I’m not a gambling man, but I do have certain vices, all of which have to do with automobiles. I have a knack of seeing cars for what they can be rather than what they are. That’s why this rough Bentley Continental GT is so enticing, because I think it can, and should be saved.
This 2005 Bentley Continental GT is a car that’s unlike any exotic in the world because it can blend in with nearly anything on the road. In stock trim it’s so unassuming that if you told people you drove a Hyundai, they’d probably believe you and tell you how they used to love their old ‘94 Accent.
However, this example isn’t just any Conti, it’s one that has been modified, and with status cars like this, modification usually means shocking neglect of standard maintenance. That’s why the car needs some bodywork, a good detailing, and God knows what other mechanical bits and pieces for it to be whole again, but at its $35k price tag, it may not be a bad deal, and here’s why.
First, the color combo just oozes upscale. There’s nothing better than a white car with a sumptuous interior crafted by hand. I think the kids these days call it “peanut butter guts.” Second, the engine, while being a twin turbocharged W12, isn’t the most expensive thing to keep on the road if you take care if its maintenance, which I’d wager was neglected over its almost 85,000 miles of use, as evidenced by the rust on the car’s massive brake rotors.
Having said that, barring any major issues, there’s nothing on this car that can’t be done by a competent independent shop or shadetree mechanic’s garage.
Finally, the issues that can be seen are mainly cosmetic - namely the front bumper lower valance, the disgusting condition of the interior carpets and seats (could use a good deep clean by Larry Kosilla), and the fact that the name “COX” is embroidered on all the headrests. Laverne, is this you?
You can also trade in the dubtastic-mixtape-special wheels for some stock ones to complete the look of a well-looked after Bentley. Everything is a bolt-on (more or less) affair and at the end of the day, you’d have a car that would be happy to drive from LA to New York in complete and total luxury, knowing that you played a major part in keeping it from the crusher.
At this price, it’s the cheapest clean titled Bentley you’ll find in a long while, and it would a definitely must-look for me, if only to see what rock bottom is for a car of this stature.
Get it before the old owner buys it back and doubles down on the crazy.
Tavarish is the founder of APiDA Online and writes and makes videos about buying and selling cool cars on the internet. He owns the world’s cheapest Mercedes S-Class, a graffiti-bombed Lexus, and he’s the only Jalopnik author that has never driven a Miata. He also has a real name that he didn’t feel was journalist-y enough so he used a pen name and this was the best he could do.
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