Does anyone know how many RR/Bentley are sold in Italy?

[carubo360]

My Grandfather retired to Southern Italy and as a recent present to him my father and I decided to purchased him one of his most favourite drives - a 1 owner 1979 RR Silver Shadow!
However nothing could quite prepare him, or us, for the reception the car has received. Everyone wants to know and talk about it and he has given up trying to keep up with all the classic car show and wedding requests!
This then got me thinking - I dont think ive ever seen a RR in Italy?? How many have they sold there??
I have seen a couple of Bentley GTC though...

[tbops]

not many. I took 2 down to sicily for the summer and they were the first 2 on the island. people were stopping mid track to oggle at them. hotel parked them right infront of the reception. The italians loved them.

[Balmoral Green]

AFAIK, a very flamboyant character called Carlo Talamo has the Bentley/RR concession for Italy. He also has the Harley Davidson and Triumph motorcycle concessions too. A few years ago I read about him, and the Bentley Continental 'T' he had commissioned for himself. It was in Vintage Bentley solid green, with a diamond quilted ox-blood leather interior, the stripped out look, a roll cage also quilted, no rear seats, and a turned dash with instruments like a vintage Bentley. Also, the bonnet was polished alloy.

I took my Turbo R to Rome last year, we were in Italy for two weeks, the car attracted virtually no attention, which was dissapointing. But at least it was left unmolested, despite being street parked in some dodgy looking areas.

The latest BDC membership list shows 16 entries for Italy. I don't know about RR though as i'm not an RREC member. I really should join.

Edited by Balmoral Green on Thursday 6th December 17:03