Almost Real AR 1:43 Bentley Continental GT3R Review
Almost Real AR 1:43 Bentley Continental GT3R Review
The Bentley Continental GT has been one of the most successful GT cars of the modern era. Since its debut in 2003, the design created by Dirk van Braeckel has balanced elegance with a distinctly athletic stance, giving the Continental GT a broad appeal that goes beyond the usual luxury-coupe audience.
With Volkswagen Group technology underneath, the real car combines the kind of luxurious interior Bentley does best with German powertrain engineering and all-wheel drive. It is comfortable when driven normally, quick when pushed, and representative of the grand-touring formula in a way few cars manage.
The Continental GT has since moved into its third generation, but a model of the newest generation was not yet available when this review was written. That left the second-generation Continental GT3R as the latest version of the car that collectors could readily find in model form. Almost Real produced it in both 1:18 and 1:43; this review focuses on the smaller die-cast version.
Packaging and First Impressions
In hand, the model feels reassuringly substantial, which is expected from a die-cast body. Almost Real uses the semi-transparent paper box and clear acrylic display cover that became a recognizable feature of its 1:43 range. It is a practical presentation format, but it also gives the products a consistent visual identity when several models are collected together.
The base uses a carbon-fiber pattern with an angled metal plaque. Angled plaques tend to divide opinion. Personally, I do not find this one especially distinctive, but it is not a failed design either; it simply does its job without becoming a feature in its own right.
As for the exterior shape, there is little reason to worry about a serious distortion here. Properly licensed die-cast models rarely go badly wrong in the basic silhouette, and this Continental GT3R follows the same pattern. Its proportions are close to the real car, while the ride height looks balanced on the display base.
Body Shape, Carbon-Fiber Work and Front-End Details
For a 1:43 metal model, the Continental GT3R's exterior reproduction is quite convincing. The body sits at an appropriate height and the main proportions remain close to the full-size car. Almost Real also uses carbon-fiber surface treatment in several places, although the front carbon-fiber lower lip is molded into the body instead of being presented as a separate part. That makes the canard or wind-fin area read as one continuous piece rather than as a clearly separated component.
The wheels are acceptable rather than spectacular. The more convincing detail is the use of etched parts for the brake discs, which gives the area behind the spokes a sharper, more material-like appearance than a simple printed insert would.
The grille and front air intakes are open rather than completely solid. The internal structure of the headlights is less clearly defined, which is understandable at this scale and particularly difficult with LED-style lamps. One thoughtful touch is the small radar or sensor detail at each side intake; it is easy to overlook, but it shows that the front-end equipment was not treated as an afterthought.
Rear Aero, Paint and Moving Parts
The rear wing is thicker than the real component because of the material and scale. The tail lamps are also not as clear or luminous-looking as those on the full-size car. The exhaust outlets and carbon-fiber diffuser are more successful, however, and the Bentley badge is an etched part like the front emblem, giving it a clean raised effect.
Like many small-scale die-cast models, this one has slightly soft edges and a somewhat fuller appearance than a finely engineered resin or larger-scale piece. That is part of the compromise that comes with choosing metal construction at 1:43.
The main body lines remain smooth, while the panel lines are relatively shallow. The paint is on the thick side, although that may help the model remain presentable over time. The only moving parts are the rolling wheels. Unlike some of Almost Real's earlier 1:43 Land Rover models, this Continental GT3R does not have steering functionality. That may reflect cost control, and omitting the steering mechanism also helps keep the car's stance low, but the missing feature is still a small disappointment from a collector's point of view.
Interior, Carbon-Fiber Pattern and Underbody
Carbon-fiber treatment appears across the body and inside the cabin. The patterns on the wing and engine-cover areas are laid out symmetrically from left to right, which is a careful touch. The windows are small, so photographing the interior is difficult, but direct inspection shows that Almost Real did not neglect the cabin. The interior detail and color separation are both handled with more care than the compact scale might suggest.
The large carbon-fiber diffuser at the back of the car is one of the model's genuine surprises. Other underbody details are less impressive: the suspension is represented with a relief effect and simple color separation, which feels a little light for a model positioned above the most basic entry-level offerings.
Five Colors and the 1:18 Comparison
Almost Real released the 1:43 Continental GT3R in five colors, giving the smaller model a broader color-selection appeal than a single-version release.
There is not much value in treating the 1:43 and 1:18 versions as direct competitors. For a collector without a fixed scale route, the 1:18 model offers richer detail and more varied display possibilities. The 1:43 format generally gives up moving parts and visible mechanical structure, but its strength is the ability to build a coherent series without needing the same amount of display space.
Final Take
Viewed from today, Almost Real's 1:43 Continental GT3R remains a well-executed 2017 die-cast model. It sits comfortably above average from a development and manufacturing perspective. The model is not flawless: the rear wing is thick, the edges are slightly soft, the paint is heavy, and the steering function is absent. At the same time, the overall silhouette, stance, etched brake discs, etched Bentley badges, carbon-fiber treatment, interior separation, and visible front radar details give it a clear sense of purpose.
At the time, the 1:43 market was less receptive to models at this level, and Almost Real's early 1:43 releases eventually became associated with discounted pricing. The company later shifted more of its production toward the better-received 1:64 AR BOX line and, in recent years, gained wider attention through its Porsche range. That later success still rests on the technical groundwork laid by the earlier 1:18 and 1:43 products.