2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

First registered in 2006, this particular example may well be familiar to long-time bidders and lurkers of our platform, as we have previously sold this fantastically well-equipped example back in 2021.

The current owner and vendor is a long-time Bentley enthusiast and owner, having had a 1954 Bentley R Type in his stable for over 20 years, a car which he states has immense sentimental value and will never be sold. Evidently a man of great taste, the suggestion was made for him to tick off another ‘bucket list’ car by his wife when the time came to source a new daily driver, and this wonderful Flying Spur was subsequently purchased.

Boasting an extensive and classy specification and list of optional extras fitted, including an alloy fuel filler cap, electric glass panel sunroof, ‘coming home’ lighting, sports shifter, TV tuner/infotainment system, valet mode, front and rear climate control, heated/cooled seats front and rear, memory seats and 20” seven-spoke alloy wheels. A full specification list is available to view in the history section below.

Having amassed only 7,500 miles at the time of purchase, our vendor has almost doubled that during his year of ownership, covering ~7,000 miles during this time, with the majority having consisted of long-distance drives all over the UK, which is exactly what this Flying Spur was built to do. In this time, it has proven itself to be utterly reliable and a wonderful way to travel, with the vendor stating it is, quite simply “the most wonderful and stress-free way to travel known to mankind!”

As part of this extensive use, all of the unusual quirks and kinks have been ironed-out, which occurred as part of the car being used so sparingly in the years prior to our vendors ownership, having previously only covered around 500 miles per year.

Whilst in its current care, the car has been maintained exclusively by approved Bentley agents irrespective of cost, and has proven to be a hit with not only the vendor himself, but also his extended family, with the grandchildren nothing more than a ride in “grandpa’s posh car” such is the special nature of this four-door Bentley Saloon.

Now, having had his enjoyment from the vehicle and covered plenty of mileage, the choice has been made to move this Flying Spur on, due to an imminent house move meaning the loss of the vendor’s garage, and - as he puts it - he simply “cannot leave [the car] outside to suffer in the North Coast weather and conditions, as it is in such wonderful condition.

Finished in Moonbeam silver, this particular Flying Spur is wonderfully understated, and would likely be able to pass undetected through traffic, towns and motorways alike - ideal if you’re looking for a sumptuously comfortable way to fly ‘under the radar’ between appointments or on long journeys; No wonder they’re so popular with the elite and who’s-who of the world.

Looking along the sides of the vehicle, we can find no signs of any dents, impact damage or mis-aligned panels, nor any signs of mistreatment, scuffs or other issues, with the bodywork looking as fresh as the day it left Bentley’s Crewe facility.

The paintwork, too, presents in outstanding condition, with nothing more than the odd stone chip or light mark to speak of, commensurate with a cherished long-distance GT car.

Perhaps, if we’re being very particular, we’d attend to the dulled chrome which is visible on the expansive grille that adorns the front of the vehicle, though we really are clutching at straws here.

All of the trims, details and badges that adorn the bodywork are present and correct, whilst all four wheels are in good condition, though there are some patches of kerb rash noted in particular on the offside rear wheel.

With Nautic Blue hide as far as the eye can see - and a wonderful rich, leathery smell to accompany it - the cabin of this Flying Spur is wonderfully comfortable, exquisitely refined and deserving of all the usual praise that is heaped upon Bentley’s creations.

Evidently, the build quality has lived up to the expense and time taken when the car was first built, as the interior still presents wonderfully, and has aged fantastically well, with only some light creasing and wear visible to the seats, and a charming light usage patina to their hides.

Naturally, there are some areas of usage visible elsewhere, such as some chips to the chrome finish on the shifter and on the door pulls - perhaps from rings or other jewellery - and some minor marks to the inner door sill covers, carpets and lower half of the door cards, but nothing that detracts from the cars overall condition.

The wood trim and inlays all present wonderfully and are free of any lacquer peel, major scratches or damage, whilst the headliner is also taut throughout with no issues of note.

In the rear, the luggage compartment is clean and tidy, in keeping with the rest of the cars condition. Quite clearly, this is a truly cherished example of Crewe’s range-topping model of the time, and one that has enjoyed fastidious ownership throughout its life.

The vendor reports that he has never managed to get the satnav/hands-free telephone system to work, though this has never bothered him enough to address. That said, he states that there is an upgrade/module that can be fitted to rectify this, if the next owner wished to do so.

Up above, a number of photo-electric cells have been replaced in the sunroof, which activate a small fan on hot days, in order to keep the interior of the car cool upon your return.

Other than the aforementioned issue with the satnav/phone system, there are no other known faults with the cabins switches, displays or systems, and no warning lights illuminated on the dashboard.

Inside the cavernous engine bay, the 6.0-litre W12 engine - which has since become synonymous with the Bentley brand - is in rude health and presents wonderfully, with no known issues, quirks or untoward behaviours.

The most recent service - a major service - took place on 31 November 2021, and, like the rest of the cars servicing in recent history, was carried out by Phantom Motor Cars of Guildford, who are an approved Bentley service agent. It is worth noting that the car has complete Bentley OE / approved agent history - a must for any serious enthusiasts or collectors.

Out on the road, the W12 engine provides wonderfully refined cruising, but shift down a gear or put your foot down, and a wave of near-instantaneous torque washes over the car, and you’ll notice the speedometer climbing at a scarcely-believable rate, especially considering that the refinement and comfort of the car are virtually untroubled, even when ‘pressing on’ at significant pace.

It should be noted that in recent years prior to the vendor’s ownership, the air suspension system has seen significant works and overhauls at great expense, again at the hands of Phantom Motor Cars, and there are no known issues with the suspension system to speak of.

The most recent MoT exam took place on 12 January 2022 and showed a clean pass with no advisory items.

As always, we’ve photographed the full complement of documentation and history which is included with the sale of this wonderful Continental Flying Spur, and this is available to view at your leisure below.

For those not wanting to sift through the extensive history, here are a few highlights to give an indication of how well-kept and maintained this example of Bentley’s finest is:

- The V5, showing three former keepers

- A clean HPI check

- Full Bentley OE / approved agent service history, with a well-stamped record

- A full specification breakdown spanning numerous sides of A4

- Major works in December 2019 by Phantom Motor Cars at a cost of over £5,691

- Extensive works to the air suspension system by Phantom Motor Cars in July 2020, including the fitment of two new front air springs

- Numerous invoices from Phantom Motor Cars and Bentley OE dealers, along with other miscellaneous documentation

- The invoice for the major service in November 2021, at a cost of £2367

“Exhilarating” “Comfortable” and “of huge stature” are all adjectives used by the vendor to try and put across the sheer pleasure of owning, driving and simply sitting and staring at this example of Crewe’s finest, and it’s hard for us to argue anything to the contrary.

Presented in outstanding condition throughout, fresh from a major service and with a full Bentley / approved agent history, this is a simply astounding example of the first-generation Continental Flying Spur, and would be befitting of any driver, collector or businessperson looking for an under-the-radar, yet luxurious, way to be chauffeured around.

Offered for sale with an estimate of £20,000 to £28,000 this is an opportunity to obtain a cherished and fastidiously maintained Continental Flying Spur that is ready to simply jump in and enjoy, whether that is from the driver’s seat or as a passenger.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.