Preview of Spotting Prince Bahar of Brunei's Yellow Coachbuilt Bentleys

His Royal Highness Prince Bahar of Brunei had the worlds most amazing Yellow Car Collection. 

When he was 14.

Here is a preview of Spotting Bentleys in the Yellow Room of Brunei.

11 Bentleys are in the yellow room. 

• 2x Bentley Continental R
• 1x Bentley Continental R Convertible by Pininfarina (coachbuilt Continental R, pre-Azure)
• 1x Bentley Dominator (Off Road Bentley based on a Range Rover 4.6 HSE Supercharged)
• 1x Bentley Spectre (coachbuilt Continental R Convertible by Pininfarina)
• 1x Bentley Imperial (coachbuilt Continental R)
• 1x Bentley Continental R 4-door Saloon LWB (coachbuilt Continental R)
• 1x Bentley B3 by Pininfarina (coachbuilt Continental R)
• 1x Bentley B2 by Pininfarina (coachbuilt Continental R)
• 1x Monte Carlo (coachbuilt Continental R)
• 1x Bentley Dominator - in black, not yellow!

Here is a preview of 5 coachbuilt Bentley Cars of Prince Bahar of Brunei.

More to come, including a complete map of all the cars in HRH Prince Bahar's Yellow Car Room.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe by Pininfarina

Coachbuilding is great because it makes dreams become reality.

You get exactly what you want. Even if others don't like it.

So you have a Savile Row bespoke suit and a Jermyn Street tailored shirt do you? Maybe some cobbled shoes from John Lobb? So do a lot of others.

Did you get a new Bentley last year? Nice one. A GT yeah? Did you get the Speed?

You know that 10,120 Bentley cars were delivered in 2013. Compare that to an average of 342 Bentley Turbo R cars per year when they were made. But don't worry, one in four cars sold above €150,000 was a Bentley in 2013.

But want true exclusivity?

Check out this South African gentleman's bespoke car.

Here you go, exactly what he wanted. Sharks gills and all.

Capetown eat your heart out. J'berg whatever. World, he's doing what he wants. Because he can.



It's designed by Pininfarina and is based on a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe.

I'm not sure if it has a bespoke name, but it probably does.



Good on him for building his dream.

Just check out those coachlines. And the two tone.



I am such a fan that this car exists. Top marks to the gentleman who commissioned it. Well done.



But don't fret - Bentley Mulliner will still build whatever you desire as a special project.

Go on - order something amazing and send in the pictures!

A7 URC

 

Rather contrived, but I suppose it could possibly read as AZURE, particularly with the couple of stragically placed screws:

 

 

But A2 URE is so much better:

 

Nothwistanding the plate, this first generation Bentley Azure makes a significantly cheaper alternative to the Azure T featured in the current From The Classifieds: http://www.bentleyspotting.com/2013/12/from-classifieds_9.html?m=1

 

It's a 1995 example with just 25,000 miles from new:

 

 

 

And at GBP 39,995 it is one of the cheapest for sale...

 

 

I was surprised to find that these cars are now available in the UK for less than GBP 40,000 - they must surely be nearing the bottom of the depreciation curve.

 

(Posted by Andy)

Australian Bentley Continentals

At this very point in time it is the best time ever since 1999 to select and purchase from the entire range of Bentley Continentals.

That is the Bentley Continentals from the 1990s and early 2000s.

Like the really rare ones. The hand built ones by Mulliner Park Ward. The ones that did cost about double the Bentley Continental GT range of today. The last hand built Bentleys before the Germans got involved.

This range.



For non-Aussie readers, lets contemplate the sales figures of the time just to understand what a significant event having all the Continental range for sale at one time is.

In 1996 only 25 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars were sold. Then in 1997 only 11 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars were sold. In 1998 15 were sold, and in 1999 only 5 Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars were sold in the entire continent of Australia. That is not just the Bentley Continental range that is the total range, like the Rolls-Royce Corniche,Bentley Arnarge and Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph etc.

You can read more about the low Aussie sales figures of that time here.

Oh - and if you think why don't Aussies just import second hand cars from the UK or NZ or Japan or Hong Kong and get what they want? Well, we have laws that say you can not. It will probably be 2030 before you can import a year 2000 made car.

So Aussie Bentley collectors - grab yourselves some rare and amazing cars currently for sale down under!

First off. The Bentley Continental R. This ones a special Mulliner version. It is a 2003 vintage.



This car is quite well known of late, as in the last few years, since left its first owners hands. Apparently it used to sleep next to a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph in the same Fire Glow Red colour in a garage on a country estate. The garage was also a display area for some lovely neo-classical art. The only driving it did was probably to the letter box at the front of the farm.

