Richard Stafford
Specialist, Head of Research
LOT 258
1996 Bentley Azure Convertible Registration no. N980 JLY Chassis no. to be advised
Sold for £49,450 inc. premium
Lot 258
1996 Bentley Azure Convertible Registration no. N980 JLY Chassis no. to be advised
1996 Bentley Azure Convertible
Registration no. N980 JLY
Chassis no. to be advised
Registration no. N980 JLY
Chassis no. to be advised
*One of the world's fastest convertibles
*One of only 1,321 built
*Automatic transmission
*Present ownership since 2009
*One of only 1,321 built
*Automatic transmission
*Present ownership since 2009
Footnotes
Bentley's 1980s resurgence had relied on models whose basic architecture was shared with other Rolls-Royce products, but also on display at the Geneva Motor Show in '85 was 'Project 90', a mocked-up coupé intended to gauge public response to the idea of a high-performance car unique to Bentley. When the real thing - the Bentley Continental R - was unveiled six years later, the waiting crowd burst into spontaneous applause.
The Corniche convertible had been a major success for Rolls-Royce so it can have surprised few onlookers when a soft-top version of the Bentley Continental R was announced, albeit a full four years after the Coupé's introduction. Once again, Geneva was chosen to launch what would turn out to be the first Bentley model in several decades to use an entirely new name - 'Azure' - which, like 'Corniche' and 'Camargue', evoked exotic destinations in the South of France. The famous Italian styling house of Pininfarina – a firm with unrivalled experience in the design of soft-top Gran Turismos – had been chosen to develop the Azure on the four-seater Continental R platform, and there was no questioning that the result was most successful. Bodyshells were assembled in Italy by Pininfarina, fitted with the automatic soft-top, painted and shipped back for finishing at Crewe. Mechanically similar to the Continental R, but with its turbo-charged V8 engine further up-rated to 385bhp, the Azure was launched in 1995 and cost £215,000 in the UK. Hailed by its maker as, 'the world's best convertible', the Azure lived up to that grand title, proving an immense success, especially in North America where its combination of unmatched luxury, effortless performance, and soft-top style was found highly attractive. When production ceased in 2003 a total of only 1,321 Azures of all types had been built.
This Azure was acquired for the late owner's private collection in 2009 (see Bentley Hadley Green's inspection report on file). Accompanying documentation consists of a V5C registration document; a quantity of expired MoTs dating back to 2002; and sundry service invoices, the most recent from 2014. From notes on file it appears the torque converter was rebuilt in 2010 by Stephens Engineering Automatics Ltd.
Saleroom notices
Please note the chassis number is SCBZK15C5TCH53834.
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Tim Schofield
Senior Specialist, Head of Department, UK
Mark Gold
Head of Operations, UK
Auction Viewings
- 5 December 2017, 16:00 - 19:30 GMT
- 6 December 2017, 09:00 - 16:00 GMT