Bentley has marked 80 years of vehicle production at Crewe with a gathering of 107 customer cars and the unveiling of a one-off Continental GTC created by Mulliner.
The event was organised with the Bentley Drivers Club, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2026. Members brought cars from Britain and overseas to Bentley’s Pyms Lane headquarters, where they were arranged in chronological order. Bentley production began at Pyms Lane in 1946; the site had originally been constructed in 1938 to manufacture Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines before being converted for vehicle production after World War Two.
The display began with EXP3 and concluded with a 2025 Flying Spur Speed. It included cars from the WO Bentley and Derby periods alongside post-war Crewe-built models, ranging from supercharged ‘Blowers’ to the current Bentayga.
The anniversary Continental GTC was commissioned through Mulliner and finished in a newly developed Purple Supernova Ombre paint scheme. The colour changes from Purple Supernova to a darker version of the same shade across the bodywork.
Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing, said: “For 80 years, it is the extraordinary people of Crewe who have defined Bentley’s success. Generation after generation, our colleagues have combined exceptional craftsmanship, passion and innovation to create some of the world’s most desirable cars. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we are equally focused on the future. Through our transformation into a next-generation Dream Factory, we are investing in world-class facilities, advanced technologies and sustainable manufacturing, ensuring that the unique skills and expertise of our people continue to set the benchmark for luxury automotive production for decades to come.”
A bespoke ‘80’ graphic along the side of the anniversary Continental GTC uses the transition in reverse, while the wheels receive contrasting finishes. Inside, the headrests are embroidered with the number ’80’ and an airbrushed fascia illustration depicts Bentley’s Design Studio and references eight decades of production at Crewe. The car was developed by Bentley’s Paint Shop and colour, materials and finishes teams. It remains a one-off and was produced specifically for the Crewe anniversary.
Bentley’s headquarters now incorporates the marque’s design, research and development, manufacturing and commercial departments. Recent additions include an Engineering Technical Centre, an Excellence Centre for Quality and Launch, an Integrated Logistics Centre and a new Paint Shop. Work is also continuing on the conversion of the oldest building at the site into an assembly facility for the Torcal, Bentley’s forthcoming first electric car, which is due to be launched in September.
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