The one-off Continental GT Azure, based on the image, design and details of Bentley's 70th anniversary R-Type Continental, the JAS 949, is born. The Continental GT Azure by R. Mulliner boasts the latest in automotive technology while inheriting the finest of craft-built traditions, and offers wellness and comfort to provide ‘a modern magic carpet’.

January 27, 2023
The brainchild of Chief Projects Engineer Ivan Evernden and Chief Stylist John Blatchley, the R-Type Continental set a template that continues to inspire Bentley designers to this day.
Two pre-war coachbuilt specials, the ‘Embiricos’ Bentley and Corniche, had shown the advantages of improved aerodynamics. In the early 1950s, Ivan Evernden took inspiration from these one-off creations to create a sleek coupé based on the R-Type Bentley saloon.
The power of the 4,566cc, six-cylinder in-line engine was raised from 140 to 153 bhp, and the transmission featured a higher final drive ratio. To keep down to the target weight, coachbuilders HJ Mulliner crafted the bodywork, window frames, windscreen surround, backlight, seat frames and bumpers in aluminium. The first production model was delivered to its owner in June 1952, and by the time production ended in 1955, 208 R Type Continentals had been manufactured. Of these, 193 were bodied by HJ Mulliner. Others included Park Ward (four dropheads and two coupés), Franay (five), Graber (three) and Farina (one).
One R-Type Continental, the JAS 949, is kept in the Bentley Heritage Collection.The JAS 949 was delivered to its first owner, Dr Rowland Guenin of Switzerland, in December 1953. It was ordered in Ivory with a Red interior and a manual gearbox, a specification it retains today, along with the original 4.6-litre engine.
Bentley Motors has handcrafted a unique and one-off Continental GT Azure, inspired by Bentley’s retained example of the iconic R-Type Continental, the JAS 949.
The three key design contours of the car – the power line from the front wheel, the rear haunch and the roofline – were the inspiration for the first generation Continental GT in 2003 and every Continental GT since. The latest Azure members of the Continental GT family continue to celebrate elegance and timeless design.
To recreate the closest specification for the modern interpretation of the JAS 949, a new Continental GT V8 Azure has been hand painted in Old English White – a faithful re-creation of the heritage paint colour that dates back to the 1950s. Adding a contemporary aspect, the Burr Walnut veneer has been left as open pore, providing a closer texture to the patinated finish in JAS 949.
In addition, the new Continental GT Azure is designed to enhance the wellbeing and comfort of the vehicle’s occupants, making every journey a relaxing experience, regardless of distance. The relaxing and re-energising environment of the Azure cabin, which reduces driver fatigue through its multisensory and science-informed design, can only help to enhance the safety of the car. The comfort it provides is quoted as simulating the feel of ‘a modern magic carpet’.