2006 Bentley Continental GTC – The Open-Top Continental

560 PS, twelve cylinders, all-wheel drive and four full-size seats: when Bentley introduced the Continental GTC in 2006, the convertible was less a traditional successor to earlier open Bentleys than the second chapter of a new model strategy.

An early example with 133,000 kilometres is now being offered by Emil Frey Classic Auctions. The estimate is CHF 45,000 to 50,000.

A new Bentley for a new era

When the Continental GT appeared in 2003, Bentley had just been through a profound transformation.

After decades under the same corporate roof as Rolls-Royce, Bentley had belonged to the Volkswagen Group since the late 1990s. This gave the brand access to technical and financial resources that made an entirely new generation of models possible.

The result was the Continental GT.

Unlike the Continental R, which had previously been hand-built in far smaller numbers, the new grand tourer was not meant to appeal only to a small circle of traditional Bentley customers. It was intended to broaden Bentley’s international presence and, at the same time, enable significantly higher production volumes.

The concept worked.

Three years after the coupé, the Continental GTC followed in 2006.

Open, but no lightweight

Turning a large grand tourer into a convertible involves considerable engineering effort.

Removing the roof takes away an important part of the load-bearing body structure. Bentley therefore had to stiffen the open Continental extensively.

The result was not a light car.

The Continental GTC weighs well over two tonnes. That is precisely why the drivetrain is so decisive for the car’s character.

Under the bonnet is a W12 engine with a displacement of 5,998 cc, two turbochargers and 560 PS. Maximum torque is 650 Nm. Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox and permanent all-wheel drive. The car on offer corresponds to this original GTC specification.

The GTC was therefore never meant to be a lightweight roadster.

Its job was a different one: to combine high speed over long distances with four seats, a high level of comfort and a power-operated fabric roof.

The Continental changed Bentley

It was the technical basis in particular that clearly set the new Continental apart from earlier models from Crewe.

Volkswagen contributed modern volume-production technology, electronics and all-wheel drive. At the same time, a considerable part of final assembly and interior trimming remained at Bentley’s Crewe factory.

The result was a model that combined two worlds: industrial group technology and the hand-crafted interior that Bentley customers expected.

This was of great economic importance.

With the Continental range, Bentley was able for the first time to reach much higher volumes than with the Continental R, the Azure or the brand’s traditional saloons.

From today’s perspective, this is historically more interesting than the frequently used description of the Continental as a mere “luxury coupé”.

It was the model with which Bentley became a significantly larger international brand.

Dirk van Braeckel’s take on the Bentley theme

The Belgian designer Dirk van Braeckel was responsible for the shape of the Continental GT and therefore also for the basic lines of the GTC.

Instead of copying historic Bentley models directly, his design picked up individual motifs.

These include the pronounced rear wings, the long bonnet, the large matrix grille and the four round headlamps.

When open, the multi-layer fabric roof disappears completely behind the rear seats. This preserves the steeply sloping profile.

In hindsight, what is most remarkable is how long this basic form has endured. Later Continental generations developed the concept further rather than making a complete stylistic break.

Twelve cylinders in an unusual arrangement

Technically, the engine is the most interesting part.

The term W12 does not describe a classic twelve-cylinder with two long banks of cylinders like a V12. Instead, the design essentially combines two very narrow VR6 units.

This makes the engine considerably shorter than a conventional V12.

That mattered for the Continental because, despite twelve cylinders and two turbochargers, Bentley had to achieve a relatively compact front end while also packaging the all-wheel drive.

From six litres of displacement, the engine produces 560 PS.

For the driver, however, the defining feature is less the peak output than the 650 Nm of torque. The big Bentley accelerates without needing high revs, which suits the classic grand touring idea well.

A GTC from the first year of production

The car offered by Emil Frey Classic Auctions dates from 2006 and therefore from the first year of Continental GTC production. According to the listing, it was first registered in February 2007.

It is a left-hand-drive car with the 6.0-litre W12, six-speed automatic gearbox and permanent all-wheel drive.

The odometer shows 133,000 kilometres.

For a grand tourer around 20 years old, that is not an unusually high mileage – but it does change the assessment.

With an early Continental GTC, low mileage on its own is not a mark of quality anyway. What matters more is a traceable maintenance history and which of the expensive components have already been checked, overhauled or replaced.