It has only travelled 6000kms mostly in the last couple of years I presume.



Only 131 Bentley Continental R Mulliner cars were made from 1999 to 2002, so this example was the last year made. I would be quite surprised if there were more than a few or even a couple in Australia. Rare.

A perfect collectors car currently asking $295,000 here.



If you think the Bentley Continental R is a little standard, and you want something with a little more go and a little more sportiness, the simple choice is to go with the Bentley Continental T.

The Bentley Continental T has a shorter chassis by 4 inches, which is shaved off immeadiately behind the front doors. You can tell a Continental T from a Continental R by the smaller rear window with much less roof line.

The Continental T was a lot more powerful and the options were quite sporty like a turned alloy dash instead of wood or the like.

There is a 1998 Continental T currently for sale.



This one has done a little more travelling, having seen 60,850km of the sunburnt country.

A total of 322 Bentley Continental T cars were made 1996 to 2002.



I think taking a photo of your Bentley with some kangaroos in the shot is very Aussie mate!

Look it even has a joey. Love it.

There are only 2, that's right 2 Bentley Continental T cars in Australia. And this one is for sale. If you want it, here is your opportunity.



Asking price is of $165,000 which I think is amazing value here.


So you like the Bentley Continental body shape, but what you really want is wind in your hair?

Well the obvious answer is the Bentley Azure!

The Bentley Azure was design in conjunction with Pininfarina and is certainly a great convertible.

This one is a 1996 version and has travelled 12,300kms. Not much considering the size of the country.



As this is a standard Azure, and not a Azure Le mans, or a Azure Mulliner or Final Series, a total of 1098 Bentley Azure cars were made.

Thus making this car the most common of the bunch listed here for sale in Australia at the moment.

I am not sure how many Bentley Azure cars came to Australia from 1995 to 2002 but if there were more than say 25 I would be quite surprised. But there could be. You never quite know what Queenslanders buy.



This one is for sale in Perth with an asking price of $215,000 here.



And the final car in the Bentley Continental range? Oh yes the rarest of them all, the amazing Bentley Continental SC.

Wow.

The Bentley Continental Sedanca Coupé down under. Made on the Bentley Continental T chassis with a Sedanca Coupé body it is certainly right up there in Bentley collector cars from this period.

Actually, why hold back. The Bentley Continental SC it is the most collectable Bentley from this period.

There were only 79 made. Of those, not that many were made in right hand drive.



There is only one Bentley Continental SC in Australia. It has been previously spotted here.

This one SCBZZ23C1WCH65004 was first registered in Australia 2000 after being made in 1998. It spent its first couple of years touring the world motor show circuit.

Talk about a rare opportunity to purchase a great Bentley! It has travelled 23,000kms.



The Bentley Continental SC cost around $AU 1 million when new, and has an asking price of $349,000 here.

So in summary Aussie Bentley collectors:

Bentley Continental R Mulliner
2003 model - 6000kms
131 made between 1999-2002
Presume about a handful or less in Australia
asking $295,000

Bentley Continental T
1998 model - 60,850kms
322 made between 1996 - 2002
Only 2 in Australia
asking $165,000

Bentley Azure
1996 model - 12,300kms
1098 made between 1995 - 2002
Guess about 25ish in Australia
asking $215,000

Bentley Continental SC
1998 model - 23,000kms
79 made between 1998 - 2000
only 1 in Australia
asking $349,000

Want to spend $1 million today? Buy them all.

Want to spend half a million today? Get the Bentley Continental T and the Bentley Continental SC.

If you get the Conti T and Conti SC you will then have the best collection of 1990s Bentley cars in Australia. You will have the best collection of 1990s Bentley cars in Australia until you sell one of them or until the year 2028 when some cheeky person like myself will be legally allowed to import a Conti SC!

Go for it!

PS if you do buy them all, the next step would be to call up the Sultan of Brunei and ask nicely if you could buy his 4 door version of the Continental as well as his Estate or station wagon version of the Continental. See pictures here.

It never ends.

Rolls-Royce Camargue Beau Rivage by Hooper

Hooper & Co certainly did make very special cars and this is no exception.

It is a Rolls-Royce Camargue Beau Rivage by Hooper. That's right, a 'beautiful shore' version of a department of the Côte d'Azur.

An appropriate name for the most expensive car available at the time, then taken to a coachbuilder so that you can spend just that little bit extra money on a machine that takes you from A to B. Sure.

Well here it is, in high resolution the Beau Rivage Camargue by Hooper. Click to enlarge.



It is in the detail that makes Hooper cars special.

Colour coded wind screen wipers, pin stripes on the hub caps, front air dam, lower sills, colour coded front lamp surrounds, and just take a look at the two tone colour scheme.

