The Bentley Azur

Yes I have not made a spelling mistake. And no I am not talking the Bentley Azure based on the Bentley Continental R/T.

I am talking about the Bentley Azur by Robert Jankel. The coachbuilt 2 door Bentley based on the Bentley Turbo R. It was the competitor to the Hooper 2 door as featured previously.



Robert Jankel shortened the wheelbase of the Bentley Turbo R to make this 2 door coupe. Presumably by around 4 inches, say a reverse of the Bentley Turbo RL version. The design was in collaboration with Pininfarina.



As shown, it came in both convertible and fixed coupe form. Both versions were called the Azur.

Pictures of these vehicles are very hard to find, and I have only managed to locate the Jankel Press release photos, taken on the familiar speckled gravel drive out the front of Robert Jankel's headquarters.

Here is a very low quality photo of a black version from the brochure.



The photos are so hard to come by, that I present a model of a Rolls Royce Spirit based Jankel Azur.



These cars are quite interesting, and hopefully more information will follow.

Pictures courtesy(Jankel, VF Americars)

Ladies Entering Bentleys

This post is a little wrong, but I will do it anyway.

Ladies entering Bentleys. The right and wrong ways. Firstly we shall start with the right way to enter a Bentley.

What better authority to show us etiquette than the Queen? Her Bentley as explained previously here is an excellent example.



It does help that even with your hat on the car door is still a head taller than you. What a proper modern Royal Carriage.

Now the wrong way.

What better female Bentley driver to show us the wrong way to enter a Bentley than Paris Hilton? From recently being caught as an unlicensed driver in her Bentley Continental GTC, and having previously run out of petrol, and further crashing her GTC into a bin, and finally enjoying washing a Bentley Arnage - Paris shows us the wrong way to enter a Bentley.



But it does look good.

Matte Black Bentley Continental GTM Monaco

The British company Specialist Cars GB, otherwise called Amari Super Cars has released a special edition of the Bentley Continental GT, called the Bentley GTM Monaco.



The stand out of this special car is the matte black paint.



It also sports new wheels and a new front fender vent. Better add this type of vent to the list of Bentley vents here.



The car has been spotted on the street by www.Autogespot.com user Kakker, and is currently for sale for £179,995



Nice Bentley Spotting Kakker



This year at the Geneva Motor Show another matte black car was shown, then time a Rolls Royce New Phantom, by Mansory. It seemingly does not look real.



It is real - and I'm sure it will be hard to keep clean!



Pictures courtesy (Kakker of www.Autogespot.com, Amari Super Cars, Jalopnik )

The Derby Bentley experience.

Ever dreamed of sitting in the front seat of a older Bentley. Sure you have. Ever dreamed about driving one? Yes. What would if feel like? It would definitely be an experience.



Lets dream. Take this 1936 Derby Bentley 4 1/4 Litre British racing green drop head coupe open tourer. Nice car. Bet it goes as well.



Now lets think of the toughest and most demanding purpose-built race track in the world. One which is usually open to the public, but also used to test the best cars of today. Even the modern prototypes. The Nürburgring.



Now imaging taking the Derby Bentley 4 1/4 Litre out on the Nürburgring and racing against other vintage cars of the same era. Wow.

Play the video of this experience.

Pictures (Concept Carz)

Pininfarina Bentley Mark VI, 1949

From the 'worlds largest and finest classic cars showroom' The Auto Collections at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas comes another one off Bentley Pinninfarina coupe. This time from 1949, a Bentley Mark VI.



Pinin Farina has made numerous Bentleys, like the Bentley T1 Coupé Speciale, the Bentley Camargue, and exclusive Bentleys for the Sultan of Brunei.



This Bentley as was usual for Pininfarina, was designed for a car show of the period. The chassis is B453CD and was previously sold by Bonhams & Butterfields on the 29th July 2005 at the annual RROC auction at the Hunt House.



The car sold for $253750 and had an estimate of $250000-$300000.



Previous auction result here. Now with the roof on.



Pictures courtesy (The Auto Collections, Motorbase)

Bentley Continental R lights on a New Phantom

How impressive does this coachwork look! There have been plenty of people who do not like the new Rolls Royce because of its truck like appearance, caused by the headlights. Now there is a solution. Simply add Bentley headlights.



