Breakfast in Berkeley Square: The Linley limited edition Bentley Continental Flying Spur
By Nic Wing, published on 5 October 2011
Is there anything better than strolling across Berkeley square on a sunny day heading for breakfast at Jack Barclays and the launch of a stunning new Bentley?
With a perfectly made cappuccino in one hand, I circled the brand new Linley limited Edition Bentley Continental Flying Spur. With its doors open and the magnificent Linley craftsmanship on show on all the wooden surfaces of the interior, the co-operation between these two companies makes perfect sense.
I slipped into the sumptuous rear seats to be surrounded by the finest leather and the most elegant British craftsmanship. The hall mark of the Linley craftsmen is manifest in the waist-rails and the picnic tables of the car which feature Santos rosewood which contrasts beautifully with four beautiful inlayed veneered marquety with the iconic Linley Helix design.
Stainless steel Linley treadplates also feature on the cars, as does a Linley for Bentley rhodium-plated plaque in the glove box and a stainless steel overlay of the Linley logo on the passenger fascia panel.
Nestling between the two rear seats is the polished wooden lid of a bespoke Linley humidor which can be tailored to accommodate the size of cigars favoured by the cars owner. On launch day it held some very tempting Cohiba’s. For the cigar smoking passenger every detail has been thought of, there are also snug homes for a lighter and a cutter. Behind the central arm rests and a rear console is an in-built fridge with specially designed space for bottle storage.
The whole package is completed by a Linley branded leather bag with a sumptuous cashmere blanket in the boot.
The whole effect is stunning and as your feet sink into the deep carpets in the rear of the car you can imagine yourself being swept away on your way to a fine county house for a restful week end or heading for a days racing with the chink of chilled champagne bottles in the fridge.
Your driver will want to know some technical details so that he can share them with his fellow chauffeurs so here we go:
- Engine capacity: 5998 cc
- Continuous all-wheel drive
- 6-speed automatic transmission
- Maximum speed: 194 mph / 312 km/h
- Acceleration: 0 – 60mph 4.9 seconds
Only 10 of these cars will be made and it looks certain that they will all be sold to China. There is no doubt that the beautiful Linley Bentley Continental Flying Spur will be regarded as a classic of British Automobile excellence and it is to be hoped that this model is the start of a long line of future projects between the two companies.
Brett Boydell, senior designer at Bentley says “the collaboration is a ringing endorsement of two great British brands working closely together. We are offering customers the chance to own a highly customised piece of British heritage. I hope the collaboration will be a springboard for future projects.”
David Linley, Chairman of Linley, comments “it is a great honour to be working alongside such an esteemed British brand as Bentley. Our two brands share a commitment to superlative craftsmanship and design. I believe that the culmination of our efforts will result in a car that is utterly unique and reflective of the passion that both brands share for pushing boundaries of engineering and excellence.”
Linley has created interiors for residences such as an apartment in Norman Foster’s Chesa Futura building in St Moritz, over 21 suites at Claridge’s, as well as interiors for private jets, yachts and restaurants. His first move into the automotive world has taken a full six years but the results have been well worth the wait.
As we turned to head off into the late September sunshine I did suggest, as a parting shot, that Jack Barclay should open for breakfast daily but I am not sure it’s going to happen, which is a shame.
Breakfast in Berkeley Square: The Linley limited edition Bentley Continental Flying Spur
New contributor pops our for a cappuccino and finds himself lounging around in the new Linley limited Edition Bentley Continental Flying Spur, chatting to David Linley himself. Funny old place Mayfair…
