Description
(Italian text below) We looked for it for a client, but in the end we liked it and bought it for ourselves! Here's how the purchase of this 2004 Bentley Continental GT went from its first and only owner, an entrepreneur from Lecce who was so enamored with this color that he also purchased a Flying Spur in the same color alongside the coupe: Neptune Blue – metallic – paired with sand (Portland) and blue (Nautic) leather interior. The Continental GT model saw the light of day in March 2003: it was the first Bentley of the modern era, inspired by the R-Type, and it gave rise to a completely new market segment: that of modern luxury grand tourers. Produced on May 24, 2004, our Continental GT was built for the Spanish market and was on display at the Bentley dealership in Madrid, which had performed a pre-inspection on June 11 of the same year. At the specific request of the future owner, the car was shipped to Italy and purchased by the owner on December 21, 2004. Because he often traveled with a chauffeur—particularly considering his 74 years at the time of purchase in 2004—the owner preferred the sedan for long trips, while for shorter trips, he preferred the Continental until, due to its age, it was used less and less. Upon its twentieth birthday (and the owner's over 90th birthday), the car passed into our hands, and we decided to treat it as this splendid Grand Tourer deserves. The list of options is very long, so we'll limit ourselves to listing the main ones: \- Halogen/ xenon headlights with automatic adjustment and headlight washers \- Folding, heated, and photosensitive mirrors \- Double-glazed windows with infrared barrier \- Full leather interior, including headliner, sun visors, and armrests \- Heated and massaging front seats \- Ski pass-through hole \- Keyless entry with push-button start \- Cruise control \- Color screen with satellite navigation and TV \- Front and rear parking sensors \- Rain-sensing windshield wipers \- On-board telephone with privacy handset \- Adjustable steering wheel and seats with memory \- Height-adjustable suspension with electronic damping system \- 19" 5-spoke wheels The first owner performed routine and extraordinary maintenance up to 90, 000 km at the official dealership and then serviced it up to the current mileage according to the scheduled intervals for the next 30, 000 km. At an Audi workshop in Lecce, for which all invoices are available. At the time of purchase, the following work was performed at the Bentley Romeo Ferraris workshop in Milan. Among the main works performed: removal and reassembly of the engine and transmission for a complete overhaul of the transmission, overhaul of the wastegate turbines, overhaul of the alternator, overhaul of the air conditioning compressor and related pipes, overhaul of the parking assistant, replacement of the engine and transmission mounts, replacement of the rear window motor, inspection and replacement of the cooling system components, service belts and oils, and a complete diagnostic to eliminate the warning lights. The total work performed amounted to over €22, 000. All this to hand over to the next owner a car in good condition that will not require extraordinary maintenance for some time, which is almost always necessary for those Continental GTs on sale at "sale" prices. These cars require the most complete and regular maintenance possible, so traceability of the work and a complete history of the work performed is essential. The interior is well preserved, thanks in part to the excellent quality of the materials, and the bodywork is in excellent condition. Excellent condition, having been partially refreshed. Driving the Continental GT is an extremely enjoyable experience: it can go slowly when needed, enjoying the raspy sound of the W12 engine while being massaged by the electric seats. It can also unleash its 552 horsepower on a winding mountain road—hiding its not exactly featherweight weight—or, even better, on a German autobahn, where it can be driven for over 300 km with complete peace of mind and safety, as only a genuine Gran Turismo can. This is the first project since its acquisition by the Volkswagen Group for the British manufacturer, which in 2004 presented a true Grand Tourer with a design clearly inspired by the Italian coupes of the 1950s, first and foremost the Lancia Aurelia B20. Powering the majestic two-door model was the flagship of Volkswagen technology at the time: a 6. 0-liter W12 engine capable of delivering 552 horsepower, efficiently harnessed by the 6-speed Tiptronic transmission and all-wheel drive. It was a success, as confirmed by the sales figures for the Continental GT, which recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary and is beginning its new life as a historic vehicle, sure to be of interest for the future, especially with this very distinctive color combination. The Continental GT exudes technology and elegance, first by looking at it and then by driving it. The all-leather...
