Bentley has unveiled the exclusive Olympia Collection by Mulliner, a series of just 12 individually numbered Continental GTs celebrating a century since the legendary 6½ Litre made its debut as a complete motor car at London’s Olympia Motor Show in 1926.
Created by Bentley’s bespoke division in Crewe, Cheshire, the new collection pays tribute to founder W.O. Bentley’s pursuit of engineering excellence, combining heritage-inspired design with the craftsmanship and refinement of a modern grand tourer. From its distinctive two-tone green paintwork to intricate interior detailing, every element tells part of a story that began more than a century ago.
The Olympia Collection also introduces a particularly unusual finishing touch: each car comes with an exclusive, individually numbered Brooklands chronograph, created to complement its specification. Limited to just 12 examples, the collection brings together British motoring history, contemporary luxury and traditional watchmaking.
At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Collection | Olympia Collection by Mulliner |
| Manufacturer | Bentley Motors |
| Announcement | 5 November 2026 |
| Model | Bentley Continental GT |
| Production | 12 individually numbered cars |
| Inspiration | Bentley 6½ Litre, presented as a complete car at Olympia in 1926 |
| Exterior Finish | Verdant to Midnight Emerald Ombré |
| Paintwork | 56-hour specialist process |
| Exterior Detailing | Champagne Gold accents and 22-inch Mulliner wheels |
| Interior | Coach Green and Cumbrian Green leather |
| Veneer | Black-stained open-pore walnut |
| Collectable | Individually numbered Brooklands chronograph |
| Pricing | Not publicly disclosed |
Celebrating a Century of Bentley Heritage
The Olympia Collection takes inspiration from one of the most important chapters in Bentley’s early history. In October 1926, the company presented its six-cylinder 6½ Litre as a complete motor car at London’s Olympia Motor Show, following the introduction of the chassis and engine a year earlier.
The model represented an important development for the British manufacturer, which had established its reputation with the 3 Litre. As demand grew for larger, more refined cars capable of carrying substantial coachbuilt bodies, W.O. Bentley recognised the need to combine greater power with the effortless performance expected of a luxury grand tourer.
An encounter during a journey through France in 1924 would help shape that ambition. According to Bentley’s historical account, its founder and colleagues encountered a prototype from rival manufacturer Rolls-Royce while travelling between Lyon and Dieppe. The two vehicles engaged in an impromptu contest, leaving W.O. determined to develop a more capable six-cylinder engine.
He subsequently increased the proposed engine’s capacity, seeking, as he later wrote, to stay ahead of the competition. The resulting 6½ Litre would help establish a new standard of performance and refinement for Bentley, with its engineering legacy later contributing to the celebrated Speed Six.
A century later, Mulliner has drawn on that formative period to create a collection that celebrates the marque’s origins without attempting to recreate a historic car.
A Distinctive Ombré Finish Inspired by British Racing Green
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Olympia Collection is its bespoke exterior paintwork, which transitions gradually from Verdant green at the front to Midnight Emerald at the rear.
The finish offers a contemporary interpretation of British Racing Green, a colour closely associated with Bentley’s early sporting heritage. However, the exact appearance of the original 6½ Litre’s green paintwork is no longer certain, partly because historic pigments and finishes have changed with age.
Rather than select a single interpretation, Mulliner’s designers created a subtle transition between two complementary shades. The process requires approximately 56 hours of specialist work, with skilled paint technicians carefully blending the colours across the vehicle’s bodywork to achieve a consistent finish.
Champagne Gold detailing provides a contrast to the deep green exterior, appearing on the badges, wheel accents and a hand-painted lower-body pinstripe. These elements take inspiration from the warm metallic appearance of nickel silver, which featured on the radiator surrounds and controls of early Bentley models.
The collection also incorporates black exterior detailing, including the grille, air intakes and rear diffuser, alongside bespoke 22-inch Mulliner wheels with Champagne Gold accents. Discreet Olympia Collection badging completes the exterior, reinforcing the exclusivity of the 12 individually numbered cars.
Inside the Olympia Collection: Craftsmanship with a Historic Connection
The interior continues the collection’s heritage-inspired theme through a carefully developed palette of green leather, dark wood and Champagne Gold detailing.
