Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2025 - Collectors' Cars on Saturday the 22nd of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. Introduced at the New York Motor Show in April 2006, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible (or GTC) benefited from generally being considered affordable, even though it wasn't really and proved an immediate sales success. The Convertible utilised the same smooth, powerful, twin-turbocharged 6-litre W12 engine as the GT Coupé. Electro-hydraulically operated, the luxuriously padded fabric roof stowed away, neatly revealing an interior of peerless refinement. The GTC was the first open-topped Bentley since the Le Mans-winning cars of the 1930s that could be considered a sports car. The engineering skills and vast budget of Bentley’s parent company had produced a car that was uniquely nimble and luxurious at the same time, with seamless power constantly on tap. With a 0-62mph time of 5. 1-seconds, the GTC was the only car in its class that was as comfortable as it was fast.
As the Continental Coupé and Convertible rapidly grew in popularity, a new younger market was, for the first time, tempted away from the likes of Ferrari and Porsche and as drivers who preferred speed over tweed, Bentley began to develop faster variants. As such, in February 2009, Bentley announced the Continental Supersports, a superb feat of re-engineering that enabled the coupé to reach 62mph from a standing start in just 3. 7 seconds and the convertible followed in 2010. However, it was Bentley’s entry into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011 that led to the limited production of the fastest ever convertible to wear the winged B, the Continental GTC Ice Speed Record.
Built to commemorate four-time WRC champion Juha Kankkunen’s 205mph ice speed record on a frozen stretch of the Baltic Sea in a Supersports, the ISR was described by Bentley as 'dramatically extrovert' and the numbers are equally impressive, 643bhp and 0-60 in 3. 8 seconds on its way to 206mph. Limited to just 100 cars globally (only 19 for the UK), the ISR was only available by invitation and, at £189, 000, was the most expensive Continental yet. As Bentley’s most powerful car in its 92 year history, the exterior matched the drama with a choice of either Beluga, Quartzite or Arctica White, with contrasting decals matched to two-tone 20" alloys. The interior has a touch of the stylish extrovert about it with the traditional leather piped in Pillar Box Red and the high-gloss carbon fibre, with a weave tinted in red, furnishes the dashboard and console below a specially designed red-accented Breitling clock.
On offer from our vendor, the car's second owner, this immaculate Beluga Black Continental GTC Supersport 'Ice Speed Record' Edition is one of those 19 UK-cars and has patently been looked after by both its owners. It has an impeccable service history, all conducted by Bentley Surrey from 30 miles to its current 29, 960 miles and the service records shows over 40 contacts with the main dealer for servicing/ updates with the important major manufacturer's routine carried out in February 2024 at 28, 393 miles.
Low mileage, limited production, invited ownership, immaculate condition, and 'rocket-ship' performance, this is rather special.