Paul and Andrew Wood, from the Rolls Royce authorised repairer and dealer P & A Wood in Essex, (link to google maps hacked zoom of the roof here showing satellite images of Silver Shadows out back) have designed and built the 'GainesWood' Phantom featuring Bentley Continental R headlights and a new front bumper bar with recessed number plate frame and newly designed lower bumper.



The coachwork was commissioned by a customer who refused to purchase the new Phantom unless more traditional looking headlights were fitted. The coachwork took four months to complete, with several mock ups of the front end before a look was satisfactory, as deemed by Paul Woods and the customer. The total cost of the conversion was £26,000. The car is now for sale, as the customer who commissioned the car now has ordered an extended wheel base new Phantom, again with the headlight conversion to the Bentley Continental R. Very dedicated.



Photos courtesy (P.A. Wood, Winding Road)

Bentley Four Wheel Drive

Just to clarify, half the current range of Bentley motor cars are 4x4. That is, drive goes to all four wheels.

Yes, they are not SUV's or off roaders, or soft roaders for that matter, they are saloon cars and grand tourers.

The rumour mill was massive a while ago that Bentley was making a SUV. It was because of a spy shot of a Porsche Cayenne with weird wheels, presumably a test mule.

Here are the CGI images that where floating around.



The above rendering looks good actually, say 26" wheels?



The rendering below - well what can you say other than fat pig! Really bad.



There are proper motor cars that are 4x4/SUV's off roaders though. You simply need to make them yourself, or be a Sultan.

For sale by Shannons a few years ago in Victoria Australia, this Rolls Royce Silver Shadow is based on a Nissan Patrol 4X4 system.









Again from Australia, this time from Western Australia one for wading through deep rivers - definitely not as refined.



The spare wheel placement is just great on this home made Rolls Royce SUV. The number plates tell the story. Californian plate 'GOT BAJA'.





Pictures (bentleyspotting, WorldCarFans, webfinds)

Bumper Comparison

The recent spy shots of the soon to be updated Bentley Continental GT and Continental Flying Spur made me wonder.

They only changed the front bumper bar.

So just how much has the bumper bar of Bentley cars changed over the relativity recent years? Let us have a look.

Currently the cars have different bumper bars, but the spy shots had them sporting both the same.

The spy shot of the update late 2007/08 Continental GT and Flying Spur.The current 2007 Continental Flying Spur.And the current Continental GT.The Arnage has actually changed the bumper bar quite a lot in the nearly 10 years of production. The front lights were also changed in 2005.

The 2007 Arnage.The 2002 Arnage.
The 2000 Arnage.Now the 1999 Arnage.
Now a couple of Turbos.
And the older Continentals.
So it seems that Bentley does have a recent history of changing the front bumpers, and sure enough it is about time for a change on the Bentley Continental GT and Continental Flying Spur.

Smooth as Ice - Bentley Continental GT sets record

Four-times World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen, smashed the world ice speed record in March, reaching an average speed of 199.86mph (321.65km/h) on frozen sea off the coast of Finland. Cool.



What is even better is that he did it in his own actual Bentley Continental GT.



There were very slight modifications for a colder running petrol, some studded ice tyres, headlight covers which look very cool and smooth hub caps over the wheels.



'The Bentley performed impeccably,' said Kankkunen. 'I was amazed how stable and secure it felt at these high speeds, despite the track's rough and icy surface being scattered with powdery snow. I even managed to stop the car from its top speed within 600 metres.'



A true Bentley boy. I like it.

Source (Bentley PR)

Celeb Trash Round Up

Robbie Williams is cool. Yes his last album took a bit to get used to, and the hip hop dancers on his tour were fat and ugly, but hey - it makes him look even better.

Here he is showing off his 'rented' Bentley Azure a few years back on MTV Cribs - a show where pop stars/ rockers/ entertainment types show off what they bought with the money fans gave them.





Of course the show is American.







Here is recent trash gossip. Straight out of rehab for some retail therapy. The paparazzi snapped Robbie Williams in a Bentley dealership in LA.



Contemplating. The new Bentley Azure or the Bentley Continental GTC?



That looks like a decision face.



Oh no! Our favourite female Bentley driver Paris Hilton got busted by the cops driving with a disqualified licence last month as well - and of course it was in her baby blue Bentley Continental GTC.



Pictures (Splash News, MTV Cribs)

Bentley Continental SC or Sedanca Coupé

When writing the recent article on other Bentley body types, I forgot to mention the Bentley Continental SC. It is definitely a different body type. From 1998 to the year 2000 a total of 79 Bentley Continental SC's were manufactured.



