The name Bentley conjures up images of stately, yet sporty British luxury sedans and coupes with large engines under their hood designed for driving in a stately fashion but capable of a surprising turn of speed when pushed. The Bentley Continental lineup comprises a four-door sedan (Flying Spur), two-door coupe (GT) and convertible (GTC). Introduced in 2003, the Continental GT led the charge, and was the first to be produced after the company was taken under the wing of the Volkswagen Group five years earlier in 1998. 2005 saw the Flying Spur hit the market, followed by the GTC in 2006. This car is a first-generation 2010 Bentley Continental GTC that wore a sticker price of $243,155 when new. It has just 23,935 miles on the clock, a clean Carfax and three original keys.

Exterior and Interior

Bentley is designed to be subtle, and yet easily recognizable through key elements and proportions, and this 2010 Bentley Continental GTC is no exception. From front to rear, it cannot be mistaken for anything else. The iconic four front lamps, sweeping profile with prominent haunches over the rear wheels, and the twin oval tailpipes at the rear all contribute to the iconic look. This example comes in black with 20” wheels and matching black convertible top. The interior follows a dark theme too, with dark stained burr walnut veneer on the dash, and black leather seats with diamond stitching, as well as contrast and emblem stitching in linen. Bentley’s characteristic ‘organ stop’ air vent adjusters are a signature theme, and one that will have passengers intrigued. The interior seats four, with all four seat backs having the Bentley logo stitched beneath the headrest area. Dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth integration, adaptive cruise control and front massage seats add to the gadget count.

Engine

This 2010 Bentley Continental GTC packs a 366ci (6.0L) W12 twin-turbocharged engine that puts out 553hp at 6,100rpm and a torque figure of 479 lb ft spread between 1,600 and 6,100rpm. Driving all four wheels through a ZF six-speed automatic, the Continental GTC shoots from rest to 60mph in a shade over four seconds, topping out at 195mph flat-out with the roof closed, although for amusement’s sake, Bentley claim it can still do 190mph with the roof down. Large disc brakes on all wheels ensure the correct degree of stopping power.