2007 Bentley Continental GT

It’d have been hard to foretell the Continental GT’s success before it was launched. It had a substantial number of shared components with Volkswagens, but it was assembled at Crewe and had the kind of power that resonated well with the brand’s image, buyers quite liked it.

This 2007 Bentley Continental GT isn’t any different. With its third owner and just under 20,000 miles from new, it’s clear that this Bentley hasn’t been used much. What is equally worth noting is that it comes with a full-service history from Bentley, a clean MoT record, and great overall condition, both inside and outside. It has been in the same family since new, so there are no hidden surprises that the vendor wouldn’t know.

The Continental GT was launched with a 6-litre W12 engine (two VR6s grafted together; of course, that’s an oversimplification) and it got four-wheel drive, too. This combination makes the car every bit worthy of its ‘GT’ monicker, and an example with low mileage is hard to come by. Let alone one that’s been serviced by Bentley from new.

With the Continental GT, Bentley moved to a very different design. Not only was the car unlike any other Rolls Royce (as used to be the case in the past), it wasn’t anywhere close in appearance to the car that underpinned it. This fresh start allowed Bentley to widen the latest model’s appeal, and that’s evident from how well it sold. Even next to the new-generation model which was brought out only a handful of years ago, it doesn’t look remarkably old.

This example looks damage-free from a distance, and with some small marks on the paint aside, it’s a clean car from up close, too. One of the wing mirror caps has a crack, there are some small scratches on the body, and the wheels have substantial surface damage. There’s no sign of rust or discolouration anywhere. The windscreen looks clear and so do the lights. The vendor got daytime running lights fitted to the headlamps, but apart from that, it is stock throughout.

Spec-wise, the black car goes well with the factory silver wheels, and it’s a welcome change from carmakers (and aftermarket garages) opting for all-black designs.

There’s no doubt the Continental GT offered the kind of performance that would put many sportscars to shame. And not just in the way it covered long distances, but its performance off the line was (and still is) commendable. But none of that would matter if it fell short on offering the kind of luxury Bentley has been associated with. It’s a pleasure to confirm that it does not.

Even now, almost two decades later (from when the car was launched), the Continental GT’s cabin is luxurious, spacious (despite two doors, it can seat four), and doesn’t look or feel old. The cabin of this 2007 Bentley Continental GT, is, pretty much like its exterior, in extremely likeable condition.

Its pillar-less doors make the interior seem roomier — and the light shade on the upholstery adds to that effect. The car has just done under 20,000 miles, and that use hasn’t caused much wear to the interior. There are bits that appear to be less than perfect, though. The driver’s seat for instance, while largely devoid of stretch marks or cracks, does exhibit minute sagging in the leather.

The wood on the centre console still looks nice and fresh, and the carpet and the headlining haven’t suffered either. Its door sills also appear to be free of scuffs, and the steering doesn’t seem to require any attention. To sum it up, it’s a well-maintained interior that goes well with the low-mileage example and its overall shape.

Under Volkswagen ownership, Bentley had begun to move away from the Rolls-Royce-shared platforms. And like modern Bentleys have a fair few parts (and platforms) shared with other VW Group products, the Continental GT shared its with the flagship VW saloon: the Phaeton.

Powering the car was a W12 engine (which was later complemented by a V8 in the range) with its 550+ bhp sent to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. That allowed the Continental GT to comfortably cruise at motorway speeds, not only in the UK but equally well on the Autobahn. It’s fair to say that the car wasn’t made for the racetrack (not in the stock form, at least), but it handled both long-distance and motorway drives very easily. And one could always arrive in style, without the slightest sign of fatigue, no matter how long the journey.

With just 19,000+ miles on the odometer, this Continental isn’t tired either. It’s one of the very few low-mileage examples available right now. It is further backed by a full-service history by Bentley. Another thing working in its favour is the overall condition of the car, not just limited to the exterior and the cabin. The underside is clean and devoid of rust. There’s a little damage — not structural — which you can see in the photo gallery below.

Registered first in 2007, this Bentley Continental GT has been in the same family all its life. At present with its third keeper, the car has always been serviced at Bentley, and the latest service (last year) was carried out at a specialist’s. It has had extended warranties in the past and it’s on its third registration right now.

Most of the maintenance carried out was regular servicing, and the MoT history appears to be bereft of anything that would raise an alarm. The current MoT certificate is valid till December this year and came without any advisory, at 18921 miles. Since then, the car has done just about two hundred miles. Which shouldn’t come as a surprise as the mileage since 2007 indicates just over a thousand miles of use every year.

The car, although stock, benefits from a new iPhone charger, DRLs in the headlights, and a used full-size spare tyre and wheel. Its spare key is almost unused, and the said DRLs need to be manually turned on, adds the vendor.

A car that can do 0-62 mph in about 5 seconds, and at the same time, offer the kind of cruising ability that may make you want to give up on the idea of flying, can’t be cheap. But at an estimated £25,000 - £35,000, it does seem like a bargain, considering what it offers. The good bit is that this example has been sparingly used, always maintained by Bentley, and is in good shape overall. It mightn’t be out of a museum, but that can certainly be achieved, too.

When the Bentley Continental GT was launched, they wouldn’t have thought it’d be such a big success. Similarly, when everyone was queuing up to get theirs, no one would have thought that getting a fairly low-mileage example nearly twenty years hence would be possible. But this example exists and it’s waiting to be driven more.

Viewing is always encouraged, and as stated this car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.