Bentley Azure 1st Gen

Based on the Continental R platform, the Bentley Azure debuted in 1995 as the world's most expensive and powerful four-seat convertible. Its body shells were built by Pininfarina in Italy before being shipped to Crewe for final assembly, powertrain installation, and trimming. Under the massive hood sits Bentley's legendary 6.75-liter V8, initially with a single Garrett turbocharger producing around 385 hp, making it a prodigiously fast and comfortable grand tourer.

Collectors are drawn to the first-generation Azure for its status as one of the final models from Bentley's pre-Volkswagen Group era. It represents a high point of hand-built craftsmanship combined with imposing old-world presence that later models don't quite replicate. The performance is still impressive, especially in the later Mulliner and 'T' models which received twin-turbo setups and over 400 hp.

With an original price tag north of $350,000, these cars have depreciated heavily, making them a compelling value proposition today. The market sees an average sale price around $53,000, showing that a tremendous amount of car is available for a fraction of its original cost. However, this accessibility is tempered by potentially high running costs, which keeps values from climbing significantly.

Prices for traded examples from 1997-2003 range from $24,200 to $85,500.