The Extremely Rare Bentley Bacalar Losses Over 1 Million Euros In Value After 1000 km

Extremely rare and expensive models almost always gain in value over time. Special edition Ferraris, Porsches, or Lamborghinis regularly surpass new car prices at auction, often with the enthusiasm of collectors who don’t ask how much. But the Bentley Bacalar has shown that these rules don’t always apply.

At an RM Sotheby’s auction held during the Formula 1 weekend in Abu Dhabi, one of only 12 Bacalar ever produced changed hands for a sum that surprised even experienced auction observers. It was a 2021 example, the fifth in a row, with just 1,131 kilometers on the clock. The practically new car, from a private collection in Monaco, sold for 750,000 euros.

Compared to the price of a new car of around 1.7 million euros, this is a drop in value of one million euros. And this is in Abu Dhabi, a place where the global elite of collectors has gathered, ready to spend serious money without much thought.

The Bentley Bacalar is conceived as the ultimate expression of Mulliner’s coachbuild philosophy. An open-top two-seater, hand-built, with numerous personalization details and a design that only partially draws on the Continental GTC. This particular example comes in a striking Memphis Red color, with three-piece 22-inch wheels and a luxurious interior in a combination of light leather and dark red details.

On paper, it’s all there. Extreme rarity, luxury, a powerful W12, and the fact that only 12 were produced. However, it seems that some collectors perceive the Bacalar as a car that, despite its exclusivity, is too close to the production Continental GTC. When a very richly equipped GTC can be had for just over $300,000, the price difference of more than six times becomes difficult to explain in terms of long-term value.

The market has sent a clear message so far. Bacalar has not yet become a collector’s item, at least not while it is still relatively fresh. Whether that will change over time remains to be seen, but this auction showed that neither a famous name nor extreme rarity always guarantees an increase in value.

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