2004 Bentley Continental GT

However, what we have here is a Continental GT in its purest, original form. Registered at the beginning of April 2004, it was built less than a year after the model’s launch, and is finished in one of the inaugural paint shades, Diamond Black. The others were Burnt Oak, Cypress, Neptune, Spruce and Umbrian Red, in case you’re wondering. The leather is Oatmeal and the dashboard veneer Dark Stained Walnut - a classic light-and-dark combination. Being a Bentley, the car is lavishly equipped, with features such as memory seats, sat-nav, air-con and sensors for pretty much everything. There are also two car phones on either side of the front seats; its present custodian David admits to never having tried them, so it’s probably best to think of them as just a nice period piece, but ultimately redundant now.

The first owner seems not have kept the Bentley long, selling what was then registered TEL 374 to another owner in London after around 41,500 miles, shortly before its third birthday. Its life with this custodian was not all trouble-free; an estimate from Bentley Pangbourne during June 2009 records the need for some damage to be rectified on the front bumper and nearside front wing. Presumably the job was done, for there are other bills from the same dealership slightly later on in the year, totalling £4951 for assorted jobs.

The Continental GT next changed hands in 2013, when the man who currently owns it for a little bit longer, David, took it over. By that point the mileage had only risen to 53,195 miles. The car was also re-registered at this time, becoming D7 BBB. However, this plate isn’t included in the sale, as David will be retaining it. The GT is his third Bentley - he’s also had a Turbo R and Arnage Red Label, but he describes this one as “the best of the lot”. “It’s lovely to drive; I’ve used it on long trips from Berkshire to Cornwall and Scotland. It’s beautiful, with a tremendous exhaust note. Everything is so solid, it’s built like a tank - for example, the windows are double-glazed - but it’s remarkable, very fast and sure-footed with its four-wheel drive.”

David has kept on top of the GT’s maintenance; mostly using an independent Bentley specialist, The Beaconsfield Workshop. Co-incidentally, its service manager used to work for Bentley Pangbourne, where the car was maintained earlier in its life. The last annual service was July of last year, at 83,315 miles. Since then, just over 1000 miles have been covered, bringing the tally up to 84,550 miles. Thus any new owner won’t have to be rushing off to have it serviced, although an MoT will be on the cards, as the current one expires on 20 March. However, the car has put less than 2000 miles under its extensive wheels since then.

This substantial Bentley is certainly an imposing machine, although also rather subtle too, with its black paintwork. Unlike some later Continental GTs, which went a bit unnecessary with gaudy trim and highlights, this car feels no need to show off. Only the wheels exhibit a bit of flash, being 19in split-rim alloy items with ‘Bentley Motors’ branding. But they don’t flaunt themselves too much.

The car is in a very good state all around. It’s not spotless, after all, it is a 16-year-old car in original order that has covered over 85,000 miles. But it has survived well, with the paint looking fine. There are no dents or knocks, and the panel gaps are tight and consistent all round. Any corrosion is totally absent. The front does have display the inevitable light smattering of stonechips, as you’d expect from a car of this age, around the grille, bonnet and rear wings. There is also a small paint crack just to the top right of the grille. Elsewhere, some of the rubber weather-proofing trim at the bottom of the passenger door aperture is a little ill-fitting, slightly protruding when the door is shut. There’s a small scrape in the paint just above the bottom chrome trim behind the nearside rear wheel arch. We also noticed a patch of condensation inside the glass of the offside inner headlamp, although our photography was done on a very cold day, after the car hadn’t been used for a while - it’s not been the driest and warmest of British winters after all. Otherwise, that’s about it with the exterior blemishes.

The grille has no marks or dinks in it. The alloy wheels wheels to display a few scuffs and the odd bubble of corrosion, but these issues are really only that apparent up close. All four tyres are matching Pirelli P-Zero Rosso 275/40 ZR19 items, as fitted from new. One pair were fitted in 2018, the other pair in 2016, so there’s plenty of life left in them.

As you’d expect from a Bentley, the interior is a very classy and stylish place to be. Just settling into that elegant cabin, with its sculptured seats and lashings of expensive wood and leather, gives one an enormous sense of well-being. This is just that sort of car.

