Bentley Azure for Export from Dubai

Bentley Azure for export from Dubai: two different convertibles that share one name

A Bentley Azure is a four-seat open-top grand tourer, and the name has been used on two quite different cars. The first Azure was built from 1995 to 2003 on the underpinnings of the Continental R. The second was introduced in 2006 on the newer Arnage platform and stayed in production until about 2009. This is the point that decides export value for a Bentley Azure from Dubai, because the two cars have different engines, different bodies and different values.

Both are rare. Most Azures are sold in very small numbers, and many are in private hands for decades. If you want a Bentley Azure for local use inside the Emirates instead, the used Bentley Azure page for Dubai lists cars sold for use in the UAE. This page is for cars offered for export, so the sections below cover how to identify the version, what the open body does to shipping and condition, and what to settle before you pay.

A rare convertible leaves little room for guessing. Because so few were built, the best way to compare one car with another is through documents and photographs, so insist on a full set before you travel or send a deposit.

The 1995 Azure and the 2006 Azure: how to tell them apart

The first car debuted in 1995 and was built until 2003. It is a long, low convertible with a sharp, slab-sided shape that follows the Continental R coupe. Production was small, reported at 1,403 cars, and a handful of those were special builds.

After a gap of about three years, Bentley returned with a completely new Azure in 2006. It was based on the Arnage and was larger and heavier than its predecessor. It had a much updated version of the 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 and was built until 2009, with a tiny amount of production possibly running into 2010 according to some sources.

A buyer can tell the cars apart in seconds from the photographs. The older car has a flat rear deck and a shorter nose. The later car has the Arnage's rounder face and a longer body. The registration card and the VIN will confirm the year. Ask for both, because the listing name is the same for each.

I could not verify the exact month in which each production run ended, so treat the end years as approximate and rely on the car's documents.

Special builds and coachbuilt versions exist, and some carry names such as Mulliner or Final Series. Ask the seller to show the factory paperwork for any such claim, since a name in a listing is not evidence.

The powertrain and the hood

Both generations use a 6.75-litre turbocharged V8, but in different states of tune. The first car sold with this engine as a heavy but torquey luxury tourer. The second car received a significantly revised engine and a more modern chassis. Neither is a quick sports car by current standards, though both pull strongly.

The convertible roof is the most important item to inspect. Fabric hoods on cars this old wear, shrink and leak, and the hydraulic mechanism that lifts and folds the roof can fail. Ask the seller to operate it fully, up and down, with the car on level ground, and watch for slow or uneven movement.

Look at the seals around the windscreen header and the side windows. After a sea voyage, a poorly sealed roof can let water in. Cars that have spent years under the Gulf sun often have dried rubber seals and faded leather in the rear seats, which are the parts that face the sky when the roof is down.

Check the service record for hydraulic and brake work. These cars are heavy, and the hydraulics are expensive to repair.

Convertible hoods also depend on the electrical system working properly. A weak battery or a faulty switch can leave the roof half open, so test the roof after the engine has been running for a while, not only on a fresh start.

Open-top, four seats and what it means for shipping and use

The Azure seats four adults, with real room in the front and acceptable space in the rear. It is a long car with a heavy chassis, so the boot is smaller than you would expect from the exterior.

Because it is a convertible, the body is less rigid than a closed coupe. That matters for older cars, where scuttle shake and creaks are normal and body flex can reveal previous damage. Walk around the car and check that panel gaps are even. Check the door alignment, which can sag with age.

For shipping, treat the car as a high-value item. Ask the forwarder about enclosed container transport instead of an open carrier, and about insurance for the voyage. The folded fabric roof should be dry and clean before the car goes into a container, since trapped moisture can cause mould over a long transit.

Tyres and wheels also deserve attention. The size is large and replacements are specialist items, so check they are the same on all four corners and that there is no kerb damage.

Inside, the cabin follows the grand-tourer tradition, with wood on the dash and doors and deep leather seats. On the earlier car, the veneer and the switchgear look more traditional. On the later car, the dashboard is closer to the Arnage's, and it has a bigger central display for its time. Either way, ask for close photographs of the wood, because lacquer cracks in strong sun and a refinish is a skilled job.

What sets the price of a Bentley Azure for export

The numbers change too often to quote. These are the factors that decide what a seller can ask.

First, the generation. The later Arnage-based car is newer and tends to be more sought after, while the earlier car has its own following among enthusiasts. Second, mileage and history. Low mileage with a full service record separates the best cars from the rest. Third, condition of roof, leather and wood, which are expensive to restore.

Fourth, originality. Cars that have kept original paint colour, wheels and trim often sell better than modified ones. Fifth, rarity. Special builds and unusual colours can carry a premium. The sixth factor is freight, duty and any import taxes at the destination, which can be a large part of the final bill for a heavy luxury convertible.

Insurance for the sea voyage deserves a quote of its own. A rare, high-value car needs cover that names it specifically, and your forwarder can advise on how to arrange it.

Gulf-spec cars and cars built for other markets

Azures sold in the Gulf were typically specified for heat, with high-output air conditioning. Cars built for Europe, North America or Japan may differ in lighting, side markers, bumpers and emissions equipment.

The VIN shows where the car was first sold. Where a car has spent its life in hot sunshine, expect harder rubber, drier leather and a more worn hood. A car from a cooler climate may look better but may also have a different electrical and lighting specification.

Many service parts are common across markets, but body panels, hood components and some trim pieces are specialist items. Always give the VIN to a parts supplier.

If you plan to register the car abroad, ask the seller for the original purchase invoice and any import papers from when it first arrived in the Gulf. These help establish identity and are a common request from foreign registration offices.

Buying a Bentley Azure in Dubai for export: steps, age rules and what to ask

Check the destination rules first. Many countries restrict imports of used cars older than a set number of years, and an Azure from 1995 to 2003 may exceed that limit, while a 2006 to 2009 car may be on the edge. Some markets treat very old cars as classics under a separate scheme. Emissions rules matter too, since a large turbocharged V8 may not qualify. Ask the importing authority and a forwarder.

Next, go through the listings on this page. OneClickDrive is a car marketplace that puts you in direct contact with verified UAE sellers. We add no commission and do not inspect, ship, document or guarantee any car. You and the seller settle the price and the terms.

Ask for the registration card, the VIN, photographs of the roof in both positions, the underbody and the engine bay, and the service record. Find out who cancels the registration and issues the export documents, and get it in writing. Arrange an independent inspection if the seller agrees.

All cars from the UAE are left-hand drive. If your country takes only right-hand-drive cars, an Azure cannot be registered there.

Before paying, ask whether the car is free of finance and fines, whether the VIN matches the card, whether it has had accident damage, which generation it is and whether the roof works fully. Pay a deposit only against a written agreement that names the VIN.

A final practical point is storage after arrival. A convertible of this age should not sit outdoors for long, so decide where the car will live before it ships, and make sure the roof is closed and dry on the day it is loaded.

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