Bentley’s 12-Car Continental GT Takes 56 Hours Just to Finish the Paint

A Century of Bentley History, Reimagined by Mulliner Bentley has never been particularly interested in building cars for everyone. Through its Mulliner bespoke division , the British luxury automaker continues to offer customers increasingly personalized interpretations of its grand tourers. Its latest project, the Olympia Collection, takes that exclusivity a step further by combining a limited production run with a story dating back a century. Limited to just 12 individually numbered Continental GT models, the Olympia Collection celebrates the legacy of company founder W.O. Bentley and the 1926 Olympia Motor Show in London. It was at this event that Bentley presented the production version of its second model line, the 6 1/2 Litre. Bentley The Legendary Move The car represented an important step for Bentley, offering more power, torque, and refinement while retaining the sporting character associated with the Bentley name. Its development also involved an interesting encounter in France in 1924, when W.O. Bentley and his colleagues found themselves racing alongside a prototype from a rival manufacturer while traveling from Lyon to Dieppe. Dissatisfied with the narrow margin of victory, W.O. subsequently increased the prototype’s engine displacement from 4.5 liters to 6.5 liters . That determination to stay ahead became the inspiration behind the new collection. Bentley A Deep Green Exterior Meets a Heritage-Inspired Cabin The Olympia Collection gets a distinctive exterior treatment developed exclusively by Mulliner. Its standout feature is an Ombré paint finish that gradually transitions between Verdant and Midnight Emerald, creating a deep green appearance inspired by the various interpretations of British Racing Green during the 1920s. According to Bentley, producing this finish requires 56 hours of work by skilled paint technicians. Champagne Gold accents complement the green bodywork, appearing on the badges and lower-body pinstripe. The Blackline specification also covers the exterior brightwork, including the matrix grille, air intakes, and rear diffuser. Meanwhile, black 22-inch Mulliner wheels receive Champagne Gold detailing. Opening the doors activates an animated welcome lamp that projects an illustration of W.O. Bentley’s famous Lyon-to-Dieppe journey onto the ground. Inside, the cabin features bespoke Coach Green leather with a heritage-patinated finish, complemented by Cumbrian Green secondary hides. Black-stained, open-pore crown-cut walnut veneer covers the fascia and waistrails, while the controls receive diamond-knurled detailing. Other exclusive touches include Champagne Gold seat piping, rope-inspired steering wheel stitching, and special instrument dials modeled after the 1926 6 1/2 Litre’s speedometer. The rear ski hatch also receives embroidery depicting the historic Lyon-to-Dieppe route. Bentley Exclusive Collectibles Complete the Package Bentley has not disclosed the powertrain specifications of the Olympia Collection, so it’s not li