Bentley is one of the most historic manufacturers in the automotive industry, with roots that stretch back well over a century. In some of the earliest days in that history, Bentley Motors arrived at the 1926 Olympia Motor Show with the production version of its second-ever model line: the 6 ½ Litre, with a six-cylinder engine. The 6 ½ Litre was offered alongside the 3 Litre, diversifying the manufacturer’s range with a larger chassis and more power, and combining performance with refinement.
A hundred years later, that formula still lies at the heart of Bentley’s model range today, and a collection of just 12 Bentley Continental GTs has been created by Mulliner to pay homage to W.O. Bentley, the brand’s founder, and look back on the 1926 Olympia Motor Show, one of the earliest milestones in its history. It’s called the Olympia Collection, and it combines the latest Muliner personalization techniques and finishes with historical inspiration.
The exterior features a unique Ombré by Mulliner finish, which goes from Verdant to Midnight Emerald. It’s paired with details like Champagne Gold badges, a pinstripe on the lower bodywork, black 22-inch wheels with Champagne Gold accents, special Olympia Collection badging, and an animated welcome lamp.
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The choice of an Ombré exterior was deliberate, as the designers at Mulliner wanted to pay homage to classic British Racing Green with the collection. However, several British Racing Greens existed in the ‘20s, and the copper used in the paint from that time has degraded due to UV exposure. Since there is no standardized British Racing Green, Bentley chose the two extremes, Verdant and Midnight Emerald, and smoothly transitioned them with a gradient finish that requires over 56 hours of work by paint technicians, virtually depicting as many British Racing Greens as possible throughout the gradient.
Meanwhile, the interior features a color scheme that is unique to the Olympia Collection. It combines bespoke Coach Green upholstery with Cumbrian Green accents, using a patinaed finish to further distinguish the configuration. Open-pore, crown-cut walnut veneer stained in black, and diamond-knurled controls and dials offer more heritage-inspired details. The collection features Bentley’s Rotating Display, and one of its faces features dials inspired by the 1926 Bentley 6 ½ Litre that was debuted at the Olympia Motor Show. Box stitching on the steering wheel evokes the look of rope-bound steering wheels from the 1920s, and special embroidery in the rear of the car references the story that led to the Bentley 6 ½ Litre.
The treadplates feature an “Olympia Collection by Mulliner” motif, and each of the 12 cars comes with a bespoke car cover, a Brooklands watch, a handover box, and a story of Olympia Collection book. Each of the watches, which is exclusive to the collection, is numbered to match its corresponding car, and the straps use a hide that matches the interior. Paying homage to the Bentley 6 ½ Litre and the legacy it paved the way for a hundred years ago, the new Bentley Mulliner Olympia Collection is a stunning homage to the early days of the manufacturer’s rich history.
Image Source: Bentley Motors
