The Continental's Back

The 1991-2002 Continental is not photogenic. Magazine articles, print ads, and other two dimensional representations of the beast do not and cannot properly capture its presence and conservative beauty. Worse yet, 98% of the photographs of the car are of the front end.


The car has been so blase in my mind's eye, I do not recall ever seeing one in real life until last weekend. While hunting for parking, I had a chance to closely follow a Continental that was also slowly creeping along, looking for parking.


The first thing I noticed was its size. This is not your typical uber-coupe, like the Mercedes W126 SEC coupe, or even the newer W140 or W215 CL coupes. It looks bigger. This Bentley is massive and rides high. It stands at almost five feet in height and weighs in at almost three tons (with two occupants). Worse (or better), its 0.73 coefficient of drag is slightly better than that of a box of Kleenex.

In spite of its hulking presence, it is understated and elegant. I was especially captivated by the rear third of the car. It is a true testament to the designer's skills that a few simple lines can translate into confidence and stability. Though its cousin, the Turbo R saloon, will always be my favorite Bentley, the Continental is growing on me.

CKY