2004 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL

When the Volkswagen Group acquired Bentley in the late 1990s, it set the stage for cultural awakening for the brand. Unsurprisingly, they quickly sought out profitability, and the easiest way to do that is some good-old shared platform engineering.

Whilst this would broaden Bentley’s pool of potential clientele, they were keen not to water down the Bentley-ness of the product. Thus, the Continental GT would share a platform with other VW group cars, but would crucially be hand-assembled and finished in Crewe.

The result is a car that likely saved a British institution and that quickly became a favourite among Premier League footballers, celebrities, and automotive connoisseurs alike. It had all of the Bentley experience for less than half the cost of the outgoing Continental R.

This particular example was supplied on March 1st 2004, by Straight Eight Bentley in the New Forest. All told, the car would cost its new owner £115,000, which in today’s money is £188,000. So whilst it was more affordable, it certainly wasn’t cheap!

The car was tastefully optioned in Dark Sapphire Metallic, over a Saffron and Nautica interior. Sat on its original set of 19” multi-spoke 2-piece split rims, it is a very attractive sight. At launch, the styling was somewhat divisive, but today it can be appreciated for its elegance.

The interior is finished in Crewe’s finest leathers. The seats are trimmed in Saffron, and the rest is finished in Nautica blue leather. The leather is contrasted not only by the expertly finished wood-veneer, but also by the carefully machined and polished vents, trims and finishers. The car also benefits from one of our favourite options, a heated steering wheel.

The VW group’s biggest influence can be found under the bonnet. It is a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12. In very crude terms, that’s two Golf VR6 engines welded together; the result, though, is a magnificent 550bhp monster that takes up less room than the average V12.

This space-saving genius allows the Continental to be fitted with another VW trademark, a Torsen-derived four-wheel drive system. The advantage is not only more grip, but greater road holding, and much improved usability for owners looking to enjoy their cars every day, regardless of the weather.

Whilst these engines are a technical masterclass, they are complex machines and therefore do require regular maintenance. This car’s records trace right the way back to 2004.

03/2004 – Serviced at 218 miles – Straight Eight New Forest, Bentley

03/2005 – Serviced at 10,417 miles – Straight Eight New Forest, Bentley

04/2006 – Serviced at 18,361 miles – Straight Eight New Forest, Bentley

03/2007 – Serviced at 25,126 miles – Bentley Hampshire

05/2008 – Serviced at 30,665 miles – Broughtons of Cheltenham, Bentley

07/2009 – Serviced at 37,313 miles – Broughtons of Cheltenham, Bentley

07/2010 – Serviced at 40,046 miles – Bentley Birmingham

07/2011 – Serviced at 44,880 miles – Bentley Pangbourne

07/2012 – Serviced at 46,565 miles – Broughtons of Cheltenham, Bentley

05/2013 – Serviced at 51,350 miles – Jack Barclay, Bentley

07/2014 – Serviced at 56,095 miles – Bentley Berkshire

05/2015 – Serviced at 57,473 miles – Bentley Berkshire

07/2017 – Serviced at 61,651 miles – Servicing Stop

06/2025 – Serviced at 63,045 miles – P.J. Motors

There aren’t many cars that combine a truly unique engine with exquisite materials and true usability, but the Continental GT does that. It’s why they sold so well in the period, and why they continue to be sought out by enthusiasts. If it were a watch, it’d be called neo-vintage. In motoring terminology, it’s a modern classic. We just think it’s good!

As with all our vehicles, an entire digital folder is available upon request and contains more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.