1997 Bentley Azure

This Azure is from 1997 making it part of the first generation of Azures. It rides on the platform from the legendary Bentley Continental R and features a massive 6.75L V8 equipped with a single intercooled Garrett turbocharger which made roughly 360hp. By 1997, a new engine management system from Zytek was added to bump the power output to 385hp. The vehicle is seventeen and a half feet long and weighs in at roughly 5,750lbs which is meant to convey an executive presence and comfortably seat four adult passengers. With all that size, the Azure was still capable of going from 0 to 60 in six and a half seconds and is remembered for being wickedly fast for a car of its size.

This specific Azure sports a deep maroon paintjob and a matching black canvas roof with white stitching. It is very low profile if that’s your style. While the paint is gorgeous, especially in the sunlight, there are a few flaws. A large chunk of paint has chipped off of the passenger side of the front bumper, and towards the center, the clearcoat is peeling off in a small area. Along the passenger side of the car, the trim is deteriorating up against the convertible roof.

The inside of the Azure has two-tone black and maroon leather seats, a matching black dashboard and plenty of wooden inlays. The interior overall is in great condition. The two-tone seats are fantastically clean and show no tears or holes in the leather. The wooden dashboard, center console, and door trim are in good shape, with only one tiny chip in the driver’s door. The stately back seat looks supremely comfortable, both seats are in order and the floormats are clean.

We are happy to report that the underside of this Azure is clean, aside from a set of spiderwebs. (Unclear if spider is included.) More importantly, the floor pans are clean, and the exhaust is free of surface corrosion.

The first record on the CarFax for this Azure is in 2000 when the car had 4,384 miles on the clock. The next entry is from 2004, and places the car in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The car remained in Florida until 2010, where it was then exported to the seller.

The Bentley Azure is one of the coolest convertibles Bentley has ever made, largely thanks to brilliant Italian design by Pininfarina. Alas, poor assembly planning was the biggest contributor to holding the car back from attaining a larger audience. The 6.75L V8 is immensely powerful yet subdued in nature. It is the perfect car for a luxury fan looking to stay under the radar.

The Market by Bonhams is excited to offer this Bentley Azure with no reserve and an estimate between $30,000 and $40,000.

It should be noted that this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

Due to California emissions laws, please note that this vehicle may only be sold to an out-of-state resident for use outside of California or to a licensed automotive dealer.

Please note that the title for this vehicle is in transit.