Just Arrived

Bentley Continental GT - FSD 850

Chassis: SCBCE63W36C030637

54,000 miles. A black exterior. Magnolia leather. And enough electrical gremlins to keep our Technical Services Department occupied for a while.

This 2005 Continental GT has recently arrived at Flying Spares after already costing its previous owner rather more than they'd hoped. At just 54,000 miles, that's a shame, but the early Continental GT is a complicated car, and when its electronics start misbehaving, things can get expensive rather quickly.

This one has certainly been keeping its electrical systems busy.

At present, the driver's window is stuck fully open, which isn't particularly helpful given the current weather. The magnolia leather isn't exactly enjoying the British climate either.

More concerningly, we've already found water inside a number of the car's electronic control units. That's something we'll need to investigate properly, as water ingress is a known problem on early Continental GTs. The scuttle and plenum drains can become blocked, allowing water to collect around areas containing important electronics and wiring. The resulting problems can range from battery drain and warning lights to windows, seats and other electrical systems deciding to stop cooperating.

Whether that's the full story with this particular car remains to be seen.

The first-generation Continental GT was an impressive piece of engineering when it arrived. Under the bonnet sits Bentley's 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12, producing 552 bhp and 479 lb-ft of torque, with permanent all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission. It could reach 60 mph in around 4.7 seconds and had a claimed top speed of 198 mph.

All of which makes the idea of this one spending its final days with its window stuck open seem slightly undignified.

Unfortunately, that's currently the plan.

Having already spent a considerable amount keeping the car going, its previous owner decided it was time to let it go. With parts from early Continental GTs increasingly valuable to owners trying to keep their own cars on the road, this one has arrived with a very clear purpose.

And there are certainly plenty of people waiting.

We'll investigate the car properly and see exactly what has happened to its electronics, but for now its future is set: this Continental GT is destined for dismantling.

It's a shame to see a 54,000-mile Bentley reach this point, but there are plenty of other Continental GTs out there that will benefit from what this one still has to give.

For this one, the story may be coming to an end.

For quite a few others, it could be just the beginning.