JULIEN’S AUCTIONS PRESENTS “SAGERSTRONG X BENTLEY: 2022 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE”

Auction of Rare, One-of-a-Kind Automotive Masterpiece Signed by World’s Greatest Sports Legends to Benefit The SagerStrong Foundation’s Work in Blood Cancer Research in Memory of Sports Broadcasting Icon Craig Sager

ONLINE AUCTION IN BEVERLY HILLS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH

The Continental GT Speed Convertible has been transformed by the Bentley bespoke division, Mulliner, into a piece of art that celebrates the Hall of Fame sports broadcaster’s remarkable legacy and immense contribution to the sports industry with a nod to his signature bright colored fashion. The bold presence of the world’s finest open-top Grand Tourer has been enhanced even further with heart felt and unique detailing of the exterior of the car’s bold design of the iconic flower-patterned sport coat that Sager wore during his acceptance of the Jimmy V Award in 2016 (photo right).

In the past months, the world’s legendary sports figures and most popular celebrities who revered the broadcasting giant for his legendary career and love for the game came together to honor Sager by signing the Continental GTC Speed’s bonnet.

In speaking about Craig Sager’s appearance as MC for his father’s retirement, Steph Curry, NBA superstar/Golden State Warrior (photo left), said, “In 2003, all of my family honored my Dad’s career, and Craig is up there paying respect to my dad’s 16-year career. As a kid I remember that and it meant so much to me.” He continued, “During the All-Star game in Toronto, I did an interview with him and Kobe Bryant, so it’s just amazing to have known two legends in the game of basketball. That was an important full-circle moment for me.”

“He was a part of the NBA family….He was such a wonderful guy and you know he understood the game,” said Rudy Tomjanovich, Basketball Hall of Famer/NBA Champion/Coach. “It was great talking to him and you know he always brought the excitement of his outfits all the time.”

“Craig had a relationship with most folks, just with his personality and his own style," said George Gervin, Basketball Hall of Famer/NBA Champion. “Just when you think about him it puts a smile on your face because he had his own style.”

“Craig was a great guy, was a great ambassador for the game and he was one of those guys that everybody enjoyed spending time with, enjoyed giving an interview with and I think we lost him way too soon,” said Ben Wallace, Basketball Hall of Famer/NBA Champion.

The Bentley GT Speed Convertible is the ultimate, open-top Grand Tourer and most performance-orientated Speed model. It is the most powerful, driver-focused interpretation of the benchmark convertible Grand Tourer. It features a 6.0-liter twin turbo W12 engine mated to an 8-speed twin clutch automatic transmission producing 650 brake horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. This allows the Bentley to go from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 208 miles per hour. This car features unique 22’ Speed forged 10-spoke wheels, finished in an exclusive high gloss black. Not only is this the fastest four-seat convertible that Bentley has ever built, it is one of the most powerful grand tourers on the market today. (photo above right: Magic Johnson signing the Bentley, photo left: Stacy Sager, President of SagerStrong Foundation/wife of Craig Sager with Danby Swanson, and photo below: Craig Sager’s signature on seat)

“Julien’s Auctions is proud to offer this one-of-a-kind world class vehicle, the 2022 Bentley Continental GTC Speed, in honor of the legendary and beloved sports broadcaster Craig Sager,” said Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “His warm reporting style and positive spirit resonated with so many of his fans, colleagues and athletes around the world and if ever there was an item that could honor his legacy, it would be this rare and unique automotive masterpiece. We are also pleased to announce that all proceeds of this sale will go towards raising funds for The SagerStrong Foundation and their critical work in blood cancer research and awareness.”

“Our interpretation of ‘dressing’ the Continental GT Speed Convertible in something Craig would have worn honors him and his vibrant, enduringly positive, and uplifting spirit,” said Scott Reynolds, Retail Marketing Manager at Bentley Motors, Inc. “It’s our aspiration that further enhancing this car with the signatures of Craig’s family, both on and off the court, will create an iconic piece of rolling memorabilia: a lighthouse of hope for those that knew and loved Craig.”

Since 2016, the Foundation has raised more than 2.5 million dollars for groundbreaking research and programming, working tirelessly to give hope to those who need it most dealing with a blood cancer diagnosis.

The SAGERSTRONG Foundation was founded in 2016 by former Hall of Fame and two-time Emmy Award Sports Reporter Craig Sager and his wife Stacy, to fund and support blood cancer research and trials, so that one day, leukemia patients and their families will not have to go through the battle they endured. The Foundation has raised over 2.5 million dollars to help fund blood cancer research, including two clinical trials at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. These important trials support Dr. Naveen Pemmaraju’s (Craig’s doctor) research with current Myelofibrosis patients and patients with Advanced Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. For more information on these trials, research, the #SagerStrong Foundation and events, or to make a donation to support this important work, please visit sagerstrongfoundation.org.

Bentley Motors is the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world. The company’s headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, R&D, engineering and production of the company’s five model lines, Bentayga, Bentayga EWB Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury car brands such as Bentley. It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley employs around 4,000 people at Crewe.

Monday February 20th, 2023
Session I: 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time