The Real Bentley Continental Makes an Unexpected Appearance

Filed in archive British Cars , Design on October 22, 2008

Everyone has a favorite classic car and the Bentley Continental is mine. The long hood and fastback configuration based on a luxurious but sporting chassis set off with a typically English wood-and-leather interior, makes for an elegant carriage suited to high-speed drives through the Europe of the 50s and 60s. Examples are relatively rare but the car above will be a highlight of the RM London auction on the 29th of October. A 1938 Bugatti Atalanté, one of only three 1932 Bentley short chassis 8-litre Coupes, and a beautiful 1963 Ferrari 250 California Spyder, are among the extraordinary cars to be sold. Getting back to the well-named Continental, it was recently test-driven by Classic Inside's Steve Wakefield, who gets to do everything I can only dream about. I encourage you to read his story here. But all is not lost for an automobile journalist who lives on Canada's Vancouver Island. Last summer, while using the BC Ferry shortcut from Mill Bay to Brentwood, thus saving me a lengthy drive over the Malahat mountain road, I stopped for a coffee. And what should I behold but a Bentley Continental, parked next to a market store! It was in fine condition although no trailer queen; obviously used as a daily driver. I hung around, hoping to chat with the owner but eventually had to leave, otherwise I'd miss the ferry and be stuck with a 2-hour wait at a deserted dock.

[Photo: Classic Driver]