The Bentley Azure is a throwback to gentler times when massive, open tourers were the vehicle of choice for the wealthy elite. Unlike most convertibles, which have vestigial rear seats, the palatial Azure comfortably accommodates two adults in back. Increasingly uncommon, full-size convertibles like the Azure are all about effortless travel through a life of leisure.

Bentley based the Azure on the Continental R platform and launched it as a 1995 model. The power-operated insulated top was a feat of engineering: large enough to cover the expansive interior yet completely out of sight when stowed. Despite its considerable size and weight, the Azure’s performance was impressive, thanks to its 6.75-liter turbocharged V-8 engine providing effortless power.

Production of the first-generation Azure persisted after Volkswagen’s 1998 acquisition of the Bentley brand and ceased in 2003. An all-new Azure, based on Bentley’s latest Arnage flagship sedan, launched for 2006. Though similar in design, this second generation featured more streamlined aesthetics and enhanced performance. Bentley reworked the 6.75-liter V-8, replacing the previous single turbocharger with twin turbos to reduce lag. This, along with a new ZF six-speed automatic transmission, provided a noticeable improvement in performance. To cap its final year of production, Bentley launched an even more powerful version called the Azure T for the 2009 model year.

The Azure offered here is finished in black over brown leather, a handsome combination that perfectly suits its classic lines. Massive, 20-inch, factory, five-spoke wheels with Pirelli P Zero tires provide a visual foil to the otherwise understated design, greatly enhancing the car’s presence. Sold new in Texas and subsequently imported to Switzerland in 2016, this Azure was acquired by its current Kuwait-based owner in 2020.

Showing just under 11,200 miles on the odometer, this Bentley Azure has clearly been cherished and driven sparingly its entire life. With just 131 examples produced in left-hand-drive configuration for the final 2009 model year, it remains a rare and highly desirable convertible with an elegant and imposing presence that few, if any, can match. Bentley never followed up the Azure with an open-top offering on the subsequent Mulsanne platform, making this well-preserved example one of the last big Bentley convertibles ever produced.