Bentley St. Louis currently has this red one for sale.





Now the roof profile. It does look quite impressive.



I just had to do it. Let us take a look at a future possible model of Bentley. The Bentley Brooklands SC.



Let us reminisce the past possibilities.







Pictures courtesy (Bentley St Louis, photoshopped webfinds.)

Hooper 2 door Bentley Turbo R

Following from the fully coachbuild Bentley Hooper Empress II earlier, comes another variant of the Bentley Turbo R by Hooper, a two door version.



A pose outside its birth place, Hooper & Company.



More Hooper press pictures.





Can one identify these gates? Kensington High St by any chance?





Early in 1996 Duncan Hamilton offered this Hooper 2 door for sale. It was owned by a blue blood. Very nice. Is this the same car as in the Hooper press pictures?





I am unsure of the build numbers, but here is another example in red. They are very rare, and one was been 'Car of the Month' at rrab.com before.





This car came up for sale in 1992, as per this advertisement in a UK paper.

The Catwalk Strut

This company has such a good name. STRUT. Advertising companies would love to get a client like this. Just think of the possibilities that the creative agencies would come up with. It would be endless.



But unfortunately it seems they did it themselves.

The Press release.

"STRUT®, known worldwide as the leading automotive aftermarket manufacturer of handcrafted, triple-chromed grilles, wheels and accessories designed for luxury automobiles and SUVs, has announced two new grille collections—the Greenwich Collection™ designed exclusively for the Bentley Continental GT and the Oxford Collection™ for the Bentley Flying Spur.

These vehicles represent two of the most highly respected rides on the road today. If you are an individual who appreciates high performance automotive technology, fine craftsmanship, and luxury, then a Bentley suits your personality to a T. You accept no compromises and you own only the best of everything."

It's a pretty crap press release.



The example below is definitely not kosher, or halal for that matter. Pig anyone?



It is a bit wrong - if not arrogant - that the company puts badges on every piece on the grill - thats four 'strut' badges on the front of your Bentley - when essentially they are just dipping the chicken wire in chrome.



Pictures (STRUT)

Angle Grinder Accident

Oh know - via ebay item number: 300092841011 - SCBZR03D8LCX33267 has had bad plastic surgery by a backyard doctor in LA. The doctor obviously was a de-registered medical practitioner using Mexican pharmaceuticals.



From the seller Soulrider777 who has over the last month purchased many pairs of both male and female cowboy boots, and faux jewellery 'collar tips' for check shirts and other unusual things like a voice changer and industrial natural gas heater comes this Bentley 'Sovereign'.




The product description is just great.

It features a 'fully power German canvas top (leather top option is also available)' and the converstion was 'undertaken by a team of automotive engineers who know the stress and load factors and other structural integrity issues.' Further followed up by the statement that 'This Bentley is better than the factory convertible according to those who know Rolls Royce and Bentley automobiles.' Sure it is.



I just have to go on 'This Bentley “Sovereign” is one of its kind in true sense.' 'According to our information, there are only two of this kind.''One is owned by a business tycoon and the other is this one'. 'This car is insured for $278,000, however, it is valued over $500,000 by those who know what an unusual 4 door convertible may cost if one has to get it done by the factory.' Sorry - if one 'has' to get an 'unusual 4 door convertible done by the factory' Crewe would so no.



Where are the rear quarter windows? It is like removing someone's ears because you thing it may look better.

The canvas roof looks like it was placed on top to cover an accident. I think it was.

photos Photoshopped via (ebay)

The Bentley Turbo RT

Currently on sale on ebay item number 190093638543 is one of 50 Bentley Turbo RT motor cars.

It's Grease Lightening - You're the one that I want - Ouh ouh ouh!



Yes, this Bentley Turbo RT is the exact car that I want in the exact colour I want, British Racing Green. It even has the Mulliner enhancements that I want. Everything, except that the steering wheels in on the wrong hand oh, I mean left hand side.

This car is uber cool and simply better in all respects than any other Bentleys or Rolls Royce of this body shape made over the 17 years that they were in production.

It is in the detail. Let me explain.



Have a look at the bumper. It is more rounded, has fog lights and bright mesh inserts. It has three under bumper sections where the main grill flows down to the under bumper inserts, just like the 2007 Azure.