Everything is well-preserved and as standard. There’s minimal patina to most of the leather, but the driver’s seat, as you’d expect, exhibits a bit more creasing and wear than the other passenger seats, with most of it around the bolsters. But it’s in-keeping with what you’d expect from a car of this age and mileage, and there’s certainly nothing to offend. David’s view is that, with a little attention, it could easily be tidied up. It does look like, on a few occasions, the seatbelt buckle might have been shut in the driver’s door, as there are some marks to the door card and seat side that appears to be the result of an unwanted panel/belt interface. The seat runners are leather-covered - hide gets everywhere in a Bentley - and do have a little damage on their ends, where they inevitably get kicked. David says you have to look closely to see any issues, though. The marque-branded aluminium scuff panels at the base of each door aperture have, well, scuffs. But that is what they’re there for, after all.

The dark walnut veneer has no problems; it’s practically perfect throughout, with no lifting or water damage. All the gauges and controls function as they should, and are in fine order. In the centre of the dash is the Breitling clock; naturally, it’s still doing its thing as it should. However, David has highlighted that, because the car is so electronics-laden, it’s occasionally prone to throw up the odd erroneous warning message; tyre pressures seeming to be a bit of a favourite. ‘They all do that, sir’ seems to apply here. Thankfully, any more concerning warnings are reassuringly absent.

Overhead, the headlining - which matches the rest of the upholstery in shade - is unmarked; there’s no sunroof on this car, incidentally. The carpets and mats show some wear, such as some loose edging threads on the nearside rear over-mat, but they’re in dark grey, so do a good job of hiding their marks.

The boot is quite sizeable and practical, and doesn’t look like it’s seen that much use, as its carpeting shows few signs of age. The factory warning triangle is strapped to the inside of the boot, and there’s also a Bentley first aid kit, while underneath the false floor, you’ll find the space-saver spare wheel together with the basic Bentley toolkit that slots around its spokes. Good luck repairing too much on one of these complex machines with a double-ended spanner, screwdriver and Allan key though.

Open the bonnet and, well, there’s not much to see. In common with most 21st century cars, most of the engine is clothed in plastic covers proclaiming the engine’s 6.0-litre capacity and twin-turbo status. It’s generally tidy and clean, although some of the metal components show some of the mottling that always seems to affect such engine parts. All fluids are at the levels they should be, and healthy colours.

Underneath, there’s no damage or corrosion, save for the usual bloom of surface rust in areas that are continually exposed to road grot and damp. But everything is solid, and the MoTs show no hints of any past or impending issues. And, with a Bentley built during the 21st century, neither should you expect any.

The owner, David, reports that the car drives exactly as it should - you can just jump in this and enjoy it, with nothing to sort out. And, given the winter conditions we’ve had lately (and may yet have more of before spring starts properly), that permanent four-wheel drive will be reassuring to have.

You’ll find every MoT from 2007 to 2020 in the history folder, plus an assortment of other bills and invoices that testify to a car that has been looked after throughout its life. Being a Bentley, some large sums have been spent over the years. But for the new owner, there’s the reassurance of that annual service carried out in the last year, plus the four new tyres in the last five years. All of the paperwork under David’s ownership has been retained, but some of the stuff from the earlier years is missing. You will find the original handbooks and manuals snugly stored in the glovebox, however.

There are two remote control key fobs, although David notes that the battery is getting low on one of them. However, the process whereby the boot can be opened just by pressing the ‘B’ of the rear badge, if the fob is just in close proximity to the lid, works fine.

We include an online HPI report run at the auction start which shows no finance outstanding and no insurance markers for theft or damage.

“It’ll be a shame to see this go,” says David of his Bentley. But he has a new classic coming, so space needs to be made. And his loss could be your considerable gain. We’ve put an estimate of £17,000 to £22,000 on this car, and when you think that the models’ price tags ranged from £123,855 to £170,155 when they were new, that makes this one a hell of a lot of car for the money. The looks were so advanced and stunning in their day that even the current third generation cars retain pretty much the same appearance, albeit with a few stylistic tweaks. It’s well-equipped, luxurious, potent and very competent, and this example is in very good order inside and out. And, above all, you’ll own a Bentley. That’s an exclusive and desirable club to be a member of, and the entry fees aren’t usually as reasonable as they are here.

Inspection is always encouraged (within government guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.