With the exception of the ultra-minimalist Jaguar Type 00, each new modern car release seems to be an opportunity for manufacturers to see who can cram as many dive planes, wings, vents, and ducts onto four wheels as possible. Therefore, when we caught sight of this incredible Bentley Flying Star coachbuilt by Touring Superleggera heading to RM Sotheby’s Paris 2025 sale on February 4th, we had to take a second to let its pinnacle soap bar styling cleanse our palettes.
After its reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2010, we visited Touring’s headquarters that year for a tour of the factory and a close-up with the just-released coachbuilt shooting brake, but now that all 19 cars have long since been delivered, we were delighted to see this stunning example enter the public eye once more. Developed in close collaboration with Bentley’s experts in Crewe, each Flying Star took 6 months to build, including over 4,000 hours of careful craftsmanship. All that talent didn’t come cheap, though, and the Flying Star carried a sticker price of around 600,000 euros back in 2010.
Visually, the Continental GT certainly lends itself to a shooting brake silhouette, and flourishes such as cutout oval taillights help to further distinguish the Flying Star from the breed standard. Even better, thanks to that raised roofline, the Flying Star boasts genuinely usable rear seats and an impressively capacious boot, complete with matching luggage in this case. Despite the extra practicality, the Flying Star was no slower than its coupe counterpart, making it a true continental cruise missile. Having covered just 7,467 kilometres from new, this Flying Star remains in outstanding condition. Estimated to fetch between 300,000 and 400,000 euros at auction, the Flying Star carries a hefty premium over a standard Continental GT, but considering its rarity and under-the-radar allure, we feel it’s worth every cent.
Paris, 4 Feb
