The Azure is a direct successor to the long-running Corniche. Like its predecessors, it is Bentley’s flagship model and transcends the luxury so typical of Bentley motor cars, acquiring a celebrity status all its own. Working in conjunction with Pininfarina, Bentley succeeded in developing a graceful convertible, uncluttered and elegant in design, with the foundation of a Continental R and the tried and true 6.75-litre V-8 engine, now Garrett-turbocharged to produce approximately 420 horsepower and a remarkable 645 pound-feet of torque. Such numbers propelled the 6,000-pound behemoth to sixty miles per hour in under six seconds – a remarkable achievement.

As with any other Bentley, or Rolls-Royce for that matter, it is the luxurious, handcrafted appointments that truly set these automobiles apart from their six-figure competitors. As would be expected, production numbers remained very low – just 1,308 cars between 1995 and 2003, of which 703 left-hand drive examples were sent Stateside. In total, however, there were only 28 wide body Mulliner Azures built, of which only about 16 were left-hand drive.

This ex-Steve Nannini example is one of those left-hand drive wide body Azure Mulliners and cost over $450,000 new, reportedly making it the most upgraded and priciest example built for 2001. It was originally painted Tempest Silver and features many unique options that were completed by the then owner’s shop in Tucson, Arizona, taking over 18 months and approximately $75,000 to complete.

The interior has been completely reupholstered with elegant Cognac leather, luxurious wool carpet imported from Italy and a specially embroidered “Azure” steering wheel. The rear seats have been removed and have been replaced with a luggage shelf that holds two custom ordered pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage, duplicating the Mulliner bespoke Continental T. Custom matching woodwork adorns the area behind the luggage shelf as well as the center console, which has been redesigned, eliminating the ashtray. It has been replaced with an updated port that supports a plug-in for computer equipment and a switch that engages two rear fans to circulate fresh air throughout the cabin when the car is parked. Other interior upgrades include drilled alloy brake and accelerator pedals, a NOS plexiglass rear window and new cables for the convertible top.

Under the bonnet, the fans have been retrofitted with an electronic control to allow for better cooling of the engine during operation and once the ignition is turned off. The fans can be set to whatever temperature the owner decides and are designed to cool down the engine once the car is turned off, a feature that was not included in the original design. The right and left front accumulators have been replaced to allow for improved braking performance, and the car has been fitted with dual in-line Optima batteries, designed to supply power to the electric fans and to combat the high battery discharge that many Bentley owners face.

This example also features a rear anti-sway bar that helps to reduce the characteristic body roll and an innovative redesigned spare tire mechanism that allows the owner to lower the spare tire onto a specially designed mat via a remote operated switch, making changing a spare tire much easier.

Showing only 9,861 properly maintained original miles, this one-off Azure may very well be the best equipped wide-body example to be found and sports many other extras that are listed on the build sheet. Among the usual refinements is an outstanding Alpine sound system, chrome alloy wheels, heated seats, hood vents and pushbutton starter. In the trunk is a Bentley battery charger in its original box and bag. For a detailed list of these factory-equipped features, please contact an Auctions America Car Specialist.