2012 Bentley Continental GT V8

There’s something timeless about the way a Bentley Continental GT closes its door. A heavy, deliberate motion - more bank vault than body panel - signalling that you’re about to experience something that combines engineering precision with old-world craft.

This particular 2012 Continental GT V8 was delivered new by Bentley Sydney in August 2012, finished in Onyx Black over a full Beluga hide interior with contrast stitching and piping. The combination is classic Bentley - restrained yet unmistakably muscular, the aesthetic equivalent of a tuxedo with boxing gloves tucked beneath the lapels.

Powered by the now-legendary 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, co-developed with Audi and producing 373 kW (507 PS), it’s a car that marked Bentley’s return to form. Lighter, sharper, and more athletic than the W12, the V8 feels alert and alive in a way few grand tourers ever manage. EVO magazine described it as “a proper driver’s Bentley - effortless, but genuinely rewarding when pressed.”

The options list reads like a masterclass in modern British luxury: Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system, carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers, 21-inch black alloys, Burr Walnut veneer, and a contrast-stitched full hide cabin that still carries the unmistakable scent of Crewe craftsmanship.

Having been meticulously serviced from new by Bentley Sydney and marque specialists, it presents in superb condition throughout - mechanically fresh and visually elegant, the kind of example that rewards close inspection.

The Continental GT V8 sits at a sweet spot in Bentley’s lineage - powerful yet poised, decadent but never ostentatious. It remains one of the most compelling ways to travel quickly, quietly, and with exquisite taste.