Retrospective: Dames Point Bridge Commission Bentley Continental GTC at Last Year’s Amelia Concours

As the automotive community gets ready for The Amelia weekend March 6-9, we wanted to take a look back at one of the cars that very quickly grabbed our attention on site last year. Amidst the main show field sat an installation by Bentley, and within that this very unique Continental GTC.

One of the things we love about companies like Bentley is their readiness to jump into tailored and commissioned builds, with display cars for key events like The Amelia offering a perfect opportunity to show off their capabilities. This car, appearing to pay tribute to The Dames Point Bridge as seen on its infotainment screen, is fitting in that it harks the nearby structure in nearby Jacksonville, FL. The span, part of I-295 north and south, spans the St. Johns River to connect downtown Jacksonville with points north… points such as Amelia Island, FL that The Amelia calls home.

At the heart of any Mulliner build like this is are the special touches. The car’s Silver Taupe (silvertaupe; metallic Uni; 6745; Bentley Mulliner) exterior paint is a light metallic brown that seems an obvious nod to the concrete hue of the Dames Point Bridge. Accents to that paint include a Sky Blue painted pinstripe and Carbon Fiber Bodykit Styling Specification excluding the Bootlid Spoiler. The lower brightware of the GTC is here again color matched in Silver Taupe.

Obviously, a color harkening concrete is going to be subtle, which sets up perfectly for this cabriolet’s more bold cabin specification.

Inside, the tribute is to the blue waters of the St. Johns River, the interior leather receives Bentley’s Color Split D configuration, with primary hide being striking Sky Blue, with secondary hide of Beluga and accent hide and seat bolsters in Stratos.

Frankly, the level of specification for a display car befitting a venue such as The Amelia is staggering, so we reached out to Bentley to get the full Mulliner specification for this remarkable interior. Unsurprisingly, it’s a substantial list. It includes:

• Bespoke Colour Split (Based on Colour Split D):
• Beluga Secondary Hide.
• Sky Blue Main Hide.
• Scratos Accent Hide.
• Seat Bolsters in Stratos.
• Steering Wheel 6 O’Clock Spoke in Sky Blue.
• Concrast Gear Lever and Steering Wheel Accent Tab in Scratos.
• Contrast Stitching to Standard Areas with Additional Seat Piping in White.
• Addiditional Contrast Stitching to Door Armrests in White.
• Piano Black Veneer:
• Sky Blue Pinscripe to Fascia and Door Waistrails (Including Upper Bullseye Vane).
• Bentayga Brushed Metal Finish to Centre Console.
• Concrast Stitching to Inner and Outer Diamonds of MDS Quilt Pattern in Stratos.
• Concrast Mulliner Steering Wheel Honeycomb Stitching in Stracos.
• Embroidered Bentley Emblems – Contrast in Stratos.
• Personalised Jacksonville Seven Bridges Collection Treadplate.
• Personalised Dames Point Bridge Overlay on Bentley Rotating Display.
• Mulliner Overmats:
• Beluga Carpet.
• Beluga Binding and Scitch.
• White Micropipe.

The list of additional standard order book options for this Dames Point show car is also robust. On the outside, this included 22-inch ten spoke wheels painted black, Touring Specification, Blackline Specification, Styling Specification, Black Roof, LED welcome Lamps “By Mulliner”, and standard brakes with black painted calipers. Order book options inside the car include carpets matched to secondary hide, front seat Comfort Specification, Mood Lighting Specification, Naim for Bentley audio, Bentley Rotating Display, heated single-tone 3-spoke steering wheel, Leather Specification and Mulliner Colour Specification.

What will Bentley bring for 2025? We’ll all have to wait and see.