Buying a Bentley Continental GT, or any Bentley is an experience unlike any other. It's not as simple as checking boxes on the order form, but rather a more indulgent task customers have done for decades. And now one of the marque's most recognizable nameplates is celebrating a unique milestone. The 80,000th individual, made-to-order Continental GT has rolled off the assembly line in Crewe, UK.

Painted Orange Flame and finished with Blackline and Styling Specifications, this right-hand-drive example features numerous hand-crafted design elements and, like many Bentleys, is a one-of-a-kind. "At its launch in 2003, Bentley redefined the modern grand tourer with the revolutionary Continental GT," said Bentley Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark.

"Now in 2021, the GT continues to be the ultimate luxury grand tourer, encompassing the latest technology, performance and style. This success is a testament to the skills of our designers, engineers and craftspeople here in Crewe." Many of the craftspeople who worked on the very first Continental GT nearly two decades ago took part in the handcrafting process of this one.

Although the Bentayga SUV was the firm's best-seller last year with 37 percent of sales, the Continental GT and GT Convertible had a combined 39 percent proving that the Continental nameplate is stronger than ever. Much of that was made possible by the Continental's many recent motorsport achievements.

These include smashing the ice speed record in 2007 with an average speed of 199.86 mph, the GT3 race car's victories on race tracks throughout the world, and the 2019 Pikes Peak GT which still holds the Production Class Hill Climb record of a mere 10 minutes, 18.4 seconds.

Those who decide to buy a new Continental GT will have a choice of two powertrains: a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 542 horsepower or a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 with 626 hp. Both are paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch routing power to an all-wheel drive system. Bentley says there are - wait for it - 17 billion ways customers can spec a Continental GT, and that doesn't include the additional services of the in-house bespoke Mulliner division.