New cars are lovely. Old cars are also lovely. So, luckily, Bentley isn't going to make you choose, with the introduction of two new limited-edition series that both hark back to the beautiful old age of the 1920s with a Continuation Blower, and forward to the obscure glamour of the roofless Bacalar.
Well, now after the prototype production of 'Car Zero' in both series, the first customer cars - out of just 12 - have now rolled off the production line and are headed to the driveways of the rich, maybe famous, and certainly very keen on Bentleys.
If you're not aware of the 'Continuation Collections', let's start with that stunning old Blower. No, the isn't a 'homage' to an old classic, or a restomod in dedication of One Of The Best - it's better. Because it is a full recreation of the original - Team Car No.2, registration UU 5872, built, owned and raced by Sir Tim Birkin. It's as identical as possible under the bonnet, apart from two safety-critical features: an electric fuel pump, and foam baffle to the fuel tank. Just to stop any nasty petrol explosions. It even gets a brand-new example of Bentley's own 4.5-litre engine, with aluminium pistons, an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and twin spark plugs. But don't take the PR's word for it - we've already been able to take it for a drive in the glamour of Millbrook Proving Ground.
Bacalar Car One is now complete, too, as part of "an exercise in imagination", with the exterior and interior colours fully bespoke. Of course. So, who got to decide on the guinea pig model? Due to the exclusivity, Bentley won't say, unsurprisingly, but the lucky driver went for champagne-tinted 'Atom Silver' paintwork, with 22-inch wheels, Moss Green accents across the wheels and front grille, and chrome surrounds. Inside gets green and black trimmings, too, with Beluga leather (a fancy type from France, not from the whale - step down Greta) and gloss-black veneers. It is indeed bespoke. We've not driven the After Eight version here, obviously, but our take on the regular Bacalar is that it's very nice indeed, despite mostly being a decapitated Continental GT.
Both series are limited to just 12 cars, and with production sold out long ago it won't be long now until the 24 customers get their cars. Presumably some customers might have signed up for both models from the Continuation Collection, too - what a duo they promise to make.
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