Bentley Continental GT, GTC Special Editions Honor Past Le Mans Racing Glory
Bentley is making an extremely limited run of the Continental GT coupe and GTC convertible called the Le Mans Collection.The special-edition cars, limited to a total of 48, mark the 20th anniversary of Bentley’s sixth win at Le Mans as well as 100 years since the first running of the event.The cars are powered by Bentley’s 650-hp 6.0-liter W-12 engine.
Sometimes resting on your laurels and embracing warm memories is enough. Other times you build an extremely limited run of special-edition vehicles commemorating your success. Bentley went for the latter. The manufacturer has revealed limited-edition versions of the Continental GT and GTC, which mark the 20th anniversary of Bentley’s sixth win at Le Mans and 100 years since the event began.
Bentley
The limited-edition cars are referred to as the Le Mans Collection and were built by Bentley’s Mulliner coachbuilding division in honor of the race-winning Speed 8 of 2003.
Each Le Mans Collection Bentley is powered by the 650-hp 6.0-liter W-12 engine from the Speed models. According to Bentley, that power will urge the Le Mans collection to a top speed of 208 mph, and a sprint to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The compliant three-chamber air springs with active damping from the standard GT are back for the Le Mans Collection. Newly developed optional carbon-ceramic brakes offer stopping power, while all-wheel steering and an electronic limited-slip differential help with agility.
Bentley
Bentley
The three-way rotating central display from the standard Continental GT is back with a twist. Since the Le Mans Collection honors the Speed 8’s victory 20 years ago, Bentley saw it fitting to include a piece of that car in each special edition. The Speed 8’s engine was removed after the winning Le Mans in 2003, and 24 of the 32 valves from the engine were taken and cut in half. Each Le Mans Collection car houses a valve in the central display where the the central dial on the three-gauge analog cluster normally lives. The display also shows the car’s specific production number, identifying it as a Le Mans Collection vehicle. The standard 12-hour analog clock found on the dash is replaced with a digital clock, showing only 24-hour time.
The cars come in two versions. The Blackline specification pays homage to the black and green livery of the Speed 8, while the Styling model makes more extensive use of exposed carbon fiber and a pinstripe in a color called Moonbeam. The front grille shows a painted “7” to honor the winning number of the 2003 Speed 8 car.
There’s no mention of price or even availability for the Le Mans Collection, but we expect these to sell quickly, if they haven’t already. Even if they carry a premium over the $291,225 starting price of the normal Continental GT Speed Coupe.
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Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
