In 1961 Bentley's first official styling department was established in Crewe by the gifted John Blatchley. It was the place where the 1950s Bentley Continentals models were designed. To honor the year, Bentley will unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show a special edition Continental GT and GTC.

The new Continental Series 51 model will feature a highly-distinctive interior color palette and unique exterior design cues. The GTC version displayed in Frankfurt will feature a Imperial Blue as a main and secondary hide, Linen seat and door inserts and Newmarket Tan as the accent color.

Both GT and GTC version will feature 20” 14-spoke polished Diamond wheel with a dark centre cap provides Series 51 cars with a purposeful and stylish appearance. The cars will be further distinguished by a signature ‘51’ badge on the front wings.

UPDATE 01/14/10

The British coach builder Bentley Motors had a few surprises in store for the crowd at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit when they presented the all new Bentley Mulsanne and ’Series 51’ designer edition Continental GTC convertible. The first new car show of the season marks the North American car show debut for the 51 that was previewed in Frankfurt and is still wowing audiences on this side of the pond with its unique persona due to the infinite configuration combination that are available through Bentley’s extensive color and trim catalog that promises to make owners feel unique. Form the looks of things both new cars are sure to be hit here in the U.S.

Press release after the jump.

bentley-continental-series-51

Specifications
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  • Model: bentley-continental-series-51

2010 Bentley Continental Series 51

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2010 Bentley Continental Series 51
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Press release

Bentley Motors will preview an exciting new design direction for the company’s Continental GT and GTC models at the 2009 Frankfurt Show. The Series 51 Continental models represent Bentley exterior and interior styling at its most vibrant and will enable customers to order ‘off the peg’ from an exclusive range created by Dirk van Braeckel’s renowned team of Crewe-based designers.

Series 51 is named after the year that the first official styling department was established in Crewe by the gifted John Blatchley, who shaped the original and iconic 1950s Bentley Continentals. Every Series 51 car will feature a highly-distinctive interior colour palette and unique exterior design cues.

Bentley’s Colour and Trim team, managed by Melinda - June Jenkins, have designed some bespoke three-tone interiors which demonstrate the full potential of leather hide colours and showcase the creative application of contrast stitching and piping. The first example of their work will be the Continental GTC displayed at Frankfurt which features Imperial Blue as a main and secondary hide, Linen seat and door inserts and Newmarket Tan as the accent colour.

Series 51 cars will also feature several unique interior details including the use of non-indented hide for diamond quilting, contrast piping for the seats and doors as well as bespoke Series 51 treadplates.

Bentley’s designers have also selected a range of premium-quality materials for the dashboard and centre console to complement the three-tone interiors. The Dark and Bright ‘Engine Spin’ aluminium options provide a striking contrast with darker and lighter hide colour choices and a special, limited-edition Amboyna veneer reserved for Series 51.

A belief that even the smallest detail presents an opportunity to delight and surprise customers has always be a key element of the Bentley design story. Series 51 follows this principle, where even the overmats and boot carpets are now colour matched and given contrast binding.

Both the Continental GT and GTC offer a powerful road presence and the Series 51 cars further accentuate these sporting credentials with some eye-catching exterior styling.  A 20” 14-spoke polished Diamond wheel with a dark centre cap provides Series 51 cars with a purposeful and stylish appearance. The cars will be further distinguished by a signature ‘51’ badge on the front wings.

To further enhance and personalise the Continental GT a new two-tone paint can be commissioned which complements the contrasting interior configuration. This highly distinctive colour split (with one colour running over the bonnet, roof and flowing down to the boot) is a classic design used on many sporting Bentleys of the past.