£10k Bentley Continental GT | Spotted

Having sold so many of them, Bentley giving up the W12 was always going to be a big deal. If not quite as momentous as the 6.75 V8’s retirement, the 12-cylinder unit was the foundation upon which Crewe’s 21st-century success was built, so it was owed a debt of gratitude. But a V8 in one form or another has proved damn near as impressive already in Bentaygas and Continental GTs, and if ever a group of cars was going to suit hefty plug-in torque, it’s heavyweight Bentleys. 

With the focus now on a hybridised future, it looks a great time to remember the W12s. If unlikely to ever be recalled as fondly as some pre-VW models, there’s also no escaping the fact that current-day Bentley doesn’t exist without the Continental GT. However lovely Mulsannes and Arnages are, nowhere near enough of those would have sold to keep things afloat. Thanks to the W12 – thanks to the Continental GT – Bentley thrived. And continues to do so. 

While never as evocative as a V12, the W suited the mission of the Conti down to the ground, a twin-turbo’d tower of power that felt completely indefatigable. Once upon a time, there was probably some consternation that 6.75-litres was being downsized to 6.0; now the W12 is the old-school Bentley powertrain that most people associate with the brand. 

The fact that the GT wasn’t an old-school Bentley meant a whole new wave of customers and specifications that… well, some have aged better than others, put it that way. If we told you there were now 20-year-old Continentals available for £9,995, you’d probably assume the worst – right? Something would be wrong with the wheels, paint, interior, or all three. The history might be a bit dubious, that sort of thing. 

But this is the reality of a £10k GT in 2025. And it looks very nice indeed, in Cyprus Green outside with leather of the same colour inside (alongside Savannah hide) and extended wooden veneers. The car is showing just over 100,000 miles, has had just three owners and comes with matching Pirelli tyres. While use has been sparing in recent years, it’s passed every MOT without even a minor since 2014. There’s no mention of a recent service, and surely there’s no such thing as a small check-up on a big Bentley, but there’s a lot to be encouraged by given the four-figure asking price. 

You’ll want a healthy budget to run any Bentley, of course, let alone a £10k Continental GT with six figures under its belt. But it’s hard to imagine them getting an awful lot cheaper – it’s a 6.0-litre, 12-cylinder, 560hp super GT, after all – and this is one you could enjoy because of the spec rather than despite it. And it’s in the cheaper tax bracket. Every little helps when it comes to keeping a W12 in fine fettle.

Engine: 5,998cc W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 560@6,100rpm
Torque (lb ft): 479@1,600rpm
MPG: 16.5
CO2: 410g/km
First registered: 2005
Recorded mileage: 104,000
Price new: £110,000 (2004, before options)
Yours for: £9,995