Mulliner has created a bespoke Coach Green main hide with an intentionally aged appearance, complemented by Cumbrian Green leather and contrasting piping. The combination evokes the atmosphere of traditional grand touring interiors while retaining the comfort and finish of a contemporary Continental GT.
Black-stained, open-pore Crown Cut Walnut veneers provide a rich backdrop for the dashboard and cabin detailing. Bentley’s traditional diamond-knurled controls feature throughout, while the air vents and organ-stop controls incorporate finishes chosen specifically for the collection.
One of the most distinctive features is the Bentley Rotating Display, which includes commemorative details inspired by the instruments of the original 6½ Litre. Each vehicle’s individual number also forms part of the bespoke interior specification, connecting the modern car with its historic inspiration.
The attention to detail extends to the steering wheel, where Champagne Gold box stitching recalls the rope-bound steering wheels used in early racing cars.
At the rear, intricate embroidery depicts the journey between Lyon and Dieppe that helped influence W.O. Bentley’s decision to develop a more powerful engine. The route appears in Champagne Gold stitching against a subtle map outline, transforming a small interior detail into a reference to the company’s founding philosophy.
A Brooklands Chronograph for Every Owner
The Olympia Collection’s connection with British motoring heritage extends beyond the cars themselves.
Each of the 12 Continental GTs will be accompanied by a bespoke chronograph from Brooklands Watch Co., individually numbered to correspond with its matching vehicle.
The watch features a strap crafted from the same Coach Green leather used within the car’s interior, creating a direct connection between the two designs. Its caseback incorporates detailing inspired by the commemorative graphics found on the Bentley Rotating Display.
Two interchangeable tachymeter bezels reference the historic Brooklands racing circuit, including its Outer Circuit and Double Twelve Circuit. The details celebrate the famous Surrey venue’s role in the development and testing of high-performance British motor cars.
The watch forms part of a wider presentation package that also includes a handcrafted Mulliner handover box, a commemorative book exploring the 6½ Litre’s history and a bespoke vehicle cover.
For collectors, the accompanying chronograph adds a further dimension to the ownership experience, bringing together automotive craftsmanship and traditional mechanical watchmaking in a way that feels particularly appropriate for this heritage-led collection.
A New Chapter for Bentley Mulliner
The Olympia Collection also highlights the increasingly important role of Mulliner in Bentley’s approach to exclusivity and personalisation.
As the manufacturer’s bespoke division, Mulliner specialises in highly individual commissions, limited-production collections and craftsmanship that extends beyond the standard vehicle specification. The Olympia Collection demonstrates how this expertise can reinterpret historical details for a modern audience.
Although all 12 cars share a carefully developed commemorative specification, their individually numbered status ensures each forms part of a highly restricted production series. Bentley has not publicly announced pricing for the collection, with prospective buyers directed to the Mulliner team for further information.
The manufacturer has also indicated that the Olympia Collection represents the beginning of a wider series of heritage-inspired creations. Future projects may explore other significant moments in W.O. Bentley’s life and the company’s history, although further details have yet to be announced.
For Bentley’s Crewe operation, the collection provides another opportunity to demonstrate the specialist craftsmanship that continues to distinguish its luxury grand touring cars.
The Love Lux Life View
What makes the Bentley Olympia Collection particularly compelling is the depth of its connection to the company’s history. Rather than relying solely on exclusive badging or a limited production run, Mulliner has developed a series of design details that reference a defining moment in Bentley’s early development.
The painstaking Ombré paintwork, heritage-inspired leather and embroidered route between Lyon and Dieppe demonstrate how traditional craftsmanship can give a contemporary luxury car a more personal identity. The accompanying Brooklands chronograph adds another interesting dimension, bringing British motoring and watchmaking heritage together in one carefully considered commission.
With only 12 examples planned, the Olympia Collection is undoubtedly aimed at a highly select audience. Yet its significance extends beyond exclusivity, offering a reminder of how Bentley’s pursuit of performance, refinement and individual craftsmanship continues to influence the marque more than a century after its earliest achievements.
