Bentley is one of the premier members in the world of luxury cars. There is no such thing as an “entry-level” Bentley and to own one says to the world that you have arrived. Luxury and refinement abound in the entire line, and the Azure ups the ante by its only being available as a convertible in the 1997 model year. The Azure debuted in March 1995 at the Geneva Motor Show; the exclusiveness of this car is shown in that only 200 are reported as being produced in 1997.

Pininfarina assisted in the two-year process of turning the Continental R into a full four-seater convertible, and also built the shell and soft-top at their factory in Italy, mainly from UK-sourced parts. Final assembly was then carried out at Crewe in England. The Azure often surprised onlookers with its size; intended to both express "presence" and allow for comfortable seating of four adult passengers. The large car is long on power having a strong 6.75-litre V-8 engine that features a single, intercooled Garrett turbocharger and producing approximately 360-hp that is paired with a modified, General Motors-sourced, four-speed automatic transmission. With a 0- to 60-mph time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 150-mph the Azure was very fast for a car of its size and category. The Azure, when new, carried a price tag of approximately $350,000.

Luxury abounds between fit and finishes, leather interior, wood trim elements, power conveniences and the attention to details throughout this well-respected automobile. The Bentley Azure appears to be clean and solid and is presented in a rich color combination. Its overall presentation would indicate it is sure to provide the next owner with that prestige sensation, as when new.