Earlier within the 12 months, I made a decision to show a Speedhunting journey all the way down to Hiroshima into slightly vacation with my associate.
At one level throughout the getaway we discovered ourselves in a elaborate little bistro which seated all of 10 clients and served delicate dishes in fast succession. Being extra of a ramen and faucet beer bloke I felt slightly out of my depth, however when the chef requested if we knew concerning the automotive museum on Kurahashi-jima, I used to be shortly introduced again into my consolation zone. A automotive museum on an island? Now that wanted some investigation.
A fast search on Google Maps unearthed the F.H.Royce Museum. Footage of traditional vehicles, chandeliers, an opulent gold-trimmed chaise and an proprietor who appeared slightly like a wax dummy from Madame Tussauds, meant a street journey was inevitable.
The journey all the way down to the south coast of Kurahashi-jima is value it only for the surroundings. Archipelagoes spanned with suspension bridges, dotted with fishing villages and inhabited by eagles and hawks – it was breathtaking.
As we quickly discovered, the F.H.Royce Museum itself doubles as a restaurant and resort, and even has its personal personal seashore.
Inside, you’ll discover an extravagant, fluorescent pink-embellished ballroom and a lounge crammed from ceiling to wall with mannequin vehicles of all makes and fashions. It’s completely excessive, however completely wonderful on the similar time.
Is that Dominic Toretto’s Charger on prime of an ornate vintage buffet?
Sadly, the museum’s eccentric proprietor, Mr. Hidenori Hayashi, was unable to fulfill with me – I might have actually beloved to fulfill the person that constructed this place – however a member of his employees (absolutely tuxedoed up with pink uwabaki, I would add) was readily available to offer us slightly tour.
I’ll admit, many of the info he informed me went in a single ear and out the opposite; a burble of dates and manufacturing numbers that have been unattainable to recollect.
However amidst all of the traditional and classic equipment sat one thing a lot totally different. The elephant within the room was a bippu (VIP) fashion 1996 Bentley Continental R.
Certain, the museum assortment was just about all Rolls-Royces and Bentleys and this was one of many latter, but it surely undoubtedly got here as a shock. Or possibly it shouldn’t have given what I had already seen elsewhere within the venue.
This specific Continental R was one in every of that final coach-built vehicles to go away the Mulliner Parks Ward manufacturing unit in Willesden, London. Nevertheless it’s what was carried out to the large coupé after it left the UK that’s vital right here.
Someday throughout its life in Japan, this Bentley was given the correct royal wide-body remedy. Customized vented fenders have added 140mm, pushing out the automotive’s general width to a maniacal 2.01m (6.6ft).
However not solely has it gone out, it’s additionally gone down – approach down over big 22-inch wheels.
They are saying it’s all within the particulars although, so I hope you’ve observed the embossed Bentley emblem on the boot, the jewel-encrusted badges, the smoked headlights, fake stacked exhaust suggestions and a sprinkling of LED lights for some additional sparkle.
Now, I’m positive lots of you might be questioning the worth of such a distinctive styling alternative. I’m too, and I ponder whether having the one one in every of one thing goes to drive the desirability of this automotive, or whether or not it signifies that there’s just one for a cause. I’ll allow you to determine.
Mr. Hayashi clearly loves this factor, therefore why he added it to his assortment. He additionally drives the bippu Bentley repeatedly, which is superior.
One factor is for sure although, when you’re ever going to discover a automotive like this in a spot like this, it’s going to be in Japan.
Toby Thyer
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