The Cheapest Bentley Continental GT in the USA Goes Up in Smoke, and other project updates.
### Article Based on Video Transcription: A Car Enthusiast’s Journey with His Bentley and Other Projects
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#### Introduction
Hello there! I’ve always maintained that I am a car collector and not a car hoarder. While a collector takes care of his collection, improves it, and manages it, a hoarder simply accumulates projects without completing them, often leaving them to rot. I pride myself on being the former, but lately, I feel like I’m teetering on the edge. The number one question I receive in my comments has been about the Bentley—“What’s going on with the Bentley?” “We need a Bentley update!” I apologize for not providing enough updates, as there hasn’t been much progress to warrant a full video. However, I’m now on my way to Halstead, Kansas, to check out the Bentley and give you a full status update.
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#### The Bentley Project: A Two-Month Struggle
I’ve spent two months worrying about this basket case of a Bentley Continental GT. For those who don’t remember, I bought the cheapest one for sale in the United States—a 2004 model with supposedly 47,000 original miles—for just $27,700. When it arrived, it was barely running, and later, I discovered that it had spent ten years in Russia, where its odometer had been rolled back multiple times. It likely has around 147,000 miles now, which pretty much torpedoes any resale value. So, I’m stuck with this car forever—much like how I am with my LS swap Porsche 911.
If the Bentley ran well, none of this would matter. However, it had a significant vacuum leak, causing it to barely move under its own power. This is a common issue for these cars since their engine bays are filled with brittle plastic vacuum lines. The recommended fix involves dropping the entire W12 drivetrain and front subframe to replace all the vacuum lines. Research suggested that removing the steering rack might simplify this process, but as I soon found out, it wasn’t that simple.
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#### Challenges of Removing the Steering Rack
Removing the steering rack took nearly a day by itself. There were plenty of obstacles in the way, including several bolts that were nearly impossible to reach. Once I managed to remove the rack, it became clear that someone had already worked on the car and replaced the vacuum lines with more durable rubber ones. Using his smoke machine, the wizard (myself) checked for leaks by introducing smoke into the vacuum system. To my surprise, one of the hose clamps deep in the engine had come loose—a $1 clamp was the culprit keeping the car from running properly.
Initially, we thought the smoke might have been due to a rich-running condition caused by a faulty mass airflow sensor. However, upon further inspection using a camera down the intake, it turned out the turbo was bad. The oil on the right side of the turbo indicated that it wasn’t functioning correctly, and the vacuum system was completely inoperative, preventing the turbos from working altogether.
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#### Next Steps for the Bentley
I had hoped to help fix the car, put it back together, and take it on its first drive—a triumphant video moment where a $1 hose clamp fixes my cheapest Bentley. However, this will take longer than anticipated. A used turbo from a 25,000-mile Continental GT was affordable ($500), but installing it will be time-consuming and won’t happen until after the new year.
Meanwhile, there are other projects on my mind, such as my $300 Jeep Cherokee and the $3,000 BMW M3 I bought for my girlfriend. The Jeep’s head has returned from the machinist, ready to be reinstalled, while the BMW needs some maintenance before it can be handed over—specifically, fixing the seat adjustment so she can reach the pedals (she’s only five feet tall). Additionally, brakes and suspension work need to be completed.
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#### Updates on Other Projects
While I’m focused on the Bentley and other cars, my friend—a car enthusiast living just a few miles away—has been working on painting my car. Attached to his barn is a paint shop, and he’s repainting one of my vehicles: my pimped Prius! That’s right—the samePriusI’ve been teasing you with for years. I’m opting for an over-the-top paint job involving a big man with a stretched arm going down the side, orange paint, a giant wing, and maybe some NOs. If you recognize where I’m going with this, you’re probably as excited as I am. Either way, it’s going to be quite the sight when it’s done.
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#### Returning to Wichita: More Projects in the Pipeline
After wrapping up my time in Halstead, I’ll head back to my hometown of Wichita, Kansas. There, another project awaits: my 8 Series car, being worked on by Dana over at Luxury Repair Specialists. These are the same guys who performed my S600 V12 swap—a $4,500 engine swap for a car I bought with a bad motor. Currently sitting back there is the hold-core motor (the one from the donor vehicle) and a new set of wheels for the 8 Series—some nice-looking End Parallels from the new 7 Series. I’m really excited to put those on, as everything else on this project is close to finished.
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#### Checking In on Stored Projects
In addition to these ongoing projects, there are others waiting in storage at my “hoopty fleet headquarters” building—a barn about a mile from my house. Inside are two of my cheapest cars: the $2,100 Lexus LX 470 and my $500 1994 Subaru SVX.
Not much has happened with either since I last showed you parts for the Lexus. We’re still four to six weeks out on the lift kit, and finding a rear hatch that isn’t rusted is proving difficult. I might have to buy one that’s not color-matched (even though it costs $600) and repaint it, which feels like a tough pill to swallow given how much I’ve already spent ($4,000) on parts for this expedition rig.
As for the Subaru SVX, I haven’t done anything with it since my last video. It took some effort just to get it running again, as I hadn’t touched it in a month. Now, I need to fix the power steering, replace the wheel bearings, and install a transmission cooler because these transmissions are known for overheating during spirited driving. However, given that winter is approaching, rallycross events are on hold until spring. Plus, I’m not keen on camping in freezing temperatures in the Lexus.
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#### New Acquisitions: Two More Cars!
If all this weren’t enough, I’ve actually bought two more cars that you haven’t seen yet. I’ve totally lost it—this might be the point where someone suggests submitting my video to the TV show *Hoarders* for help! But regardless of how chaotic things get, I’m committed to sharing every step of my journey with you.
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#### Closing Thoughts
Thank you for watching and sticking with me through all these projects. If you think I’ve gone too far or need some advice, feel free to hit the like button and share your thoughts. As always, thanks for tuning in!
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This article captures the full extent of the car enthusiast’s journey, struggles, and passions, much like the video transcription itself.