Bentley unveils one-off GT Speed to celebrate first Continental

It’s been 20 years since the first Bentley Continental GT rolled off the production line in Crewe, United Kingdom, and to celebrate, the British luxury carmaker has released a one-off variant of the GT Speed.

Before we dive any further into the new car, it’s time for a history lesson. The first Continental was released in 2003 and set out to redefine Bentley as a whole, with its design doing just that by taking inspiration from the 1952 R Type and Le Mans racers of old. However, what lay under the bonnet was most certainly its party piece.

The original model featured a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine which made 410kW and 650Nm of torque, enabling the GT to reach a top speed of just under 322km/h (200mph).

Now in its third generation, the Continental carried on the W12’s flame but also received a 4.0-litre V8. But for old-time’s sake, the new one-off GT Speed has been fitted with a W12, which we should remind you is no longer in production.

What makes this homage so special is that it matches the exact specification of the first production Continental, meaning it wears Cypress Green paint and features Saddle leather upholstery with various walnut veneers inside. Very nice.

The GT Speed has also been equipped with Bentley’s Blackline, Touring and Styling trims, adding dark exterior bright ware to the exterior, a series of technical upgrades and a carbon fibre front splitter, side skirts, diffuser and boot lip spoiler respectively.

A set of 22-inch Sports Wheels finished in a dark grey satin colour also helps this very special Continental stand out from the crowd.

Inside, the treadplates feature a unique inscription that reads, “20 years of the Continental GT by Bentley Mulliner”, while outlines of both the 2003 and 2023 Continental GT can be found on the fascia, centre console and outer sill.

The one-off Continental GT Speed has already been sold, with its new owner being handed the keys at The Quail in Monterey over the weekend.