Highlights
- Rare interior specification
- Lots of expense recently spent
- Low mileage
- Believed to be 1 of only 1300 examples produced
- Beautiful to drive
The Appeal
Who doesn’t instantly fall in love with the idea of owning a driving a Bentley? The thought of the name alone conjures up images of success and big country estates. You are now able to enter that elite club for a fraction of the price of a new Bentley, so why not enjoy the feeling of the wind in your hair at the helm of this drop top luxury car.
This example has had a lot of work recently at Jack Barclays, London. It also has a wonderful past life and was even once owned by a Lord.
The History and Paperwork
- Thanks to the available service book, we can see that this car was purchased on the 21st of May 1996 from Jack Barclay’s
- It then receives its first 1,000 mile service at the same dealership
- Since this, we know that the car has had 10 owners, with the most recent owners being the most interesting
- About 6 or 7 years ago it turned up on a Lord's driveway after it was purchased at a Bonhams auction
- It was then sent to Jack Barclays in 2018 who were given cart Blanche to get it into tip-top condition
- Some of this work includes fixing the convertible roof mechanism, a new thermostat, all new drive belts, air conditioning recharge, new front discs and pads, and a new steering rack
- This will all be mentioned in the invoice should you wish to read it on your collection
- From a little earlier on the torque converter has been rebuilt in 2010 but Stephens Engineering Automatics Ltd.
- There is a lovely, documented history with this car that can be found in the original Bentley handbook
- It is now your chance to add to the history of this luxurious motor vehicle
- Once you get behind the wheel and drop the top you will wonder how you’ve gone this long without one of these in your life
The Interior
- Fitted with Birdseye maple trim
- Beautiful cream leather
- Amazingly unique
Possibly one of the greatest assets of this Bentley is its interior, what an amazingly unique and bold specification it has been finished in. The Birdseye maple wood is beautifully complimented by the cream leather, and it is further improved by the splashes of baby blue leather. Life’s too short to drive boring cars, so why not be a little eccentric?
If we can begin by drawing your attention to the cream leather seats, with blue piping, we can see that they are presented very nicely indeed. Both the front seats look extremely comfortable to sit in as you cruise down the open roads. There are a few age related marks here and there but nothing that would warrant any kind of major work, probably just a good going over with some leather cleaner. Unsurprisingly the rear seats are also presented well, if you were to spend an afternoon you could be able to bring these back to like new. Be rest assured though, these might just be the most comfortable seats you ever sit in.
One of the best features of this interior is the wood that has been specified. Birdseye Maple is rare to find on the inside of one of these beautiful cars. Luckily for you, this rare option has been looked after well and throughout the cabin, you are presented with wonderful and eye catching wood.
It is not only the Birdseye leather that will catch your attention within the cabin of this Bentley. The light blue leather that adorns the steering wheel, dashboard, and gear selector, are all guaranteed to spark a conversation or two. This leather is presented well on the whole but there are a few marks, mainly on the steering wheel and the gear selector where some of the stitching is starting to fray. This colour is reflected in the deep carpets fitted to the footwells too.
The most important feature of the Azure is the drop top hood. At the press of a button the roof gracefully raises into the air and folds neatly into the rear deck. With the roof down the cabin is flooded with light and the driving experience is instantly changed.
There is nothing like a classic Bentley interior, the large bank of analogue dials, the unique specification, and the comfort all make for one amazing interior. Although there are a few blemishes here and there, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy this interior like it was new.
The Exterior
- Finished in Fountain Blue
- Great top condition
- It will look great in your collection
The Bentley Azure is a piece of timeless automotive design that still looks beautiful nearly 30 years after it rolled off the production line. When you get this Bentley back to your garage it will look so stunning that you will find it hard to take your eyes off of it.
This car was painted in this rather fetching light blue, or Fountain Blue to use the correct name, when it left the Crewe factory in 1996. Today, some 26 years later, it still looks amazing. Thanks to its low mileage it has been saved from being absolutely peppered with nasty stone chips, if you look closely, however, you may find one or two. It is also reported that one of the previous owners had a tight garage and has created a few marks on the front bumper getting in and out.
The fabric hood that is fitted to this Azure is presented in very nice condition indeed. When it has locked itself into position you are left with a very sleek looking two door luxury barge, but with it retracted you have a unique type of drop-head indeed. The material used on the hood appears to be presented in lovely condition with no nasty rips, tears, or any other marks that you should worry about.
This Azure sits on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, these are presented well too. You may be able to find the small mark here or there, but no major damage that would require a refurb. These rims are shod with four matching Avon Turbospeed CR228-D tyres, this is another little sign that it has been looked after by people who care about it.
Overall, the exterior is presented very well for you indeed. It is probably thanks to the lack of mileage that it looks this good. You now get the chance to park this eye catching classic within your collection, and boy wouldn’t it look good in it.
The Mechanics
- Lots of work carried out by Jack Barclays
- Perfectly smooth engine
- Drives well on the road
- Low mileage
Bentleys have always been about effortless power and performance, going back as far as the ‘Bentley Boys’ we can see that performance, is at the heart of this luxurious drop top saloon.
Under the bonnet, you will find the world famous 6 ¾ litre engine, adorned with a turbo this Bentley has more than enough to fire you effortlessly down the road. All of this power is transmitted to the rear wheels through the smooth 4 speed automatic gear. Although the gearbox hasn’t needed any large works, the torque converter was rebuilt in 2010, which should mean a slick delivery of power to the gearbox.
Starting on the button this Bentley will be an excellent driving experience. The current owner reports that out on the road it is said that this Azure drives incredibly well, it is smooth and glides over the less than ideal British roads with ease.
With a lot of work carried out by Jack Barclays recently, it is no surprise that this is a wonderful car to drive. You will have so much fun behind the wheel of this classic.
Summary
This Azure has everything going for it, the interior is unique, the exterior is beautifully sculpted, and it has rarity on its side. If you are in the market for a comfortable classic cruiser that still looks and feels modern, then this Azure could be the perfect candidate.
Wherever you take this car you are more than likely to receive a few admiring looks. Don’t miss out on this stunning and unique example.
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