British design company Linley have teamed up with Bentley in a unique project to create a set of 10 limited edition Bentley Continental Flying Spurs.
The new collaboration will see Linley designers and craftsmen create a truly unique interior for the Bentley cars. Specially elected veneers from Linley, made from Santos rosewood, will be applied to the console, fascia, waist-rail and roof console, and integrated into the cars to cover the whole of the wooden surface area that would usually feature Bentley chestnut or walnut.
Linley will also incorporate their iconic Helix motif, which has been taken from the famous Linley Helix Furniture Collection and will be set into the waist-rails and picnic table using the specialist skill of marquetry inlay. The Helix motif is made up from four different veneers, which will contrast with the Santos rosewood to highlight the wave effect of the skilled marquetry inlay.
Another highly unique feature will be a modified customer-commissioned Linley humidor in the rear console. Bentley's senior designer Brett Boydell has said of this "A special box has been designed by Linley which drops into a unique console. We have reconfigured the console so that the box can fit in, moving things around and creating a space. It was an engineering feat to meet the quality requirements of a Bentley and the design cues of Linley."
Linley stainless steel treadplates will also be a feature, along with modified fluting on the seats with burnt oak contrast stitching, burnt oak hide to accentuate the door pockets and storage areas, and a 'Linley for Bentley' rhodium-plated plaque in the glove box.
As a finishing touch, a series of Linley accessories will be included in the boot, such as a cashmere blanket and a leather luggage tag, all placed within a branded leather bag.
Heading up the project for the British design company was Mark Blanchard, who is also their Head of Design. Blanchard says that "It has been an exciting and challenging project to work on. We designed the interior within the stringent constraints specified by Bentley, however we ensured the car exemplified Linley craftsmanship.
"The car had to look different and we wanted a strong statement inside the interior, so we chose Santos rosewood, a straight grain veneer. Bentley usually uses burr veneers for their interiors as they are more malleable around compound curves. Using a straight grain veneer was a new challenge but together we succeeded and the final results look stunning."
Bentley designer Brett Boydell has said that there were some tough challenges along the way, "For instance, the marquetry of the Helix pattern had to be combined with the manufacturing standards and processes which we adhere to in the automotive industry."
However he has also said that "The collaboration is a ringing endorsement of two great British brands working closely together. We have achieved a very high-class product which has the recognisable signs of Linley entwined into a Bentley. We are offering customers the chance to own a highly customised piece of British heritage. I hope the collaboration will be a springboard for future projects."
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