2008 Bentley Flying Spur

Initially registered in 2008 this luxury saloon was reportedly either in Bentley Motors’ press fleet or was a Jack Barclay Bentley showroom car and so the specification is as impressive as you would expect. Whether eager to impress hard-nosed motoring hacks or the Mayfair elite, the initial specifier clearly ticked just about every box on the configurator’s options from rear armrest mobile phone handset and top of the range Naim stereo system to massaging rear seats and an oh so subtle two-tone metallic exterior finish.

It’s worth looking through the documentation to locate the “Bentley BOOM searches” pages which detail the car’s full spec. On each page you will see multiple occurrences of “Cost Option” indicating no fewer than 20 factory upgrade choices made.

In the 11 years since new, this facelift Continental Flying Spur has covered just 13,000 miles - around 9,000 driven by the current owner - and every one of them enjoyed in well-appointed and superbly equipped luxury.

The first owner is understood to have been a Saudi gentleman who kept the Flying Spur in an underground garage as his London car and so had only occasional use. The second owner bought the car in 2016 but due to a change in personal circumstances kept the car for just a few months before selling to the current owner who has used the car for weekend excursions and special journeys such as travelling in style to Scotland and into France.

The rather appropriate personal registration “W12 MLL” comes with the car but if a new owner wants to be less conspicuous - not easy in a 17 foot long Bentley - the original plates are in the boot and the DVLA would doubtless oblige by re-registering.

We can’t use the word perfect to describe the condition of a car as there will always be some minor imperfection, but if we could we would - it is a near perfect example, as close as it possibly could be. In fact the only thing we can see, if we look very, very closely, is a single, almost imperceptible 12inch scratch on the bonnet where apparently an urban fox took a fancy to the warm surface. From most directions it is genuinely completely invisible, and it’s not hyperbole to say that on most cars, it would not even be noteworthy .

The Flying Spur is finished in two-tone metallic blue but the difference between the colours is very slight. The bonnet, roof, boot and tops of the rear wings are a subtly lighter tone of the Dark Sapphire on the sides. It is most discernible at the bonnet shut line and the top of the rear wings and when caught in the right light, the upper colour really sparkles and comes alive.

Our photographer has done well to capture how good this car looks but why not come and see it for yourself at our Oxfordshire facility - use the ‘Contact Seller’ button above to arrange a visit.

Ever refined, the doors discourage being slammed and simply require a light nudge towards closure and will then pull themselves fully closed. Likewise the boot will open silently and sedately with a prod of the B in the winged boot badge.

The 19” seven spoke alloys all have matching Pirelli Sottozero tyres which appear in good order having been fitted in the last 2-3 years.

The interior of the car is equally magnificent and in exceptional condition with acres of leather (including headlining) in a pale Saffron colour piped and accented in Imperial Blue. The dashboard features burr walnut veneered panels with cross banding around the edges and contrasting inlays as well as the de-rigeur Breitling clock. The premium option Naim stereo is especially good - it being one of the vendor’s favourite features of the car - the sound quality really is extraordinary.

The same opulence extends into the rear cabin with lambswool carpets and more wood and leather. Seat-back entertainment, veneered picnic tables and a rear seat heating and massage function are there to cosset the VIP passengers or very lucky pampered kids - however you see this car being used.

There are three keys with the car including a “Valet Key”. For those of you more used to parking your own car, this key is one you can give to either the parking valet or a mechanic and whilst they can lock and unlock the car and drive it, they will have no access to your treasures in the glove box or boot.

Check out the specification printout in the documentation gallery for a full list of both standard and “cost option” toys.

Like most modern cars, there is little of note to see in the engine bay except the engine covers and a rather large intake manifold but all on show appears in great condition.

There is no spare wheel although there is space for one in the boot floor if desired but it does have a tyre inflation kit. Presumably the original specifier couldn’t foresee an owner of such a car changing a wheel themselves. Instead, I imagine that the car’s mobile phone handset could be used to summon a helicopter in such circumstances.

Similarly underneath, this 11+ year old car has been so well garaged and looked after that there is nothing to report aside from a very clean, straight car with no signs of damage or corrosion.

The vendor drove the car up to us from London, and we concur with his verdict that there are no driving issues or any warning lights showing. Virtually a new car.

As you can see from the photo gallery, this is an exceptional car, a real beauty, but you don’t have to take our word for it. We’re looking after this Flying Spur during the auction at our facility in Oxfordshire so why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the page to arrange to get a much closer look - we’ll even throw in a massage!

The online MOT history of this vehicle shows a 100% pass rate with no advisories and its current test certificate is valid until September 2020.

The service history confirms that the car has been serviced regularly and fully regardless of expense or mileage covered at either Jack Barclay, the supplying Bentley main dealer or marque specialists Wraith Continental. Looking at the car’s early years, some annual services were just a hundred or so miles apart!

For another opinion on the car, the vendor suggests speaking with Tony and the team at Wraith Continental who know the car well; having serviced it whilst in recent ownership.

We think this is an absolute belter of a car in beautiful condition and positively stacked with upgrade options and extras for a great price. The car drives beautifully, carrying occupants in extreme levels of comfort, devouring motorways silently and effortlessly and, despite the gross tonnage, can be steered through corners with confidence.

We can imagine that this car would suit a number of purposes; perhaps commercially for a limousine or luxury private hire service, the best example at the local branch of the Bentley Drivers Club, or just as a very, very special family car for weekends away in the country - or another country!

In standard spec (if this level of luxury could ever be described as standard) these cars cost around £133,000 when new and this one would have been well in excess of that because of the options. Now you could be the owner of this magnificent low mileage, decadent cruise ship for, we think, somewhere between £27,000 and £35,000 - about the same price range as a new Ford Mondeo. Remarkable, and a whole lot better financially than buying a high-mileage example, as we all know, that £10k saving on the leggy car can be lost in one or two visits to a garage for ‘running repairs’.

Viewing is always encouraged, 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.