To celebrate Bentley’s centenary year, the Mulliner division has created the Continental GT Number 9 Edition, inspired by the illustrious motorsport past of the company.
Restricted to just 100 units, Mulliner says the Number 9 Edition pays homage to Sir Henry Ralph Stanley ‘Tim’ Birkin. One of the original ‘Bentley Boys’ from the ‘20s and ’30s. Birkin was not only a customer but an investor and racing driver who was instrumental in the development of the 4.5-litre ‘Blower’.
Sir Tim raced the supercharged Bentley ‘Blower’, known as No.9, at the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hours race before going on to commission the production of a series of 4 ½ Litre Bentleys. Powered by a supercharger developed with independent engineer Amherst Villiers, the power output rose from 110bhp to 175bhp (roughly 130kW) making the little green racecar an iconic Bentley from the pre-war years.
The present-day Number 9 Edition by Mulliner wears No.9 badgework with a matching front grille graphic. Viridian green or Beluga black exterior paint is available with 22-inch Mulliner Driving Specification wheels to match plus Black Line Specification and carbon body kit.
Internally the choice of Cumbrian Green or Beluga heritage hides are available with increased gloss levels for the seats, inner door panel and various other areas. Adorning the seat headrests and door panels, in a similar fashion to that of the 1930 ‘Blower’ is a debossed ‘B’ logo.
An Engine Spin centre console, once a popular racing car and aviation finish in the 1920s and ’30s, is enhanced with the inclusion of an exclusive British Jaeger clock face which was inspired by the original No.9 ‘Blower’s’ dials.
For an extra piece of history, the Number 9 Edition will feature a Bentley ‘Blower’ artefact, a wood insert from the seat of Birkin’s iconic 1930 No. 9 Le Mans race car, which is backlit, set in resin and situated in the middle of the centre dial of the rotating display.
Each of the 100 handcrafted cars will also feature an 18K gold plated organ stop inspired by those in the No.9 ‘Blower’ and ‘1 of 100’ numbered treadplates.
Bentley’s Australian arm is yet to confirm whether or not the Continental GT Number 9 Edition is coming Down Under.
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