The Bentley Phoenix by Pininfarina

The Bentley Phoenix by Pininfarina.

Crewe Project Code P105 Bentley Phoenix for the Royal Family of Brunei.

The Bentley Phoenix was a joint project of Crewe (Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd & Bentley Motors Ltd) of Cheshire, UK and Pininfarina S.p.A (Pininfarina Studi E Ricerche (PFSR)) of Turin, Italy.

For context, prior to joint projects between Crewe and Pininfarina, Pininfarina had been working with Alfred Tan of Hong Seh Motors Pte Ltd of Singapore.  Alfred Tan had been supplying Bentley Continental R and Turbo R cars to Pininfarina for coachbuilding into exclusive cars. These exclusive cars were then supplied through Hong Seh Motors of Singapore to the Royal Family of Brunei.

These Pininfarina specially built cars include the Bentley Turbo R 4-door Convertible, the Bentley Turbo R 2-door Convertible, the 1994 Bentley B2 and the 1994 Bentley B3.

Following these cars, the Royal Family of Brunei, most likely HRH Prince Hakeem Jefri, HRH Prince Jefri's son, where HRH Prince Jefri is the brother of HM the Sultan of Brunei, actually wanted ex-works exclusive cars from the factory at Crewe, and not just from an external coachbuilder.

So this bought about the joint working projects of Crewe and Pininfarina of exclusive cars for Royal Family of Brunei, presumably overseen by HRH Prince Hakeem.

Mr Paolo Garella from Pininfarina was the contact for Crewe on this project, who head of Special Projects at Pininfarina.

The first joint project was Project CONTAN, where the codename CONTAN stood for CONtinental R Convertible for Alfred TAN. This code name was later changed to P100, where P100, the Bentley Continental R Convertible would later become the production car, the 1995 Bentley Azure.

However, Brunei wanted exclusive cars, not cars that Crewe were going to make production versions of, and this was a problem for the Continental R Convertible.

So - here comes the rumours - the story goes apparently Crewe possibly made a deal with Brunei to supply them with the Bentley Phoenix and the Bentley Spectre, in exchange for P100 to become a production car, the Azure.

We can certainly thank the Royal Family of Brunei for the Bentley Azure.

So back to this car, the Crewe Project Code P105 Bentley Phoenix.

Both Crewe Project Code P105 Bentley Phoenix and Crewe Project Code P104 Bentley Spectre were constructed at the same time.

The yellow car is the P105 Bentley Phoenix and the black car next to it is P104 Bentley Spectre.

The first order was for 6 cars of each, then later a repeat order of 3 cars of each type was made.

• 6 x 1995 Bentley Phoenix
• 3 x 1996 Bentley Phoenix - a repeat order

The cars were made on the Bentley Continental R chassis, where Pininfarina made the body into a convertible, then build the new Phoenix body of the car. 

Part were supplied directly from Crewe to Pininfarina.

The roof is the same as CONTAN/P100 (Bentley Azure) made by Pininfarina and was installed by Pininfarina.

The rear lights are quite unique, as it the shape of the boot.

Unlike the CONTAN/P100 (Bentley Azure) cars, the Bentley Phoenix cars were shipped back to Crewe for final assembly after Pininfarina had made the body and convertible roof.

Apparently special block out sight screens were used at Crewe on the production assembly line, to literally hide the assembly of the Bentley Phoenix and the Bentley Spectre from view. These cars were kept secret from the rest of the Crewe workforce and were not to be seen by people who did not need to know.

Of special note is that the 1995 Bentley Phoenix and the 1995 Bentley Spectre were the first Crewe cars to ever be installed with electronic traction control.

Also, the wheels where custom forged for this project, and are of different designs for P104 Bentley Spectre and P105 Bentley Phoenix. The cars use Avon TurboSpeed CR228D tyres of size 255/55WR17.

The Bentley Phoenix VIN is coded as a Special Project model with "H" identifying it as a Crewe Special Project for Brunei.

SCBZH04A7SCH00141

• SCB = UK; Bentley Motors
• Z = SZ chassis (Turbo R/Conti R/Silver Spirit/Spur), 
• H = Special model for Brunei (HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah - in Malay culture a person's first name is used)
• 04 = 6.75 Litre V8, single Garrett turbo, non catalyst - however Crewe Project Code P300 Engine was installed with twin turbos at 527bhp, and exclusive engine for Brunei.
• A = Active Seat Belts
• 7 = Checksum
• S = 1995
• C = Crewe factory
• H = Home market (Right hand drive)
• 00141 = chassis number - this number is a series for "H" Special Model cars for Brunei

Take a look at the P300 SuFaCon Engine - the Super Fast Continental Engine for Brunei. The twin top mounted turbos look quite cool.

Check out the special Brunei Plaque on the engine value cover. 

