When in autumn 1965 the Bentley T and its sister model the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow were launched the company informed that it had taken some ten years to design and produce the new model. With a combined steel body and chassis the new models heralded the end of an era. All previous Bentley and Rolls-Royce motor cars had separate chassis frames (it wasn't the final point though because for many years to come the 'big' Phantom V, and later still the Phantom VI, were made complying with the old principle). Truly revolutionary engineering was reflected in highly advanced components. Self-levelling independent suspension powered by a high-pressure hydraulic system was remarkable. Disc brakes all round were powered by the hydraulic system, too. The lever on the steering did operate a gear-selector switch which triggered an electric gear-change mechanism. Obviously the engineers had emphasized on tiny jobs as thoroughly as they did on main essentials.

The engine though was a unit that was already familiar to most of the mechanics within the worldwide dealer-network. This was the big V8 that had been introduced with the Bentley S2/Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II. But quite a few modifications had been carried out. On the Bentley S2 the sparking plugs were located beneath the exhaust manifolds and thus they were almost inaccessible (the front wheel and a cover plate from the inner wing had to be taken off) whereas on the new Bentley T the sparking plugs were accessible from the top, i.e. after opening the bonnet. A tappet cover closing the central aperture of the block of the V8-engine had been modified to carry the two pumps for the high-pressure hydraulic system (these pumps were operated by the camshaft in the centre of the Vee). There didn't remain any doubt that although maintenance was easier now hidden beneath the bonnet was a power-plant of great complexity.