2006 Bentley Continental GTC

Background:

Introduced at the New York Motor Show in April 2006, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible (or GTC) added a soft-top option to the already successful Continental GT coupé. The new Continental had been introduced as a more affordable Bentley range, while still preserving the exclusivity, luxury and - crucially - performance, which the Crewe marque had traditionally espoused. The coupé had proved an immediate sales success and reaction to the new convertible promised much the same reception from potential buyers.

Since time immemorial, car manufacturers have struggled with slicing the top off their saloons and retaining a degree of stiffness and Bentley naturally encountered the same problem. Scuttle-shake is not, however, what Bentley buyers pay for so, determined to engineer the most torsionally-rigid open four-seater that money could buy, the Crewe manufacturer incorporated additional steel tubing within the newcomer's A-posts and windscreen frame, reinforced its sills, and cross-braced the floorplan to a greater degree. The result was a class-leading 16,595 lb/ft per degree, which was not far away from the car's tin-topped sibling.

The Convertible utilised the same smooth powerful, twin-turbocharged, 6-litre W12 engine, Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive system, massive ABS-backed disc brakes, and sophisticated all-round independent air suspension.

Electro-hydraulically operated, the Bentley's luxuriously padded fabric roof not only stowed away neatly but provided almost limousine levels of refinement. Reputedly capable of over 190mph with the top down, the GTC featured two sturdy steel hoops concealed beneath its rear headrests which could be deployed within fractions of a second if the onboard computer sensed an impending roll. Arguably more of a 2+2 than a true four-seater, the Bentley could raise or lower its hood at speeds of up to 20mph, always a bonus in capricious British weather conditions.

The car:

This stunning Bentley GTC was one of the very first on UK roads and was supplied new by Bentley Birmingham on 24th November 2006, at a cost £141,090.

Finished in a truly stunning combination of Dark Sapphire Pearl over a Magnolia hide interior, with the finest quality Chestnut veneers working well with the hand-milled aluminium switchgear for a modern yet traditional interior. Equipment includes front and rear parking assistance, heated and electrically-adjustable front seats with massage function, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and a central infotainment system with CD changer, satellite navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity.

This Crewe-built car's numbers are impressive; with a twin-turbo 6-litre W12 producing 552bhp and 479lb/ft of torque fed through a 6-speed automatic gearbox and distributed by the Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive system, a 0-60 sprint time of 5.1 seconds and a quoted top speed of 195mph are significant for a car of this stature, very much living up to Bentley’s traditional values of combining luxury with more-than-ample performance.

Accompanying the vehicle is its original book pack with handbook, stamped service book with impressive history including seven Bentley stamps and nine other servicing stamps, original bill of sale, numerous invoices and a plethora of receipts showing the level of maintenance this car has received, along with previous MOT’s.

The car is said to drive every bit as well as it looks and is very sensibly guided, when you consider the quality on offer. Please note the number plate illustrated, D1 XCS, does not form part of the sale.

Summary:

Seductively luxurious, with supercar-bothering performance and open-air motoring at the touch of a button, this Bentley offers a huge amount of car at a remarkably affordable price point.

Location: Warwickshire
Seller: Private
Photos: In house photography