Just superb!

How good it the roof colour line on the rear quarter panel. It is very sharp!



You just know that box on the rear parcel shelf is hiding something special. Probably a drinks fridge, more maybe a fax machine or a tape deck. Certainly something 1980's cool.

This car was actually on the Hooper & Co. stand at the Geneva motorshow in 1983, and sold within 2 hours of it been on display.

Big thanks to Nick Lang from Ekberg & Lang, Australia's largest specialists in the sale of pre-owned Rolls-Royce & Bentley Motor Cars, for sending in the photos.

For those in Melbourne, currently on display at Ekberg & Lang's showroom is the 2 door Hooper Bentley Turbo R that was spotted that the RROC Federal rally last month with pictures and video of the car here.

Rolls-Royce Camargue at Adlington Hall & The Hunting Lodge

Here is a period photo from the late 70`s or poss early 80`s of the Rolls-Royce Camargue.



It is parked out the from of Adlington Hall & The Hunting Lodge and check the number plate.

That's right it's 1800 TU. Which means it is the factory's car, so it's a PR/Press day.



I'm thinking, the PR pitch. Let's take the most expensive car in the world, and the most sporting Rolls-Royce, and let's go kill some things!

Huntin and shootin for all!

Wonder around below.


View Larger Map

Thanks to Flickr user (Dave)

Rolls-Royce Camargue Limited

Here is the Rolls Royce Camargue Limited.



It is limited, not only because it says it on the badge, but it is a limited or special edition run of just 12 cars.



Why you may ask? Well luckily the plaque tells me so.

"The Camargue Limited Edition is one of 12 special motor cars built ro celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first sale of a Rolls-Royce in the United States."



It actually does say 'Limited' on the badge which is slightly unusual.

Usually limited or special cars have a different coloured badge, not something else written on them.



All 12 cars are to the same specification. White with red and white interior, colour coded bumpers and alloys.

Of the 12, not all have ended up staying in the United States. One has been spotted in Monaco here, one has come up for sale in Japan, and is pictured below.



One was even made into a hard top convertible, but that is another story.

Practical Yellow Bentleys

Let's just say that this is a quite unique collection of Bentley motor cars in yellow.

Let's take a first glance at this magnificant Bentley Continental. It is amazing.



It you want a more practical car than a Bentley Continental by Mulliner Park Ward, get a station wagon or estate made for you.

Or even a Bentley van. Go on.



Something more standard? Go a yellow Bentley Turbo R. This is a 1987 model, that was for sale a couple of years ago. I really like it.



If you really prefer open top motoring, in a Bentley Turbo R, you still can. The solution? Get one made for you. This one is by Salvatore Diomante.



And again, want something more practical in the Bentley Turbo R format? Go a station wagon for the Ikea runs. It does work well. This one is a Bentley Val d'Isere by Jankel.



Perfer a two door? How about a Bentley Continental R. This example is from the Personal Commission series. Looks rather nice doesn't it.



If you want the drop head coupe variety, go for the Bentley Azure. It's even got a for sale sticker on it for you.



Still not convinced that the Bentley Continental R or Azure is for you? Well then call up a coachbuilder and get something else made to how you see fit. Pinniafarina did this one for the Royal Family of Brunei. It is called the Bentley B3.



Live on a farm? Care for a Toorak tractor? Bentley along with the help of Land Rover made this Bentley Dominator also for the Royal Family of Brunei.



See, yellow is certainly a very good colour for a great range of practical Bentley cars.

Go on, get one made for yourself. Make it yellow.

PS.

If you must, go get yourself a Bentley Continental Supersport.



Can't find a new Bentley Mulsanne in yellow yet. Send one in if you have photos!

Practice Makes Perfect?

The controversial Rolls-Royce Camargue designed by Pinninfarina and was release in 1975.





In fact it was designed in 1970 at Pininfarina not by Sergio, but by Paolo Martin. These are his actual design sketches.





And also his renderings dated 1970.







It is a car that I, personally, really like, and spotted many in the 1980's here with this as an example.



It does seem however, that Paolo Martin at Pininfarina did a bit of a University standard, and handed in the same assignment for multiple classes, with just a little tweeking, to try and confuse the professors.

Let's take a look at the 1969 Fiat 130 coupe.



And the 1976 Ferrari 365GT 2+2 / 400GT.



Get the picture?

Now also there is a lesser known example, it must have been a minor class at University or some detention homework for re-submitting his work multiple times.

It is a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3.



Only one was made.



I hope Rolls-Royce got a good deal on an updated old design.

Ferrari definitely got the left overs in 1976.

(posted by David Irvine)