Only 48 Continentals will be made, each with a portion of a valve used in the dash-mounted 2003 race car engine.
April 12, 2023 at 1:23 p.m. ET
It’s been 20 years since Bentley crossed the finish line ahead of everyone else at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. To mark the occasion, the British luxury marque will build 48 special Continental GTs with a race-themed looks package, aptly named the Le Mans Collection. But it’s more than a special paint job with neat badges.
Before we dive into the Continental GT Le Mans collection, let’s quickly review the year 2003. Bentley competed in the famous race in the Prototype category with the Speed 8, with two cars. Team Bentley crossed the line to take first and second place, their twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engines surviving the endurance challenge with ease.
Gallery: Bentley Le Mans Collection
16 Pictures
This is worth noting, because the race-winning engine’s valves are among the cosmetic enhancements of the Le Mans collection. 24 engine valves have been cut in half; every car has one on a small display on the dash where you’d normally find the center dial on the three-gauge analog cluster. The display also includes the car’s specific production number, while identifying it as a Le Mans collection vehicle.
Other special touches include the traditional Bentley analog clock, changed from a 12-hour format to a 24-hour format for obvious reasons. The sill plates and dashboard feature the six-crown emblem that marks all of Bentley’s Le Mans victories over the years. On the outside, the cars receive a meticulous coat of teal with a prominent white racing stripe on the hood. Bentley will offer the Le Mans Collection for both coupes and the drop-top Continental GTC; the strip continues over the roof for the hardtops.
Regardless of the roof, all cars carry the white-painted #7 on the grille, the number used by the race-winning Speed 8 in 2003. You’ll also find custom stripes inside and down the the exterior, and yes, there are special 24-hour badges that identify this car as something beyond the ordinary Bentley Continental.
Bentley does not specify costs or availability for the Continental GT Le Mans Collection, nor is there a production breakdown for coupes or convertibles. The run of 48 will be for global markets, however, it will be an extremely rare vehicle.
