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1998 Bentley Azure
Highlights
- Superb colourway of gloss black with black leather
- Silky smooth 6.75-litre V8 automatic
- Bodywork in excellent order for year
- Electric roof works as it should
- Fully loaded with all the electric toys
The Appeal
The DNA of the Bentley Azure can be traced back to 1985 when a certain ‘Project 90’ coupe was unveiled at the Geneve motorshow. It marked a departure from Bentleys being merely badge-engineered Rolls Royce models and was developed into the Continental R. Customer demand led the firm to produce a soft-top model, but they didn’t exactly rush this to market and it wasn’t until the 1995 Geneve motorshow that Bentley unveiled the Azure to the world.
Styled by Pininfarina - a firm legendary for their soft-top GT cars – the Azure was assembled by them in Italy and equipped with the automatic convertible mechanism and painted before being shipped back to Crewe for finishing.
When new Azures cost an eye-watering £215,000 in the UK, plus of course the options, and was powered by a 385bhp version of the classic 6.75-litre V8. Hailed as ‘the world’s best convertible’ by many it was a popular car in America, making this RHD model a rare beast. In total a mere 1,321 Azures were made when production ended in 2003.
This example has stunning black coachwork that really give the car an understated elegance and is matched to black leather and lashings of burr walnut trim with stylish inlays. It has covered a mere 73,447 miles and has extensive invoices detailing its service history.
The History and Paperwork
- V5C present in current owner’s name
- Owned since January 2024 (it was bought for a family wedding)
- First registered on 25 May 1998
- MoT until 19 March 2025
- Previous invoices indicate it only covered around 500 miles between services on some years
- Lots of invoices detailing extensive servicing and maintenance
- 13 previous MoTs available
- Tens of thousands spent on servicing and maintenance
- Main dealer serviced until 52,102 miles then independent specialists
The Condition
- Original black leather interior trim is in great condition
- Electric memory front seats with no rips to bolsters
- Leather looks excellent throughout vehicle
- Original airbag leather steering wheel is unmarked and feels tactile
- Dash is uncracked and unmodified and in good condition
- Centre console wood effect trim is in good order
- Alpine stereo looks to be a high-end model
- Supplied with two key fobs
There are not many Bentley Azures around and having only averaged around 2,600 miles a year, this example is in good order. The black leather trim looks unmarked and provides a great contrast to the burr walnut of the dashboard and centre console. This even features neat inlays in the door cappings which are in equally good condition. It’s a cosseting place to be with almost everything powered by an electric motor – even the roof mechanism – making the cab a tranquil and relaxing place to be for the driver. But don’t relax too much as there’s a 385bhp V8 under the bonnet that can waft this car from zero to sixty in a healthy 5.9 seconds and go on to a heady 179mph top speed.
- Black paintwork presents well and is in good order
- Only obvious mark on paintwork is 50-pence sized paint bubble on offside front wheelarch
- Electric roof works fine and operated smoothly
- Roof fabric looks to be in excellent order and electric mechanism operated smoothly
- Tyres are matching Michelin Latitude Sport 3s in 255/55-17 size (all tyres are dated August 2022)
Black bodywork with an all-black leather interior is a rare option on an Azure and gives this car an upmarket yet understated appeal. With the dateless personal numberplate and the sleek lines it cuts an elegant dash in any setting.
The paintwork has clearly been looked after with care and is free from any obvious dents, scratches or swirl marks and the panel gaps all look arrow straight. The only minor item to note is a small bit of bubbling – which hasn’t broken through the paintwork – on the lower edge of the offside front wing. This could easily be rectified.
The Mechanics
- Engine bay looks smart and all original
- Powered by a 385bhp 6.75-litre V8 engine
- Engine started up easily and drove well
- Six-speed automatic gearbox selected gears easily
Given its extensive array of invoices detailing its thorough maintenance and servicing record, it didn’t come as a surprise that this Azure drove smoothly and idled quietly. It moved around effortlessly for the duration of the photoshoot.
BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions.
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's fee. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
Vehicle specification
- Year 1998
- Make Bentley
- Model Azure
- Colour Black
- Odometer 73,447 Miles
- Engine size 6750
Listing Details
- Seller type Private
- Town Derby
- Location Derbyshire
- Country United Kingdom
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