling for £90,000… but there’s a catch.
Despite the beauty and historic value of this one-of-a-kind Bentley Blower Jnr, it can only run for 65 miles.
Powered by a small 15 kW electric motor, the road-legal ride is not ideal for long journeys.
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However, for what the car lacks in power, it easily makes up for in heritage, with the interior made up of rare reindeer leather.
The sought-after material was salvaged from the 1786 Metta Catharina shipwreck, as reported by Whats The Jam.
The hides known as “Russian Leather” had been forgotten for 200 years after the brigantine was driven onto the seabed of Plymouth Sound during a violent winter storm.
In 1973, divers rediscovered the shipwreck and found the bundles of hides beneath layers of cold black mud.
The King granted permission for the items to be salvaged, with George Cleverley securing a small portion, which remained in a private reserve.
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The leather has previously been used to make a pair of shoes for the Monarch, and now for the interior of this unique motor.
Hedley Studios and George Cleverley made use of the 239-year-old leather for the car, which celebrates British craft and traditional techniques.
The motor is also kitted out with a hand-stitched steering wheel, Koa wood dashboard, custom treadplates, and a ‘GC 1 of 1’ nameplate.
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Ben Hedley, Founder and CEO of Hedley Studios, said: “The Blower Jnr has always been about reimagining Bentley’s most iconic racing car in a way that makes it both usable and evocative.
“This collaboration with George Cleverley has taken that philosophy to another level.
“Seeing the unique craftsmanship processes at their Old Bond Street workshop first-hand has been extraordinary for all of us at Hedley Studios, and the use of this historic hide with such remarkable history reflects the shared dedication to traditional methods and enduring craftsmanship that unites our two houses.
“The result is a car that doesn’t just celebrate Bentley’s past, but also showcases the very best of British artisanal skill today.”
George Glasgow Jnr., CEO of George Cleverley, said: “This collaboration represents something truly extraordinary – not just the marriage of two British craft traditions, but the use of some of our final remaining pieces of Russian reindeer leather from the Metta Catharina.
“When we commit this historic material to a project, it must be worthy of its provenance.
“Working with Hedley Studios to create this one-of-a-kind Blower Jnr felt like the perfect tribute to both Bentley’s racing heritage and the remarkable story of these 239-year-old hides.
“Once this leather is gone, it’s gone forever. There will never be another project quite like this.”
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