With the Continental GT, Bentley’s new owner, Volkswagen, was out to prove that enthusiasts of “The Cars from Crewe” had nothing to worry about. The first Bentley built under VW auspices would combine legendary German precision engineering with typically British finishes and handcrafted build quality. It would also offer outstanding performance, capable of accelerating from 0–60 mph in only 4.7 seconds and reaching a top speed a hair under 200 mph. Power-ventilated disc brakes with ABS and four-wheel air suspension, which the driver could adjust to suit driving speed and conditions, made driving the Continental GT hard a safe pleasure.

The result was arguably the most exciting Bentley in a generation, taking the marque close to its racing roots while also retaining the cosseting comfort levels of later models. It revitalized the Bentley name around the world, and as such, it has taken its place among the company’s long roster of legends.

The original window sticker of Don Davis’s Continental GT tells everything one needs to know: Beluga paint and interior, all the usual luxuries (read: everything imaginable), and a host of delicious options. The car was built to Mulliner Driving Specification, which includes 20-inch alloy sports wheels (now replaced with the two-piece chrome wheels as pictured), drilled alloy foot pedals and footrest, a gear lever finished in knurled chrome and leather, and diamond-quilted upholstery embossed with the Bentley name, as well as dark-stained wood veneers. The result is black-on-black-on-black, and while “sinister” may be overused as a descriptor of such cars, it is perfectly appropriate here.

This is a very mean Bentley, and with less than 18,500 miles covered since new in the CARFAX-verified care of its owner, a scarcely used one, as well.