Now look at the wheel arches. It is a wide body with very large protruded arches which blend seamlessly with the rounded front bumper.



The side profile. The front fender vents totally look the business as explained in a previous article on side vents. The side skirts are very much in proportion, and the side mirrors are most modern.



The 18" wheels are not too large, and have very fat rubber.



The bonnet has heat vents, how cool it that!



The rear bumper apron is rounded as well, and the car sits low, but not low as in ridiculous that the wheels scrape, but just right.



The rear bumper also has mesh inserts, and the exhaust. Well its 3" stainless steel, perfect for pumping the gasses out to kill hippies.



BRG leather works very well and the red piping is a great finish. But what is that between the seats?



My gosh! Yes its is a rear mounted large speedo with the classic organ draw bar air vents. The brushed aluminium lower door panel is a perfect compliment to the speedo surround.



The brushed aluminium continues for the whole dash, as well as the centre console. It has a big red button in the centre of the console above the compulsory Breitling clock. You guessed it - the red button is the start button!



I have not even mentioned the engine. It has 420hp. The most powerful Bentley Turbo R/ Mulsanne equivalent made.



Bentley Turbo RT.



The obvious problem I am going to face when wanting to purchase this car is availability. Only 50 were made in 1997 and 1998. That is world-wide. I live in Australia and have more of a problem, simply due to the numbers of Rolls Royce and Bentley cars sold those years. From my previous article on sales figures in Australia, only 11 cars in 1997 and 15 cars in 1998 were sold in Australia - and that includes every different model of both Rolls Royce and Bentley. The Bentley Continental R and T, as well as the Bentley Azure were all competitors to the Turbo RT, and would have made up the majority of the Bentley sales for these two years - not to mention that Rolls Royce was more popular in 1999 than Bentley sales wise.

I have another issue. I really want the Mulliner side vents and the bonnet heat vents. From all the Turbo RT's that I have seen pictures of from around the world, less than half have these options. Damn.

But some do, like this Masons Black Bentley Turbo RT for sale at Vantage Motorworks. I would take a black one as well.



Again I have found another black Turbo RT with Mulliner vents for sale previously, and this time right hand drive - perfect! Was sold previously by Phantom Motor Cars.



I am still dreaming - tossing up the idea of purchasing a cheap 1981 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit Asian import, calling up Mulliner and obtaining new front and rear bumpers, round Bentley headlights, new mesh grill, new wheels and of course the vents! This would mean not taking on Ferraris at the lights of course. I am sure this idea will be frowned upon!

Pictures courtesy (Classic Motors Co, Vantage Motorworks, Phantom Motor Cars)

Other Bentley Body Types

Now let us think about it. Bentley essentially has two cars that come in difference body shapes.

The Bentley Arnage now comes as a convertible, and two door coupe and a four door sedan. The Bentley Continential also comes in convertible, two door and four door versions.

So what is the logical next step for Bentley? Well a station wagon / estate car of course!

Courtsey of A. Schaefer at CCW Car Design and Photoshop comes the Bentley Arnage Estate.



Now the Bentley Continental Estate from CCW Car Design.



It actually does not really complete the range if you are from down under. You need to have a bloody ute version mate. Like the Kiwi plumber who drives a GT with ladders on it, and the Bentley S1 Ute that is even in the National Motor Museum of Australia as explained previously in a fair dinkum Bentley.

Lets for the heck of it check out some Silver Shadow utes.


















Even a Corniche. Now that is taking it too far.




Pictures courtesy (CCW Car Design, webfinds.)

A changing of the Bumpers

Bentley has become a lot more normal when compaired to other car manufactures of late. Normal by the way of standard strategies to sell more cars, and this includes the manditory 'mid lifecycle' facelift of the models.

Yes it did happened in the past where Bentley would change the bumpers of the Turbo R and call it a whole new model, but that would take 10 years, not under five.

The Bentley Continental GT and the Bentley Continential Flying Spur - it seems like from these winter testing spyshots - has hit the Rodeo Drive plastic surgeon for some day surgery of a new front bumper.



It is a face lift, but pretty much the same person.



Photos courtsey of AUTOMEDIA



Via WorldCarFans.

The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam's Different Bentleys

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Al-Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Almarhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien - layman's translation - Sultan Hassanal son of Sultan Omar of the State of Brunei - is simply the richest man in the world.

