Bentley creates modern interpretations of the classics

The automaker is celebrating the 60th, 40th, and 20th anniversaries since the launches of the T Series in 1965, the Turbo R in 1985 and Continental Flying Spur W12 in 2005.

Bentley lineup of Mulliner Flying Spur Speed, Flying Spur Speed, Flying Spur Azure, 1965 T Series, 1985 Turbo R and 2005 Continental Flying Spur W12 — Bentley created the (l-r) Mulliner Flying Spur Speed, Flying Spur Speed and Flying Spur Azure in celebration of the 1965 T Series, 1985 Turbo R and 2005 Continental Flying Spur W12. – Bentley Motors photo

Bentley Motors is motoring toward the future in style and luxury but the British marque has not forgotten its past.

In 2025, the company is celebrating the 60th, 40th and 20th anniversaries of three significant models, and Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division has created a modern interpretation of each one.

The three cars in question are the 1965 T Series, the 1985 Turbo R and the 2005 Continental Flying Spur.

The automaker keeps one of each of those cars in the 50-car Bentley Heritage Collection in Crewe, England. The company said every one of the 50 cars is kept in fully running condition.

Let’s explore each of the anniversary cars and their tributes.

1965 Bentley T Series and 2025 Bentley Flying Spur Azure — *The Bentley T Series saloon (left) launched in 1965 while the 2025 Flying Spur Azure is its tribute. – Bentley Motors photo*

1965 T Series

The T Series launched at the Paris Motor Show on Oct. 5, 1965. It was the first Bentley to use a unitary construction moncoque instead of a separate chassis and coachwork.

The car was lower, narrow and shorter than its predecessor and was far more modern.

It was powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine producing 199 hp (202 PS) and had a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph).

The car in the Bentley collection is the first-ever T Series produced.

The T Series’ tribute car is a Flying Spur Azure model with the company’s High Performance Hybrid powertrain with 671 hp (680 PS).

*The Bentley T Series and Flying Spur Azure interiors are shown in comparison. – Bentley Motors photos*

The car’s Shell Grey exterior paint is meant to echo its predecessor and it rides on 22-inch, six tri-spoke wheels that have the same finish as the 1965 T Series.

It also has chrome vertical vanes and chromework along the length of the car.

The interior has a blue-grey main hide, which was matched to the original car by the Mulliner team. There’s also a Beluga secondary hide, and a Burr Walnut fascia, console, door panels and picnic tables.

There’s also mood lighting, Naim audio and a Bentley rotating display to create a classic interior.

2025 Bentley Flying Spur Speed 1985 Bentley Turbo R — *The Bentley Flying Spur Speed (left) is a tribute of the 1985 Turbo R. – Bentley Motors photo*

1985 Turbo R

The Turbo R came out in 1985.

The car had a Garrett AiResearch T04 turbocharger that boosted the V8 engine’s power to 294 hp (298 PS).

Bentley said this power gave the car that era’s supercar levels of acceleration while offering comfort and space for up to five people.

Zero to 100 km/h arrived in seven seconds and the top speed was 217 km/h (135 mph).

Over nine years, Bentley sold 4,111 of these cars.

The car in the Bentley collection is a 1991 model in Brooklands Green exterior colour with a yellow coachline, and the interior has a Magnolia hide with spruce piping and Burr Walnut veneer.

The modern interpretation is a Flying Spur Speed model, which features Bentley’s Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain with 771 hp (782 PS). The car can also travel up to 76 kilometres on electric power alone. Zero to 100 km/h arrives in 3.5 seconds.

*The Bentley Turbo R and Flying Spur Speed interiors are shown in comparison. – Bentley Motors photos*

The tribute car is finished in Brooklands Green and features a Monaco Yellow coachline. The car’s 22-inch swept-spoke wheels are finished in grey with bright machined facings and have self-levelling wheel badges.

The Flying B radiator mascot is finished in bright polished stainless steel and features subtle illumination.

On the inside, the car combines Linen as the main hide with Cumbrian Green as a secondary colour.

The fascia has a duo-tone open pore dark Burr Walnut over Cumbrian Green piano veneer with these two elements separated by a chrome pinstripe. There are also subtle Signal Yellow touches, which can be seen on the car’s emblems, seat piping, over mats and the six o’clock tab on the steering wheel.

2005 Bentley Continental Flying Spur W12 and 2025 Bentley Mulliner Flying Spur Speed — *The 2005 Bentley Continental Flying Spur W12 (left) gets a modern reinterpretation with the Mulliner Flying Spur Speed. – Bentley Motors photo*

2005 Continental Flying Spur W12

The Continental Flying Spur W12 that launched in 2005 was the company’s first four-door car under the new Volkswagen AG era.

The name was a revival of a classic, the Mulliner-built 1958 S1 Continental Flying Spur.

The 2005 car had a 6-litre W12 engine with 550 hp (558 PS), all-wheel drive and a drag coefficient of 0.31 Cd.

Bentley said the car exceeded 200 mph (322 km/h), but the car was marketed with a more conservative top speed of 195 mph.

The car in the Bentley collection is the first production Continental Flying Spur that was produced in May 2005.

The car is finished in Cypress Green, while the main hide on the inside is Saddle with Cognac being a secondary colour. The veneer is Burr Walnut.

The tribute car is a Mulliner Flying Spur Speed.

*The Bentley Continental Flying Spur W12 and Mulliner Flying Spur Speed interiors are shown in comparison. – Bentley Motors photos*

It features a Cypress exterior colour with a Saddle pinstripe on the lower edges of the carbon-fibre front spoiler and sills, as well as 22-inch 10-spoke sports wheels finished in dark grey satin.

The interior has a Special Green main hide with Saddle as a secondary colour.

The Special Green main colour was created by Mulliner for this special tribute model. The same colour is also used as a contrast shade on the upholstery’s diamond quilting, embroidered emblems, the steering wheel’s six o’clock tab and the over mats.

The interior fascia gets a dual finish, featuring open pore dark Burr Walnut and gloss Burr Walnut, with the two colours separated by a Cypress Green pinstripe. The pinstripe continues on the upper bullseye air vent vane and door wait rails. There are also Burr Walnut veneer clads on the rear door inner panels.