Here are the details of all the 9 Bentley Phoenix cars made.

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	M1NTS	1995	SCBZH04A7SCH00141
Bentley	Phoenix	BN99	1995	SCBZH04A9SCH00142	Green
Bentley	Phoenix	BN5005	1995	SCBZH04A0SCH00143
Bentley	Phoenix	unknown	1995	SCBZH04A4SCH00144
Bentley	Phoenix	BN5225	1995	SCBZH04A4SCH00145
Bentley	Phoenix	BN5335	1995	SCBZH04A6SCH00146	Grey
Bentley	Phoenix	BP9969	1996	SCBZH04C6TCH00473	Black
Bentley	Phoenix	BP502	1996	SCBZH04C8TCH00474	Yellow
Bentley	Phoenix	BP1928	1996	SCBZH04CXTCH00475	Blue

We know there is another Black coloured Bentley Phoenix either SCBZH04A0SCH00143 or SCBZH04A4SCH00145. A red Bentley Phoenix is also know.

Let's take a look at individual Bentley Phoenix cars.

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	M1NTS	1995	SCBZH04A7SCH00141

The registration is cool, it's M1NTS - I really hope it is a green car, but it is unknown. This car was registered in the UK - but the DVLA says to call them. 

Gday mate - yeah, I'm calling on behalf of the Sultan of Brunei - you guys know what happened to M1NTS? 

It's a Bentley Phoenix.... yes correct, it's not in your database...... yes, it is a real Bentley..... yes I'm sure it's called a Phoenix.... yes it's like an Azure, but the 5th digit of the VIN is a H - so it's a Special Project car... it's like a custom car... no it's not a kit car.... no it's not made in a shed... 

Hopefully the M1NTS were not eaten.

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	BN99	1995	SCBZH04A9SCH00142	Green

Here are pictures of SCBZH04A9SCH00142.

Notice how the convertible roof is the exact same as the Bentley Azure, it was on this car before the production of the Azure.

Check out the unique alloy wheels with Avon tyres on the Bentley Phoenix.

Take a peek at what's behind and around. That's a Bentley B2 by Pininfarina. Actually to the right is another Bentley Phoenix, same unique alloy wheels. To the left is a Bentley Pegasus Coupe.

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The car is located is Garage 1 Upper Floor in Jerudong, Brunei.

The interior is very much Continental R, though the door cards are unique.

The front seats I think are BMW, or could be Mercedes-Benz, they were used as for their seat mounted seat belt attachment. I can't remember the exact model of seat, I'll look it up later, or someone please let me know. 

Here is a picture of the Bentley Phoenix behaving like a Phoenix basking out and about with the top down in the sun.

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	unknown	1995	SCBZH04A4SCH00144

This car SCBZH04A4SCH00144 was not on Brunei Master VIN list, which is a leaked Excel document containing data on the 1000s of Brunei cars.

That means it's either in the UK, or located in another Palace of a Royal away from the main garages.

It is known that this car was built.  

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	BP9969	1996	SCBZH04C6TCH00473	Black

Car SCBZH04C6TCH00473 is also located in Garage 1 Upper Floor in Jerudong, Brunei.

There are many, many coachbuilt Bentley cars in this garage.

Those are standard Continental R rear view mirrors.

To the left of this car out of frame is the Bentley Phoenix car above.

Black on black, classic spec.

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	BP1928	1996	SCBZH04CXTCH00475	Blue

This blue on blue spec Bentley Phoenix is also located in Garage 1 Upper Level.

It is next to a Bentley B2 and behind a Bentley Imperial.

Let's take a look at the remaining 4 Bentley Phoenix cars made.

3 are located in the Black Room Car Gallery of Brunei, and the 4th it's not known where it's located and not pictured.

So 3 of these 4 cars are in the Black Room.

Marque	Model	Numberplate	Year	VIN	Exterior
Bentley	Phoenix	BN5005	1995	SCBZH04A0SCH00143
Bentley	Phoenix	BN5225	1995	SCBZH04A4SCH00145
Bentley	Phoenix	BN5335	1995	SCBZH04A6SCH00146	Grey
Bentley	Phoenix	BP502	1996	SCBZH04C8TCH00474	Yellow

To make it a bit more interactive - and to attempt to document every photo of the Bentley Phoenix, I've made a layout map of all the cars in the Black Room - and below is all the photos of the 3 Bentley Phoenix cars in the gallery.

What is funny is that they did not take direct photos on 1 of the 3 Bentley Phoenix cars in the room, however you can see the car in the back ground of 2 other images.

Have fun looking around the Slide show. 

Click on the Arrows to see the photos of the Bentley Phoenix cars in the Black Room.

You can check here all the cars in the Black Room Gallery, and the crazy path the photographer took.