So it is not a case of how you are going to buy it, but what you are going to buy. Obviously it came to a point where Bentley's range on offer was not enough, so The Sultan of Brunei and his brother 'playboy' Prince Jefri just commissioned Bentley to make more.

So Bentley did. Here is an abridged list of some of the more unusual Bentleys that the Royal family of Brunei owns.

Most are extremely hard to find pictures of, but I have done my best. Generally they cost millions of pounds each to develop and make.

Make - Model - Registration - VIN Number.

As written previously you can learn how to decode the VIN here.


The Sultan attended the 1994 Geneva Motor Show. He really liked the Bentley Java concept. It was not in production. Obviously that did not matter. He ordered many, even including an estate version. I do not recall that at the show.

From the pen of Graham Hull head of design at Rolls Royce / Bentley and Roy Axe from the Design Research Associates limited came the Bentley Java.

The Sultan owns

BENTLEY JAVA P700 BQ7878 SCBVH99C8RCH00480
BENTLEY JAVA P710 BQ9222 SCBVH99C5TCH00492
BENTLEY JAVA BS9997 SCBVH99C4TCH00497

and ten other Bentley Java's.

The Java Convertible.



The Java Coupe.



From the above VIN numbers the Java's listed were built in 1994, 1994 and 1996. They were model 'VH' which is not on the standard list, were built at the Crewe factory, had twin airbags and were right hand drive. The engine model number is 99 and from the data of the Java and the motor show was a twin-turbocharged 3.5 liter 32-valve V8 engine.

Loading the Sultans Bentleys.



The Bentley Java Estate.



More Bentley Java Estates. From the models there seems to be a 700 version a 710 version and just simple the Java. These differences in models most likely differentiate the different body styles, that is the convertible, the coupe and the estate.




Next I present the Sultans Bentley B3.

Examples he owns.

BENTLEY B3 BQ7130 SCBZB04C7SCH52386
BENTLEY B3 BP3388 SCBZB04CXSCH52382
BENTLEY B3 BN1111 SCBZB04C4RCH52081

plus 9 other Bentley B3's from the published list.

The Bentley B3 was designed and built by Pinninfarina. From the above VIN the cars were based on the Continental R/S chassis, featured the 6.75 Litre V8, single Garrett turbocharger, cross-bolted crankshaft, non catalyst motor, right hand drive, built in Crewe and were made in 1995, 1995 and 1994.



Loading onto the plane headed for South East Asia.





Now the rear of the Bentley B3.





The convertible below is part of the collection. Most people on other sites say it is a Bentley Java. I believe it is not a Bentley Java.

The Bentley clearly displays the Pininfarina badge on the side. The Bentley Java was designed by Graham Hull and the Design Research Associates, not Pininfarina. I think this Bentley is a Bentley B2.



Do you think that the registration says BP3000 as in BENTLEY B2 BP3000 SCBZB04C2SCH52389

Look at the front. The grill is mesh. The Java is vains. The bottom of the Java grill is straight, this is round. The Java has one piece lights, this has two individual lights like the B3. It is not the Bentley Java but the Bentley B2.

A Bentley B2 model was also built on the Continental R/S chassis.

BENTLEY B2 BN20 SCBZB04CXSCH52351
BENTLEY B2 BP3000 SCBZB04C2SCH52389
BENTLEY B2 BP1189 SCBZB04C1SCH52383

plus 14 other Bentley B2's.

Now it gets more interesting. Have a look at these Bentley model names. Sure you have heard of them before.

BENTLEY CAMELOT BP818 SCBZH04C5RCH00408
BENTLEY PHOENIX BN99 SCBZH04A9SCH00142
BENTLEY IMPERIAL BP3131 SCBZH04C8SCH00344

Who would have thought, a Bentley Camelot, or a Bentley Phoenix. Annoyingly I could not find photographs of these cars that are definitely the images of these unique Bentleys.

They are all built on a mysterious chassis model 'ZH'. My guess it that the 'H' stands for Hassanal. The Sultan did have a personal 'Sultan Spec' Engine for his Rolls Royces so why not a Bentley chassis?

More 'ZH' chassis cars. No idea how they look. I do want to see what a Bentley Spectre looks like. Sounds very James Bond.

BENTLEY RAPIER BP220 SCBZH16C7TCH00429
BENTLEY SPECTRE DPM SCBZH04A9SCH00125

I did manage to find some photographs of Bentleys built on the mysterious 'ZH' chassis.

