How a chance encounter inspired 12 bespoke Bentleys

In 1924, Walter Owen Bentley was driving through the French countryside with three colleagues, putting a new six-cylinder prototype through its paces. By some extraordinary coincidence, the group found themselves at the same junction as a test team from one of Bentley’s fiercest rivals, who just happened to be driving a prototype of their own.

The two cars met somewhere between Lyon and Dieppe and, recognising one another, engaged in an impromptu race along a straight, tree-lined stretch of road at speeds exceeding 129km/h. Considering this was 1924, the two cars were practically flying.

And while Bentley came out ahead, it was apparently not by quite enough to satisfy its famously competitive founder. Back in England, he decided the engine needed a little more oomph, increasing its capacity from 4.5 litres to 6.5 litres to ensure, as he later wrote, that Bentley would remain “two steps ahead”.

Two years later, the resulting 6.5 litre made its production debut at the 1926 Olympia Motor Show in London. And now, a century on, that spirited encounter has inspired a new limited-edition Bentley.

The Olympia Collection by Mulliner comprises just 12 individually numbered Continental GTs, each dressed in a carefully considered combination of colours, materials and bespoke details that pay tribute to the original 6.5 litre and the man behind it.

Bentley’s first production model, the aptly named 3 Litre, had already established the company’s reputation for performance. But customers were beginning to ask for something bigger and more luxurious, particularly as heavier coach-built bodies became increasingly popular.

The six-cylinder 6.5 litre answered that call, offering more power and refinement without sacrificing the sporting character that had made Bentley’s name. Its later Speed Six incarnation would go on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1929 and 1930.

For the Olympia Collection, Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division has looked to the colours and craftsmanship of that era, starting with a particularly beautiful interpretation of British Racing Green.

In the 1920s, there wasn’t one universally agreed-upon shade of racing green, and the pigments used in automotive paint could change colour over time, especially after years in the sun. So, depending on which historic Bentley you’re looking at, the green might be quite different.

Rather than choosing one, Mulliner has created a bespoke ombré finish that gradually shifts from Verdant to Midnight Emerald across the bodywork. Achieving that seamless transition takes a painstaking 56 hours.

The deep green finish is complemented by Champagne Gold detailing on the badges, lower bodywork pinstripe and 22-inch Mulliner wheels, whose accents are intended to recall the spoked wheels of the 1920s.

Black exterior trim gives the car a more contemporary edge, while discreet Olympia Collection badges on the front wings distinguish it from the standard Continental GT.

Open the door and another little nod to Bentley’s past appears: a bespoke animated welcome light projects an illustration of WO Bentley’s famous Lyon-to-Dieppe drive onto the ground.

Inside, the designers have gone for a rich combination of greens, dark wood and warm metallic details.

The seats are upholstered in bespoke Coach Green leather with a specially developed patinated finish, giving them the appearance of leather that’s already acquired a little character over the years. Cumbrian Green provides a secondary shade, while black-stained, open-pore crown-cut walnut adds a darker, more traditional touch to the dashboard and door trims.

Champagne Gold makes another appearance on the seat piping, gear selector and organ-stop ventilation controls, while diamond-knurled switchgear brings a little extra texture to the cabin.

Even the steering wheel stitching has a story behind it. The box-stitched pattern is a nod to the rope-wrapped steering wheels of early Bentleys, back when drivers relied on little more than a large steering wheel and a firm grip to keep their cars pointing in the right direction.

The Bentley Rotating Display also gets the heritage treatment, with a specially designed clock and dials inspired by the speedometer of the 1926 6½ Litre.

And if that wasn’t enough, tucked away on the ski hatch in the rear, an embroidered map traces the route of that memorable drive between Lyon and Dieppe, with the surrounding region outlined in Cumbrian Green and the route itself picked out in Champagne Gold.

And because buying one of just 12 bespoke Bentleys apparently calls for a few extras, each car comes with a collection of specially commissioned keepsakes.

The most interesting is a mechanical chronograph made by Brooklands Watch Co, individually numbered to match the car and fitted with a strap crafted from the same Coach Green leather used in its interior.

The watch also features two interchangeable tachymeter bezels inspired by the historic Outer Circuit and Double Twelve Circuit at Brooklands, the famous Surrey racing venue that played an important role in Bentley’s early motorsport history.

There’s also a commemorative book telling the story behind the collection, a handcrafted presentation box and a bespoke green car cover finished with Champagne Gold detailing.

Bentley hasn’t disclosed what the Olympia Collection will cost, although with just 12 examples being made, it’s safe to assume the price won’t be modest.

Wanted