Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition By Mulliner

Bentley Flagship Model

The Bentley Continental GT is a grand tourer manufactured and marketed by Bentley Motors. It is the first Bentley to be developed under the management of Volkswagen. And ever since its presentation at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, the British supercar has been one of the flagship models of Bentley. Also, it was the first car Bentley used mass-production techniques to meet the high demand. One of the most popular versions is the Bentley Continental GT Convertible, sometimes referred to as GTC. In celebration of Bentley’s first 100 extraordinary years, the soft-top GTC enjoyed in summer 2019 a limited edition called Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition by Mulliner.

Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition By Mulliner

This new limited edition pays homage to the fabulous No. 1 Bentley Blower of 1929 and is the final car in Bentley’s Centenary trilogy. It is a modern interpretation of the iconic 1929 racing car and is limited to only 100 units.

The Bentley Blower was a legendary racing car based on the Briton’s 4 ½ liter model and featured additional performance-enhancing characteristics such as a supercharge engine. It allowed the car to increase air pressure (“blowing air into the engine”), creating more power. In 1932 this technology led to a new lap record at the Outer Circuit at the Brooklands racetrack in Surrey. The Bentley Blower averaged an astonishing 137 mph and held this record for a further two years. Since then, it has become a symbol of Bentley’s racing heritage. 100 years later, the British sports car manufacturer pays tribute to its own history and the legendary No. 1 Bentley Blower of 1929. Therefore, the limited Bentley Continental GT Convertible Number 1 Edition by Mulliner features a white “1” in the radiator grille to celebrate one of the outstanding accomplishments of its early beginnings.

Bespoke Specification

Each of the 100 units comes with bespoke specifications, including 18-carat gold-plated fender badging and painted Number 1 front grille. The car belongs to the third generation Continental GT Convertibles and is available in either Dragon Red II or Beluga for the exterior color and with a Claret or Beluga folding hood. Additionally, the limited GTC Number 1 Edition by Mulliner is equipped with a Centenary Pack, Bentley Black Line Specification and Carbon Body Kit to celebrate Bentley’s golden era of motorsport. Other exterior touches to mark out the 1 Edition include 22-inch alloy wheels available in one of two colors, in either Cricket Ball or Gloss Black finish, and unique badging on the side wings plated in 18-carat gold.

Performance

At the heart of the GTC Number 1 Edition sits an upgraded version of Bentley’s reliable twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 TSI engine, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission for faster and more efficient gear changes. It accelerates to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds, and Bentley quotes a top speed of 333 km/h (186.34 mph). The state-of-the-art powertrain delivers a powerful ride, as thrilling as that of the original No.1 Bentley Blower when it first took to the racing track over 90 years ago.

Price & Collectability

This hidden gem symbolizes Bentley’s history and is limited to only 100 units. The GT Convertible 1 Edition by Mulliner is the third of what Bentley refers to as a ‘trilogy’ of limited-edition models built to make the brand’s centenary year; it follows the Mulsanne WO Edition and the Continental GT Number 9 Edition. Not only is it super rare, but it is also a must-have collection vehicle for car collectors affiliated to Bentley and British racing history. Depending on the specification, the original price of this limited series was around CHF 450,000 CHF, and the current market price seems stable at around more or less the same level.