May I present the 1996 Bentley Buccaneer - featuring the 6.75 Litre V8, single Garrett turbocharger, non-catalyst motor, right hand drive, Crewe built car. Yes the Bentley Buccaneer.

BENTLEY BUCCANEER KF9928 SCBZH16C3TCH00434



Another 'ZH' chassis car. This time the 1994 Bentley Grand Prix, featuring a 6.75 Litre V8, single Garrett turbocharger, cross-bolted crankshaft, non catalyst motor, Crewe built right hand drive car. The Bentley Grand Prix.

BENTLEY GRANDPRIX BP9299 SCBZH04C0RCH00364
BENTLEY GRANDPRIX BQ7568 SCBZH0AC2RCH00365



Now the rear of the Bentley Grand Prix.



Now a spy photo when Bentley was testing the car.



A further 'ZH' chassis car. This time the 'Silverston' I presume the Silverstone. I think it looks bird like at the front, but rather dramatic at the back!

BENTLEY SILVERSTON BQ9989 SCBZM04A6RCH00304 - incorrent VIN? ZM I think should be ZH
BENTLEY SILVERSTON BN368 SCBZH04C5SCH00477
BENTLEY SILVERSTON KF8809 SCBZH04C3SCH00476

Now for the rear of the Silverstone. Quite a surprise!





Now 'ZH' based Bentley Models with poor photos.

BENTLEY MONTECARLO BP1133 SCBZH04C2SCH00324



BENTLEY PEGASUS BQ7170 SCBZH16C9TCH00440

Uncharted Bentley Territory

We now move into uncharted Bentley territory.

Here is a Sultan 'ZH' Bentley. It is either the Bentley CAMELOT, PHOENIX, IMPERIAL, RAPIER or the SPECTRE.

My educated guess based on some South East Asian cultural awareness, is that the car looks quite Asian and Royal, is painted in the Royal Sultan colour of yellow, only 6 were on the list - about half the usual order, and one had no registration just like the photo, I would guess this Bentley to be the Bentley IMPERIAL.

BENTLEY IMPERIAL NONE SCBZH04C2SCH00341



Now the rear.



Now another mystery. What Bentley do you think? The Bentley CAMELOT, PHOENIX, IMPERIAL, RAPIER or the SPECTRE?



Close up of the wheels.



One in five chance to get it right. Under exam conditions I would pick D Bentley Rapier. That sounds like a four door. The others just don't fit visually.


The largest Louis Vuitton wardrobe case does not fit in a standard Turbo R. You need the Jankel built Bentley Val D'Iser. It is even 4x4 as well. Perfect for driving through Sarawak to get to the other part of the Sultanate.

BENTLEY VAL D'ISER BL888 SCBZR04A7MCH34032
BENTLEY VAL D'ISER KE9977 SCBZR04A9LCH31177










Currently on sale at Chelsea Workshop London is this interesting Bentley estate car that was previously featured on Bentley Spotting here. The front of this car is not like the Turbo R that the Bentley Val D'Iser is based on. It front end is quite different. The front end is much more like a Continental R than a Turbo R, and even more like the Bentley Pegasus without the indicators. Is this car for sale the 'ZH' chassis Bentley Sports Estate? I do think so.

BENTLEY SPORTS EST BN1968 SCBZH04D5PCH00205





Here is another. It is a four door car based on the Continental R.

It is either the Bentley Camelot, Phoenix, Imperial, Rapier or Spectre.

This photo was taken in London.



This photo was taken in Brunei.



You have to remember we are talking Borneo here. South East Asia is not known for its smooth roads. So when the Sultan is out hunting orang-utans he needs a proper vehicle - what else would be better than the Bentley Dominator? Oh I was not meant to say the orang-utan comment. The Dominator.

Based on the 'TH' chassis - see 'H' for Hassanal again - otherwise called the Range Rover, the 1996 Bentley Dominator, with motor code 98, built in Crewe with dual airbags by the way.

1996 Bentley Dominator.

BENTLEY DOMINATOR BQ7667 SCBTH98C7TCH00423
BENTLEY DOMINATOR BQ7570 SCBTH98C2TCH00426
BENTLEY DOMINATOR BS9929 SCBTH98C4TCH00427



On the planes bound for Borneo.





Oh, and who could forget one of the Sultans weddings, just after his brides' 18th birthday. Lovely. I think you are allowed four wives.







