To mark the 20th anniversary of the Speed 8's Le Mans victory, Bentley is making 48 special Continental GTs and GTCs.
Bentley
Twenty years ago, Bentley achieved its sixth and final Le Mans win with the Speed 8, a gorgeous closed-top prototype that borrowed heavily from Audi’s extremely successful prototype program. Last year, Bentley recommissioned winning the Speed 8, and now, it’s paying tribute to the prototype with a limited run of Continental GTs and GTCs. And uniquely, the so-called Bentley Le Mans Collection has an actual piece of the winning Speed 8.
Bentley preserved the race-winning V-8 back in 2003, and for the Le Mans Collection, it cut 24 of its 32 valves in half, creating 48 pieces to be displayed under glass on the center console of each car. Typically, Bentley’s rotating display swivels away to reveal exterior temperature, compass, and chronograph gauges in place of the infotainment screen. With the Le Mans Collection, the compass in the center is replaced by a display case for the bisected valve. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in a car before.
Bentley
Beyond the valves, the Le Mans Collection cars sport a similar metallic green over white livery as the Speed 8, and the No. 7 painted in the grille references the number of the winning car. Where there would normally be a badge denoting engine type (V-8 or W-12) on the fender, there’s a 24 Hours of Le Mans logo. On the door sills, there’s a profile drawing of the Speed 8 and wreaths for each of Bentley’s Le Mans wins. Those wreaths are repeated on the carbon-fiber dashboard trim with the years of victory indicated underneath, and the clock in the center console has a unique 24-hour dial.
Bentley
Bentley
Otherwise, the Le Mans Collection cars are basically identical to the Continental GT and GTC Speed. That means you get 650 horsepower from a 6.0-liter W-12—one of the last of its type—all-wheel drive, and all the chassis technology Bentley has in its arsenal. These are big, heavy cars, but they accelerate like freight trains and handle far better than they have any right to. Spiritually, they’re not far removed from the giant luxury cars Bentley campaigned successfully at Le Mans in the Twenties and Thirties.
Bentley
Forty-eight Le Mans Collection cars will be made, presumably half coupes, half convertibles. Bentley declined to announce pricing, though assume a good uptick over the already substantial $291,225 of the Continental GT Speed.
Chris Perkins Senior Editor Chris Perkins is the Web Editor for Road & Track magazine.
Keyword: Bentley's Tribute to the Speed 8 Has a Piece of the Le Mans-Winning Engine