Estimated Price: £50,000 - £70,000

Launched in 1994, the Bentley Continental S was a rare and refined evolution of the already impressive Continental R, created for clients seeking more driver involvement and exclusivity. Retaining the elegant pillarless coachwork, the S benefited from a revised turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 engine with a low-inertia Garrett turbocharger, a new Zytek engine management system and crucially, an intercooler - the first Bentley to feature one. Power rose to a factory-quoted 385bhp with a massive 553lb/ft of torque, available from just 2,000rpm. This gave the 2.5-ton grand tourer surprising pace, with 0–60mph in just 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 150mph. Visually almost indistinguishable from the R, the Continental S was produced in very limited numbers, just 37 examples in total and offered only to Bentley’s most loyal and discerning clients.

The car presented here is truly unique. It's the only Continental S built for export in 1996, constructed specifically for a Bentley client in Hong Kong and reportedly cost $5,600,000 HKD including first registration tax at the time. Using 1996 exchange rates, this equated to approximately £460,000 and when adjusted for inflation, would be around £1,000,000 in todays money. As confirmed by extensive documentation in the car’s substantial history file, this was a bespoke commission of the highest level.

Finished in Racing Green with a beige hide interior piped in Spruce, it's accompanied by a comprehensive list of options and non-standard features. Highlights include Spruce top roll and centre console, Conifer carpets with matching lambswool rugs, Burr Walnut veneers and full Continental S mechanical specification including a viscous control differential, 255/55 R17 Avon tyres and etched radiator vanes. Sundym green-tinted glass was fitted front and rear and the ICE system includes a factory-fitted multi-CD player with 4 x 25W amplification. The car was supplied without a telephone, apparently a common request for Hong Kong buyers.

Incredibly, every conceivable book, guide, handbook and reference item is present, including the original leather-bound Bentley Warranty Booklet, Driving Guide, Service Handbook and owner's manuals, along with original stereo demonstration cassettes supplied new with the car. There are over six individual document wallets and the service history is exemplary, with a full ring binder of records, invoices and receipts, including Hong Kong registration documents and service paperwork.

Imported to the UK in 2016 after a cherished life in Hong Kong, it shows just one former UK-keeper since and remains in exceptional condition. With just 18 Continental S examples produced in 1996 and this car being the only one destined for export that year, its rarity, originality and cost when new place it among the most significant modern Bentleys.

A remarkable and possibly unrepeatable opportunity for the serious collector.