Words: Andrew Sluys
Published 1 August 2026
Bentley has built a one-of-a-kind Continental GTC to celebrate 80 years of car production at its Crewe home, showcasing what the marque’s Mulliner personal commissioning division can do.
Finished in an exclusive Supernova Purple Ombre paint job, developed specially for the occasion by Bentley’s Paint Shop and CMF/Bespoke teams.
The finish fades from Supernova Purple into a darker Supernova Purple Dark, with a bespoke ’80’ side graphic done in a reverse ombré effect.
Inside, the cabin gets bespoke touches including embroidered ’80’ headrests and an airbrushed fascia graphic depicting Bentley’s iconic Design Studio building, marking eight decades of car manufacturing in Crewe.
It was created as a one-off to embody the craftsmanship, innovation and attention to detail that Bentley says has defined its Crewe operation since the first Bentley rolled off the Pyms Lane line in 1946.
Bentley’s Board Member for Manufacturing, Andreas Lehe, credited the people behind builds like this one, saying it’s “the extraordinary people of Crewe who have defined Bentley’s success.”
He also flagged the site’s continued shift toward what Bentley is calling its “next-generation Dream Factory” — a push into more digital, flexible manufacturing that’s set to underpin the next generation of Crewe-built cars, including Torcal, Bentley’s first electric model, due to launch in September.
