Lot details Registration No: HS03LLM Chassis No: SCBZK26E73CH01210 Mot Expiry: May 2011
The first generation Bentley Azure was conceived while the company was still under Vickers management and was produced from 1995 to 2003. Based on the platform of the highly successful Continental R, it combined the glamour of the early coachbuilt convertibles with modern-day technology and performance - a heady cocktail for those lucky enough to afford it. The car's presence was immense, born of the combination of automotive elegance and sheer size - the Azure was 210 inches in length. Sculptured seats ensured the optimum cosseting for up to four adults. This was the very height of luxury.
The heart of the Azure, as of so many post-war Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, was the Group's mighty turbocharged 6.75-litre OHV V-8 engine. With some 400bhp on tap and in excess of 600 lb ft of torque, the 0-60mph dash could be dispensed with in around six seconds, despite the car's generous all-up weight of 5,750 pounds. Speeds of up to 150mph were possible when allowed, doubtless without a ripple on a glass of champagne. The car's powered convertible roof was itself a work of art, and was both designed and manufactured for Bentley by the Italian styling house Pininfarina.
The right-hand drive Azure being offered is from the last year of phase one production, 2003. Its elegant coachwork is finished in black, while the interior is trimmed in cream leather. Its indicated mileage of just 11,000 seems born out by the service record, which shows the Bentley to have had its Assurance Check at Bentley Sussex after 91 miles; a Service 1 at Bentley Leicester at 4,307 miles; a Service 2 at Bentley London at 6,975 miles and the most recent Service 1 at Bentley London at 7,402 miles. The vendor describes the paintwork, engine, GM transmission and interior trim as "good". The Azure is MOT'd into May 2011.
To paraphrase an old saying, those who have to ask about the cost of running an Azure probably couldn't afford to do so; for those that can, there can be few finer automotive experiences available. Given its low recorded mileage, the example on sale has yet to be fully run-in and therefore has the potential to provide years of luxurious motoring for some lucky new owner.
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