Bentley is marking the 100th anniversary of its iconic 6½ Litre with the introduction of the Olympia Collection by Mulliner, an exclusive series of just 12 Continental GT models. Created to celebrate the engineering ambition and uncompromising pursuit of excellence that defined founder W.O. Bentley, the collection brings together historic inspiration, bespoke craftsmanship, and modern grand touring performance.
The story dates back to 1926, when Bentley unveiled the production version of its second model line, the six-cylinder 6½ Litre, at the Olympia Motor Show in London. Positioned alongside the established 3 Litre, the new model expanded Bentley’s appeal by offering greater power, torque, and refinement without sacrificing the sporting character that had quickly become central to the marque.
A century later, Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke division, has translated that heritage into a contemporary interpretation of British luxury.
Inspired by W.O. Bentley’s relentless pursuit of excellence
Bentley’s first production model, the 3 Litre, arrived in 1921 and quickly established a reputation among discerning motorists. However, demand soon emerged for a larger chassis and more powerful engine capable of accommodating the heavier coachwork of luxury saloons.
The development of the 6½ Litre took an unexpected turn during a 1924 prototype test in France. W.O. Bentley and three colleagues were traveling from the European Grand Prix in Lyon toward Dieppe when they encountered a prototype test team from one of Bentley’s closest competitors at a junction.
Recognizing each other, the two teams began an impromptu high-speed contest along the tree-lined Route Nationale, with both cars exceeding 80 mph. Although the Bentley ultimately came out ahead, W.O. was dissatisfied with the margin of victory.
Back in England, he increased the prototype’s engine displacement from 4.5 liters to 6.5 liters, explaining that the objective was to “stay two steps ahead.” That determination became part of the philosophy behind the production 6½ Litre, which later evolved into the legendary Speed Six. The latter would go on to secure consecutive victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930.
A bespoke exterior with a heritage-inspired finish
The Olympia Collection’s exterior combines classic British racing heritage with contemporary Mulliner detailing. Its most distinctive feature is the exclusive Ombré by Mulliner paint finish, which transitions seamlessly from Verdant to Midnight Emerald, creating a modern interpretation of the various British Racing Green shades associated with Bentley’s early automobiles.
Champagne Gold accents provide a contrasting highlight, appearing on the exterior badges, lower-body pinstripe, and the faces of the black 22-inch Mulliner wheels. The finish also extends to the Blackline specification, which replaces traditional brightwork across the matrix grille, air intakes, and rear diffuser with gloss-black detailing.
Discreet Olympia Collection badges appear on the front fenders, while opening the doors activates an illuminated ground projection depicting W.O. Bentley’s famous Lyon-to-Dieppe drive.
Creating the distinctive Ombré finish is an exceptionally labor-intensive process, requiring approximately 56 hours of work by highly skilled paint technicians. By blending two carefully selected shades of green, Mulliner has created a finish that captures the broad spectrum of historical British Racing Green tones.
A handcrafted interior with individual details
Inside, the Olympia Collection continues its heritage-inspired approach with an exclusive color combination featuring bespoke Coach Green main leather and Cumbrian Green secondary upholstery. The leather receives a heritage-patinated finish, while the dashboard and door waistrails are trimmed in black-stained, open-pore crown-cut walnut veneer.
Diamond-knurled controls and detailing reinforce Bentley’s traditional craftsmanship, while Champagne Gold accents carry the exterior theme into the cabin. These appear on the seat piping, gear selector, organ-stop controls, and steering wheel stitching. The latter features distinctive box stitching inspired by the rope-bound steering wheels found in automobiles of the 1920s.
The Bentley Rotating Display receives its own collection-specific treatment, including an individually numbered clock and bespoke dials and bezels inspired by the instrumentation of the original 1926 6½ Litre.
Rear passengers also receive a special historical detail. The ski hatch features bespoke embroidery illustrating W.O. Bentley’s journey from Lyon to Dieppe, with Cumbrian Green outlining the region and Champagne Gold tracing the route itself.
An exclusive Brooklands watch and collector’s package
Mulliner has extended the Olympia Collection beyond the vehicle itself with a series of exclusive accessories and commemorative items.
Each of the 12 Continental GT models comes with a bespoke green car cover featuring Champagne Gold detailing, a commemorative handover box, and a dedicated Olympia Collection book.
The highlight is an individually numbered Brooklands watch, created specifically for the collection. Each timepiece corresponds to its matching vehicle and features a strap made from the same Coach Green leather used inside the Continental GT.
The watch’s case-back chapter ring echoes the commemorative laser engraving on the Bentley Rotating Display, while two interchangeable tachymeter bezels reference the Outer Circuit and Double Twelve Circuit at Brooklands, one of the most important venues in Bentley’s early motorsport history.
A century of Bentley excellence
The original 6½ Litre represented an important step in Bentley’s evolution, combining increased performance with the refinement expected of a luxury automobile. Its most famous derivative, the Speed Six, cemented the model’s sporting credentials with its back-to-back Le Mans victories in 1929 and 1930.
The Olympia Collection by Mulliner brings that same philosophy into the modern era, celebrating 100 years of engineering ambition through an exceptionally detailed and highly exclusive interpretation of the Continental GT.
Limited to just 12 individually specified examples, the collection is more than a styling exercise. It is a tribute to W.O. Bentley’s determination to build the very best automobiles, a philosophy that continues to shape the marque a century after the original 6½ Litre made its debut.
