Earlier within the 12 months, I made a decision to show a Speedhunting journey all the way down to Hiroshima into a little bit vacation with my companion.

At one level throughout the getaway we discovered ourselves in a elaborate little bistro which seated all of 10 prospects and served delicate dishes in fast succession. Being extra of a ramen and faucet beer bloke I felt a little bit out of my depth, however when the chef requested if we knew in regards to 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 basic vehicles, chandeliers, an opulent gold-trimmed chaise and an proprietor who seemed a little bit 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 price 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 lodge, and even has its personal personal seaside.

Inside, you’ll discover an extravagant, fluorescent pink-embellished ballroom and a lounge stuffed 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’d have actually beloved to fulfill the person that constructed this place – however a member of his workers (absolutely tuxedoed up with pink uwabaki, I would add) was available to provide us a little bit 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 had been unimaginable to recollect.

However amidst all of the basic and classic equipment sat one thing a lot completely different. The elephant within the room was a bippu (VIP) model 1996 Bentley Continental R.

Positive, 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 explicit Continental R was certainly one of that final coach-built vehicles to depart the Mulliner Parks Ward manufacturing facility in Willesden, London. Nevertheless it’s what was accomplished to the enormous coupé after it left the UK that’s vital right here.

Someday throughout its life in Japan, this Bentley was given the best 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 – means down over large 22-inch wheels.

They are saying it’s all within the particulars although, so I hope you’ve seen the embossed Bentley brand 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 certain a lot of you might be questioning the worth of such a distinctive styling alternative. I’m too, and I ponder whether having the one certainly one 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 recurrently, which is superior.

One factor is for sure although, in the event 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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