What's the most expensive car one can buy in Western Pennsylvania?

What kind of person seeks to buy the most expensive car in the Pittsburgh region?

The sales team at Bentley Pittsburgh knows.

The Marshall Township dealership, located between Lexus and Tesla showrooms on Perry Highway, has the distinction of selling the priciest ride in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The British luxury vehicles start at $250,000 and top out at nearly $450,000 if one opts for a Continental GTC Speed version.

Bentley Pittsburgh leasing consultant Cynthia Jackson said she generally sells several cars a month.

“Bentleys are handmade and the artisans take a lot of pride,” Jackson said. “It’s passed on from generation to generation.”

She sells Bentleys to locals and out-of-state clients.

“I sold one to a 26-year-old,” Jackson said. “The reality is there’s no one stereotype of buyer, but it used to be mainly older men. It used to be your grandfather’s car. Not anymore.”

Most customers have more than one residence and multiple cars, Jackson said.

“This is something that’s a part of their lifestyle,” Jackson said. “They’re wearing beautiful clothes and live in beautiful homes, and so the cars have to go with that. We get some sports celebs, but not as many as you think.”

Considered less stuffy than a Rolls-Royce, its rival in British luxury cars, the Bentley is made in Crewe, England. Each vehicle is created without any assembly lines and handcrafted over six months. The attention to detail contributes to the cost-as-much-as-a-house price. For example, creating a Bentley dashboard takes at least 400 hours of labor. The headlights are made of cut crystal. Design teams focus on every aspect, from passenger comfort to lighting to air quality.

In addition to the aesthetic details, Bentleys are performance vehicles. All models run on all-wheel drive and some can reach top speeds of 187 mph.

Bentley Motors was founded in 1919 in England by Walter Owen Bentley. Today, the company is owned by the Volkswagen Group and operates within the Audi luxury line. The British traditions of craftsmanship remain.

While Bentleys are still mostly purchased by men, Jackson is seeing a change.

“One of my favorite clients is a female anesthesiologist from Pittsburgh. She bought two Bentleys from me in one month,” Jackson said. “We have found that it’s skewing younger, with social media being a prevalent force.

“People have access to what the sports figures and celebrities are driving. It’s a very aspirational brand. There’s a whole category of clients in their late 30s or early 40s with multiple income streams who are not afraid to drive a Bentley.”

Let’s say you wish to take a Bentley for a test drive. That requires pre-financing approval and exemplary credit. For that matter, only pre-approved potential customers are permitted even to sit in the vehicles.

“We’re the most expensive car out there, which is why people come and see us. The only hard part is we can’t let people sit in the car,” Jackson said. Future buyers want their vehicles to be “absolutely pristine.”

Jackson said the practice of selling Bentleys is not hectic.

“None of this is quick, but you never know,” Jackson said, noting that most buyers pay with cash and fewer leases are arranged. A typical lease, for the record, is $5,000 to $8,000 per month.

Some customers, opting for discretion, request that the Bentley name be removed from the rear of the vehicle.

“They want to fly under the radar,” Jackson said.

Purchasing a Bentley comes with certain benefits. Technology in the vehicle is linked to Bentley HQ in England. “If anyone steals the car, Bentley can locate it,” Jackson said.

Another Bentley perk is a valet option on each key fob.

“It will lock the glove box and trunk with the push of that key feature,” Jackson said. “So when you give the key to the valet, they can’t get in there.”

At the Wexford dealership, car lovers and gawkers enjoy driving through the lot.

“We get people coming just to look. In the summer, a lot of grandparents drive through to show the kids,” Jackson said. “We like to welcome everyone. It’s fun for people to look.”

Delivery on a custom build takes months. Custom orders require a 10-20% cash down payment.

“It’s all over the map with what you can do,” Jackson said, noting requests for gold inlays and over-the-top stone in the dashboard and doors. The car is “like a piece of art. It reminds me of jewelry.”

One of Jackson’s older male customers has purchased Bentleys for about 30 years.

“They often order the same exact car, but they want the newer technology,” Jackson said. “The younger guys want different builds and experiment. They like the black finish and want specialized wheels.”

Family traditions

Bill Greenberg of Greensburg is serving as the steward of a family heirloom.

Greenberg was 13 when he visited England for the first time in 1983, accompanying his late father Fred Greenberg with the primary purpose of buying a 1948 Bentley Mark IV.

The father-and-son trip resulted in the Bentley making its way to Greensburg after being delivered through the port of Baltimore.

“I remember it cost 4,900 British pounds, which was about $5,500 at the time,” Greenberg said.

His father, who owned and operated five clothing stores, was an avid collector of British cars.

“He just really fell in love with Bentleys,” Greenberg recalled. “It’s very sentimental because my dad restored the Bentley and only enjoyed the car for a year before his death.”

For more than 40 years, Greenberg has served as caretaker for the Bentley that they nicknamed “Lucky.”

As a young teen, he marveled at the Bentley’s luxury amenities, which included a sliding sunroof, a privacy curtain activated by the driver and a backseat that was as comfortable as sitting on a sofa.

Greenberg estimated the 1948 Bentley to be valued at between $55,000 and $77,000, but he’s not looking to sell it.

“I’ve never put a figure on it. It’s too sentimental. I’ve had offers but it will be passed down to my son,” Greenberg said. “There’s a connection through that car with my son. He never met my father and the car keeps them connected.”

Meanwhile, Monika Rodgers of Cranberry is the new owner of a Bentley. This summer, she bought a 2023 Continental GT in sunburst gold.

“The color is exotic looking and it stands out. People comment and say, ‘Wow, what a beautiful car,’ ” Rodgers said. “I’ve always wanted a Bentley and my husband wanted me to have it.”

Growing up in Europe, Rodgers said, she had many friends who owned Bentleys.

“I always admired the car. I just love the detail and quality. It’s a very expensive piece of machinery. It has the look, the feel and the power,” she said. “It drives like cashmere behind that wheel. So smooth. Inside it’s very quiet. It’s luxury all the way.”