Now for a mention of other 'ZH' models, this time from 'SCA' VINs, yes Rolls Royce cars on the 'ZH' platform.

ROLLS ROYCE ROYALE DPD SCAZH04C3SCH00014
ROLLS ROYCE MAJESTIC NONE SCAZH04A6SCH00023
ROLLS ROYCE CLOUDESQUE KF7899 SCAZH00C6SCH00062
ROLLS ROYCE PHANTOM V NONE SCAZH00A9SCH00071 - A Phantom V in 1995?

Here are some pictures of the Royal Families' different Rolls Royce cars.

This is either the Rolls Royce Majestic or Cloudesque. From the front lights it looks Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III to me, so maybe the Cloudesque.





Same again, this car below is either a Rolls Royce, Majestic or Cloudesque. And no it is not the same car as above. Different wheels, different rear D pillar slope, different hinged rear doors. It is a different model.

Your Royal Highness.





Now some more recent information. It is well known that there are auctions held to sell some of the Sultans cars, even recently.

Taking photographs at these auctions is strictly forbidden. They are held in the garages.

Here are the standard photos of the garages that have been published.





One cheeky citizen of Brunei took this photograph at an auction where he bought himself a BMW.



There are Bentleys for sale!

For a look at the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam's Different Rolls Royces check out a newer post here.

For all Bentley Spotting posts relating to the Royal Family of Brunei's cars click here.

Pictures from various sources (Chelsea Workshop, Jarborra, Auto Express) List of Sultans cars (German Car Zone), and a very special mention to the internet superstar of the Sultan's car collection, Basman007 from Supercars.net, )

Stretching the Flying Spur

The Dutch company Rijck whose mission is to 'be the market leader in the innovation and manufacturing of luxury armoured limousines and cars of the highest possible level of security, luxury, comfort and practicality' has a project vehicle that is a stretch and armoured Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

The Rijck Bentley is stretched by 50 cm and as usual with the company armoured.



Now for the supplied interior from Rijck's website.



The photographs are actually just stretched press release images that are from the Bentley Continental Flying Spur brochure.

It is only time before an American company stretches the Continental Flying Spur further - as they already have with the Arnage as written about before. So let us visualise the elongation.

The standard 1 metre stretch limo - ideal private limousine for owner, personal assistant, security and other staff. More practical than the occasional seats of old - a touch of OH&S for employees.



Now for the two metre stretch. More of a hire company car for airport pick-ups, hotel transfers and rides to dinner. Is that a Lincoln?



Ohh the three metre stretch. Only acceptable for high school proms, debutantes and graduation after parties. Mandatory sick bags included.



Lastly the 'super' stretched four metre elongation. Obviously only relevant to residents of Los Angeles.



Get a Jankel if you must. They were the official Crewe stretching company from the 80's and 90's. Jankel raise the roof of their stretched cars to keep the roof line profile, and did not suffer from saggy limo roof syndrome as the above cars do.

Rippon Brothers Woodie

From the oldest commercial corporation in the world the Hudson' Bay Company - oh sorry - the largest personal auction commercial corporation ebay come a 1949 Bentley Mk IV Woodie by Rippon Bros.





According to the National Archives of the UK, the Rippon Bros Ltd company were coach builders and motor dealers from Huddersfield, Yorkshire and the company's records from 1892-1970s including the share register, sales records, drawings and photographs are held with the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club at The Hunt House.





Woodie bodied cars were popular in the early part of the 20th century and more can be read about wood bodies cars at Old Woodies, an enthusiasts site dedicated to the body type.





Now I should add the token comments on the differences between shooting brakes, station wagons and estate cars, and socio-cultural references and implementations - but I don't feel like it. I'm for blonde commentary today - they are bigger on the inside to carry stuff.

Coloured Vains

Now here is a gallery of photographs that you do not see everyday.

Currently on show at Bentley Spotting is a collect of coloured vains.

In late production Bentleys, especially the Continental, there was an option to colour the vertical vains of your Bentley grill. It was really not ticked on the options list that often.

An average of 39 Bentley Continentals were produced each year from 1984 till 1995. This model was still being made just over a decade ago, but was designed over half a century ago.

Here are seven examples of different colours, all with the coloured vains option from the same camera angle.













If you think that the red Bentley Continental looks familiar is probably is. It was previously owned by Elton John and was featured predominately on the music video to his pop song Nikita as written about earlier in a musical break from a Bentley lover.

