Footnotes

• "Wolfsburg's influence on Crewe has resulted in a car which performs and handles better than any previous Bentley, and we're happy to welcome it as a fitting bearer of the winged-B badge.'"Autocar, 11th November 2003.
  
  Having purchased Bentley from Vickers in 1998, the VW Group quickly set to work, investing £500 million in the Crewe factory, creating 1,000 new jobs and commissioning an all-new model line-up. In 2003 the Continental GT was the first product to emerge under VW's stewardship of the iconic British marque.
  
  Following Bentley tradition it was a luxury coupé, one that took styling cues from famous past models (the curve of the rear wheelarches was modeled on the 1955 S1 Continental), but in all other regards was bang up to date. This meant using a different engine to the 6.75-litre V8. Instead, in a move that caused controversy but improved efficiency, the GT was fitted with a twin turbo version of the 6.0-litre W12 from VW's Phaeton flagship.
  
  The engine is worth dwelling on because despite its origins it has all the characteristics you'd expect of a Bentley powerplant: stunning torque, mid-range power and a deep, bassy soundtrack. The 552bhp headline power figure may attract all the attention, but it's the 479lb ft torque output, available from a mere 1,600rpm all the way to 6,000rpm, that really gives the GT its unique feel.
  
  Bentleys have never been light cars ('the world's fastest lorries' was how Ettore Bugatti famously dismissed them at Le Mans), and the 2,350kg Continental GT is no exception. But it has a turn of speed that's capable of humbling many an Italian exotic, hurling itself to 60mph in 4.7 sec courtesy of drive to all four wheels and on to a maximum just 2mph shy of the double ton.
  
  Under the bonnet the engine is mounted a long way forwards to make room for the bulky 4wd system, so you'd expect understeer to be the main handling characteristic. In fact the Bentley feels remarkably well balanced and poised for such a heavy machine. There's not much delicacy to its responses, but it's remarkably competent and weight transfer is well contained. No matter how hard you drive it the Continental's dynamics remain faithful and fill you with confidence. Equipped with a six-speed ZF automatic that slurs the shifts to perfection, there's really nothing else like this Bentley for its ability to surge at the horizon with barely more than a trickle of revs on the dial.
  
  The statuesque bodywork (by Bentley's Belgian designer Dirk van Braeckel) hides an opulent cabin. Leather, wood and burnished chrome smother every surface and bold lines run through the interior architecture successfully updating the Bentley concept of sporting luxury. The rich, clubby atmosphere makes the Continental a pleasure to spend time in – particularly when it's as well trimmed as this one.
  
  A wonderful car in a fabulous spec, its Dark Sapphire bodywork is complemented by an interior trimmed in Saffron leather for the main trim with Nautic secondary hide (only Bentley does names this well...) and carpets matching the main trim; the boot carpet is Beluga. The factory build record (kindly supplied by Richard Charlesworth at Bentley) records the chestnut trimmed steering wheel, 19" alloy wheels, 'coming home' controls (garage opener), Bluetooth telephone, CD changer, Navtrak provision and power boot operation.
  
  Since Peter Baumberger took delivery in May 2008, replacing his first Continental GT, this one owner car has covered only 10,375km and it remains in immaculate condition with huge road presence. It's worth noting that the current Swiss list price of this model, without options, is CHF. 291,970.
  
  The Baumberger Collection GT is offered with Swiss registration (cancelled) and a full complement of owners handbooks.
  

Saleroom notices

• Additional items inlcuded with this Lot: Original tool kit fitted to spare wheel We have catalogued paperwork and tool kits/accessories as a courtesy to clients but without guarantee. N.B. We have not checked individual tool kits for completeness