Dark blue and beige

The car is painted dark blue and has a beige leather interior.

This is a classic combination that suits the character of the Continental GTC well.

More important than the choice of colours, however, is the documented history.

According to the seller, the car was bought from an official Bentley dealer at around 50,000 kilometres and has been looked after since.

The current odometer reading is 133,000 kilometres. The last Swiss MFK vehicle inspection was carried out in October 2022. The car also comes with an EC Certificate of Conformity.

The current listing does not include an independent inspection report.

With a GTC, the purchase price is only half the bill

The first Continental GTC is now one of the most interesting cases in the market for early 21st-century cars.

The entry price has fallen considerably relative to the original list price.

That makes the car tempting – but not automatically cheap.

A twin-turbo W12 with all-wheel drive, air suspension, complex electronics, a power-operated roof and luxury-class equipment remains a Bentley even when its used price is now much lower.

Maintenance and repair costs can accordingly have a major impact on the true cost of ownership.

Before buying, the suspension and air springs, cooling system, brakes, roof mechanism, electronics and the condition of the drivetrain, among other things, therefore deserve particular attention.

With a car that has covered 133,000 kilometres, it is also crucial to know which major maintenance work has already been documented.

A clearly differentiated market

For the first-generation Continental GTC, CLASSIC.COM currently calculates a market benchmark of around US$41,600 (as of September 2026). The current offers recorded there, mostly from the US, range from around US$35,000 to US$65,000.

These figures are not a direct valuation of the Swiss car.

They do, however, show very clearly what drives the market: mileage alone does not explain the price. History, mechanical condition, specification and expensive work already carried out can make a considerable difference with a Continental GTC.

The estimate of CHF 45,000 to 50,000 set by Emil Frey is therefore towards the upper end of this range.

Not a classic – but already a collector’s car?

A 2006 model year does not yet make a classic car.

That is precisely why a nuanced view is worthwhile.

The Continental GTC is currently in the phase in which high-quality used cars can gradually become collector’s cars. Age alone is not the deciding factor.

The first GTC has several qualities that point in this direction: it belongs to the first generation of a model line that was decisive for Bentley, it uses the W12 engine, which can no longer be taken for granted, and it marks a technical era in which large twelve-cylinder engines, permanent all-wheel drive and high cruising speeds were still achieved without electrification.

That does not automatically mean rising prices, however.

Precisely because plenty of cars are still available, the market increasingly distinguishes between well-documented cars and those with a maintenance backlog.

Why a condition check matters so much here

The car on offer combines a comparatively high mileage with a technically complex design.

This is a typical case in which a visual inspection or a set of good auction photos provides only part of the relevant information.

Body and paint, suspension, brakes, roof mechanism, fault memory and the functions of the many electrical systems are the key inspection points on a Continental GTC.

The soundest basis for a purchase decision is the combination of a documented maintenance history and an independent, up-to-date condition report.

From prestige object to usable modern classic

The Continental GTC is interesting today above all because its character still matches its original purpose.

It is not a car whose qualities only come into their own when parked on a concours lawn.

Four seats, a large fabric roof, all-wheel drive and 560 PS make it a thoroughly usable grand tourer even two decades after its launch.

That is why 133,000 kilometres are not automatically a drawback on this example.

First of all, they show that the Bentley has actually been driven.

What matters is how those kilometres were covered and how much care has gone into the car’s technical upkeep over the years.

This makes the purchase decision fundamentally different from that for a rare pre-war car or an automotive one-off: with an early Continental GTC, it is less rarity than the quality of the individual car that decides.

The Bentley Continental GTC at auction

The 2006 Bentley Continental GTC is being offered in the Emil Frey Classic Auctions online autumn sale, which closes on 3 October 2026 from 2 pm. The cars can be viewed at a preview event on 1 October 2026 at the Classic Center Schweiz in Safenwil.

→ View the car

Photos: Emil Frey Classic Auctions

Author: Classic Trader

Die Classic Trader Redaktion besteht aus Oldtimer-Enthusiasten, die Euch mit spannenden Geschichten versorgen. Kaufberatungen, unsere Traum Klassiker, Händlerportraits und Erfahrungsberichte von Messen, Rallyes und Events. #drivenbydesire View all posts by Classic Trader →