Bentley B3

The Bentley B3 was a limited-production coupé developed exclusively for the Sultan of Brunei, whose extensive patronage of bespoke automotive projects in the 1990s led to the creation of numerous one-off and low-volume models. Commissioned directly by the Brunei royal household, the B3 was based mechanically on the Bentley Continental R but featured entirely new bodywork conceived and executed by Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche (PFSR) in Turin, Italy. Unlike standard Bentley models, the B3 was ordered outside the traditional Rolls-Royce production and distribution channels. The design and engineering were handled entirely by Pininfarina, with final construction carried out by Carrozzeria Coggiola, a specialist known for crafting low-volume, high-quality vehicles. A total of thirteen Bentley B3 coupés were built between 1994 and 1995, including two in the first year and eleven in the second. Each car was uniquely specified, tailored to the personal tastes of the Sultan and his family. The B3 retained the Continental R’s robust turbocharged V8 engine and fundamental platform but was distinguished by a new exterior design and bespoke interior finishes. As with other Brunei commissions, detailed specifications were not publicly disclosed, but the vehicles are known to feature personalized trims, rare materials, and non-standard configurations. The B3 coupé formed part of a broader series of Brunei-exclusive Bentleys that included the similarly bespoke B2 and Phoenix Cabriolet models, all created by Pininfarina and Coggiola. The Phoenix served as a cabriolet counterpart to the B3, sharing its design language and mechanical base while offering an open-top configuration. Together, these models illustrated the close collaboration between Italian design houses and the Brunei royal family, reflecting a unique era of highly individualized automotive production. Chassis numbers for the B3 fall within the regular Continental R sequence but are identifiable by their grouping and bespoke character. Examples include SCBZB04C7RCH52074, SCBZB04C4RCH52081 (1994), and several 1995 units such as SCBZB04CXSCH52382, SCBZB04C0SCH52391, and SCBZB04C9SCH52440. These cars remain exceptionally rare and are emblematic of the technical and stylistic freedoms afforded by private commission.