Also care is needed when selecting colour coding options on white Bentleys as described previously as it can hurt your eyes.

Black Continential Photo courtesy (Johann Petit, Supercar Photo Collection).

New Bentley Brooklands is the old Bentley Corniche

The Bentley Corniche, other wise called the Mulliner Park Ward fixed head coupé was made from 1971 till 1984.



This example is in fact a Rolls Royce conversion to a Bentley by essentially changing the grill and badges. The grill usually featured vains on the Bentley Corniche, but this one was modified with the newer style of mesh grill.

63 Bentley Corniche fixed head coupés or 2 door salons were made, as were 1108 Rolls Royce Corniche fixed head coupés.

It seems like another 505 will now be made as the new Brooklands.



Let me demonstrate with a hack photoshop job. The car lines are almost identical. The rear wheel hips, the coach line, the front all the same. Only the roof is a little slicker.



I do think the designers conveniently left out this car in the design evolution sketch. At least they are not as lazy as Porsche designers.

I wonder if BMW or VW own the rights to the Corniche name?. Time will tell.

Many new Bentley buyers are of the 'fairer' sex - but the new Brooklands? Defiantly a mans car. For runs from the city to the Hamptons, Toorak to Portsea or Paris to Saint Tropez.

Could I even say an old mans car? No that is wrong. Lets just say more like your fathers car. That sounds much better.

New Bentley Brooklands

Following the spy shots of the new Arnage based coupe dubbed the 'Havana' that I wrote about in November, it seems the name was very wrong. But the car was not.

The new Bentley 2 door Arnage based coupe is officially called the Bentley Brooklands.

And here is the evolution.



The S2 continental, Continental T and the New Brooklands.



Bentley describes the car as a 'grand touring coupe with classic British proportions'



The first delivery will be the start of 2008.



I do like the horizontal vain fender vents as with the 2007 Arnage as previously discussed.



In an unusual move for Bentley they will be limiting the production of the car to just 505 units. More exclusive anyone? It sounds like a Ferrari move to me. Well Bentley has said they have 'Full order books'

Hooper Empress II bodied Bentley Turbo R

Many articles have been written about the history of the Hooper coachbuilding company that dates back to 1805 when they made proper coaches, as in carriages. I suggest Colin Hughes article for The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club here.

Hardly any information is available post the wars regarding their coach building, especially relating to modern cars.

This is primarily due to the nature of the monocoque construction of modern cars. Rebodying cars costs an extraordinary amount, but on occasions companies still build coach built cars. Mostly they are stretched limousine versions of saloons and on very very rare occasions they are actual rebodied cars to a different design.

Presenting a proper coach built car by Hooper - The Empress II.



This car is based on a 1987 Bentley Turbo R.



Limited information is available on this car, but after extensive research I have found out some details.

Six were produced and the cost was 2.75 million French Francs or 270,000 pounds.



The car was mentioned in an article by Michael Booth published in The Independant in 1998 called 'Motoring: How to get the perfect body' when writing a piece about the history of Hooper. It was described as 'ungainly'.



Now for the surprising part. One would expect the 6 examples of this extraordinary and extremely expensive car to be garaged in large private collections, but no!

A Bentley, Rolls Royce and Mercedes spotter called D. Agobet has photographed one recently on the streets, and where else but Monaco!



The pictures were from a gallery of cars sighted in Monaco from www.darvani.com and the direct link to the gallery is here


Now again on another occasion, it is really good to see such a car on the streets and getting use. It was labelled as a Rolls Royce, but no real matter, it is just surprising to actually see it!

One Minute of Auto Pr0n

What is pr0n? Something that Americans think Aussies put on barbies? No. Check the wikipedia entry on pr0n here.

One nice garage. Get Bentley Spotting.

Now for some serious Bentley Spotting from Youtube user DieReichen who supplied the above pr0n comes 'Bentleys aus Deutschland, Monaco und Österreich'.

Enjoy.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur at Earls Court Motor Show

Oh but with a twist. This is the original Bentley Continental FlyingSpur from 1964.

An interesting summary of the 1964 Earls Court Motor Show from the archives, and at the end of the video it shows a Rolls Royce drop head coupe and the Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

"For just under 11,000 pounds a Ferrari... it makes the Rolls Royce at 8000 seem almost cheap."