This year’s Children in Need fundraising activities got off to a flying start when a 195mph Bentley Continental GTC went under the hammer for £240,000.
At a star-studded evening at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester, hosted by Gary Barlow and supported by Kelly Rowland, Chris Moyles, Sir Terry Wogan, Coleen Rooney and JLS, Bentley’s new convertible immediately caught the eye of several generous bidders.
By the time the auctioneer had finished, the car had nearly hit the quarter of a million mark. Gary Barlow added some extra drama to proceedings by putting his own bid in for the Bentley and promising to deliver the car in person to the new owners.
Jon Crossley, Managing Director of Bentley Manchester who made all the arrangements for their brand new luxury convertible to be put up for auction, commented:
“Nearly 400 people saw the auction unfold and, as the price kept on rising, the whole place fell silent. To reach £240.000, even for the very latest Bentley which is still making its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show, just takes your breath away.”
As well as getting the keys to their new car hand-delivered to them by the X-Factor star, the winning bidders have been invited to the Bentley factory and will be able to select the woods and leathers for the interior of their car.
In a further personal touch, Bentley’s famous craftsmen and women will be adding the signatures of several of the celebrities who attended the event to the interior, creating a car unique in the world and a special memento of a generous evening.
“Above all this has been an incredibly good result for Children in Need. The fact that the new owners are Bentley enthusiasts and love these cars is a bonus for us. We’re looking forward to welcoming them and their unique car to the dealership for many years to come.” added Jon Crossley.
