Inspired by the 1926 Olympia Motor Show and the pioneering spirit of W.O. Bentley, a limited collection of 12 individually numbered Continental GTs brings a defining chapter of British motoring history into the present.
A century after Bentley presented its six-cylinder 6½ Litre at the 1926 Olympia Motor Show in London, the marque is revisiting that moment through a new Mulliner commission. Named the Olympia Collection, the exclusive series comprises 12 individually numbered Continental GTs, each conceived as a contemporary tribute to the engineering ambition and sporting heritage of founder W.O. Bentley.
Created by Bentley’s in-house bespoke division, Mulliner, the collection draws on the history of an automobile that helped shape the company’s early reputation for combining performance with refinement. Its influence is reflected throughout the new cars, from the distinctive exterior finish to the carefully considered interior details and accompanying collectibles.
Rather than reproducing the appearance of a vintage Bentley, the Olympia Collection interprets the character of the 1920s through contemporary materials, finishes and craftsmanship.
The Story Behind The Olympia Collection
The inspiration reaches back to 1926, when Bentley introduced the production version of its six-cylinder 6½ Litre at the Olympia Motor Show.
The model represented an important development for the young manufacturer. Following the launch of the original 3 Litre in 1921, Bentley recognised demand for a larger chassis and a more powerful engine capable of accommodating the heavier coachwork of a luxury saloon.
An earlier episode in the development of the 6½ Litre provides the collection with one of its most distinctive historical references.
In 1924, W.O. Bentley and three colleagues were testing a six-cylinder prototype in France, travelling from Lyon towards Dieppe after the European Grand Prix. Along the route, the disguised Bentley encountered a prototype test team from a competing manufacturer at a junction. Recognising one another, the two groups began racing along a straight stretch of road at speeds exceeding 80 mph.
Although the Bentley eventually prevailed, W.O. was dissatisfied with the margin of victory. Upon returning to England, he increased the engine’s capacity from 4.5 litres to 6.5 litres, determined, in his own words, to stay two steps ahead.
That journey from Lyon to Dieppe has become a recurring design reference throughout the Olympia Collection, connecting the contemporary cars with the competitive instinct that shaped Bentley’s early engineering philosophy.
A New Interpretation Of British Racing Green
The exterior treatment is among the collection’s most distinctive features.
Mulliner has developed an exclusive Ombré by Mulliner paint finish, transitioning from Verdant to Midnight Emerald. The gradual movement between the two shades creates a deep green exterior that references the British Racing Green tradition associated with Bentley’s early automobiles.
Achieving the finish requires 56 hours of work by skilled paint technicians. The designers also faced an interesting historical challenge: British Racing Green did not have one standardised shade during the 1920s. Contemporary paint formulations varied, and the copper used in some historic finishes has deteriorated over time under ultraviolet light.
Rather than attempting to reproduce an exact historical colour, Mulliner created a contemporary interpretation that spans the range of greens associated with the marque’s heritage.
Champagne Gold details provide contrast across the exterior, appearing in the badging, lower-body pinstripe and accents on the black 22-inch Mulliner wheels. Blackline specification extends across the exterior brightwork, including the matrix grille, air intakes and rear diffuser.
Opening the doors also activates an animated welcome lamp projecting an interpretation of W.O. Bentley’s Lyon-to-Dieppe journey onto the ground.
An Interior Shaped By History
Inside, the Olympia Collection continues its relationship with the past through a bespoke combination of materials, colours and detailing.
The main upholstery is finished in Coach Green hide with a heritage patina effect, complemented by Cumbrian Green secondary hide. Black-stained, open-pore crown-cut walnut veneer covers the fascia and waist rails, while diamond-knurled controls and dials reference a longstanding Bentley design signature.
Champagne Gold accents continue into the cabin through seat piping, the gear lever and organ stops.
The steering wheel receives particular attention. Its Champagne Gold box stitching recalls the appearance of the rope-bound steering wheels fitted to early Bentley models, translating a historical detail into a contemporary expression of craftsmanship.
The Bentley Rotating Display also receives collection-specific treatment. Its clock, individual numbering, dials and bezels draw inspiration from the instruments of the original 1926 6½ Litre.
At the rear, bespoke ski-hatch embroidery depicts the Lyon-to-Dieppe route. The regional outline is embroidered in Cumbrian Green, while the journey itself is traced in Champagne Gold.
These details give the collection a coherent design narrative, with the historical references appearing throughout the vehicle rather than being confined to exterior badging.
A Timepiece To Match The Automobile
Each of the 12 Continental GTs is accompanied by a collection of bespoke objects that extends the ownership experience beyond the vehicle itself.
The centrepiece is an individually numbered mechanical chronograph created by Brooklands Watch Co. Each watch carries a number corresponding to its matching Bentley and features a strap made from the same Coach Green hide used inside the car.
Its case-back chapter ring echoes the commemorative laser etching on the Bentley Rotating Display. Two interchangeable tachymeter bezels reference the Brooklands Outer Circuit and Double Twelve Circuit, linking the timepiece to Bentley’s early motorsport history.
The accompanying presentation also includes a commemorative Olympia Collection book, a handcrafted handover box and a bespoke green car cover finished with Champagne Gold detailing.
Together, these objects create a collection that connects automotive design with horology and the tradition of bespoke presentation.
From Olympia To The Modern Continental GT
The original 6½ Litre established an important direction for Bentley, demonstrating that greater power and refinement could coexist with the marque’s sporting character.
Its later Speed Six development would go on to achieve victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930, strengthening Bentley’s reputation in international motorsport.
A century later, the Olympia Collection revisits that legacy through the contemporary Continental GT. It is a reminder that heritage can be interpreted through design and craftsmanship without requiring a manufacturer to abandon modern engineering.
With only 12 individually numbered examples, the collection is a highly exclusive expression of Mulliner’s bespoke capabilities. Its significance, however, reaches beyond limited production. The project brings together a historical automobile, a defining moment in W.O. Bentley’s career and a contemporary approach to personalisation.
The Olympia Collection ultimately celebrates an idea that has remained central to Bentley for a century: the pursuit of exceptional automobiles through engineering, refinement and an uncompromising attention to detail.
