Every so often, a car surfaces that even seasoned Bentley enthusiasts have to look twice at. The 1992 Bentley Val D’Isere, a long-roofed, all-wheel-drive shooting brake based on the Turbo R, is one such car. Commissioned by the Sultan of Brunei, the Val D’Isere was built by Robert Jankel Design in tiny numbers, just 11 in total. This particular example is believed to be the last one built for the Brunei royal family and, remarkably, it’s the only known Val D’Isere now in private ownership.
Finished in a striking blue with a yellow-and-blue leather interior, this car carries the kind of excess only Brunei’s garages could inspire. Yet unlike so many curiosities locked away in storage, this one has surfaced with a fresh MOT and just over 13,600 miles on the odometer, ready to cross the block with Historics Auctioneers at Ascot Racecourse on September 20.
Details That Set It Apart
Mechanically, the Val D’Isere uses Bentley’s 6.75-liter turbocharged V8 paired to a four-speed automatic. Originally equipped with a four-wheel-drive system, this car’s has since been disconnected on the advice of Bentley specialists to improve steering response. Inside, it’s pure 1990s coachbuilt opulence: quilted headliner, deep-pile carpets, burr walnut trim, and heated power seats.
It’s not unusual for rarities tied to the Brunei collection to show up on the market, but they rarely have this kind of condition and provenance. For collectors, it sits alongside other ultra-rare Bentleys hitting the market in recent years, such as the very special 2009 Bentley Azure with just 1,800 miles, cars that seem more polished than driven.
Why the Market Cares
Royal provenance always adds a premium, but in this case, scarcity is the real driver. Only 11 Val D’Isere models exist, and Bentley never officially acknowledged them in its lineup. That means documentation and service records, like the extensive work carried out around 11,500 miles, are especially critical.
It also joins a broader trend: collectors are chasing rare, low-mileage Bentleys that blend modern usability with old-world exclusivity. Just look at the 2012 Bentley Continental GT W12 for sale with under 50,000 miles or the 2019 Bentley Mulsanne under 12,000 miles. The Val D’Isere is bespoke to a degree even those later models couldn’t match.
Why It Matters
For Bentley, the Val D’Isere highlights a time when the brand was as much about catering to the world’s wealthiest collectors as it was about building grand tourers. For the Sultan of Brunei, it was one more expression of limitless customization. For today’s collectors, it’s a chance to own the rarest of rare, a royal-built, hand-finished oddity that might never come up again.
If past Bentley auction results are any guide, the Val D’Isere’s mix of heritage, design eccentricity, and low mileage will make it one of the most talked-about lots at Ascot this year.
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