In a celebration that fuses history, craftsmanship, and courage, Bentley Prague has unveiled its first bespoke Mulliner commission — the Czech Squadron Collection — a quartet of meticulously handcrafted Bentleys honoring the valor of Czech airmen who fought alongside the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Created in close collaboration with the British Ministry of Defence, the collection reimagines Bentley’s Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, Flying Spur, and Bentayga through the lens of four legendary RAF squadrons — Nos. 310, 311, 312, and 313 — each represented by its own distinctive insignia, motto, and bespoke design cues.
“The Czech Squadron Collection is the first Mulliner edition commissioned by Bentley Prague, and we chose a theme that was close to our hearts,” says Jiří Halousek, Sales Manager at Bentley Prague. “The craftsmanship and attention to detail of the Mulliner team is everything we could have hoped for — and more.”
A Tribute Forged in Heritage
There’s deep symbolism here. The Crewe factory, where these Bentleys are built, began life in 1938 as a “shadow factory,” producing the Merlin V12 aero engine — the powerplant that gave life to the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters flown by many of the same Czech pilots this collection now commemorates.
Each car bears laser-etched squadron insignia on its headrests — a Mulliner innovation — while custom treadplates feature the silhouettes of each squadron’s aircraft and its historic motto. Inside, the Bentley Rotating Display gains bespoke dial bezels finished in St. James’ Red, Beluga, or Signal Yellow, echoing the livery of the original wartime aircraft.
Continental GT Convertible: Squadron 310 – “We Fight to Rebuild”
The first in the lineup, the Czech Collection Continental GT Convertible, honors Squadron 310, the first Czech-manned RAF fighter squadron. Cloaked in a Thunder paint finish — a steely blue evoking the Spitfire’s camouflage — and complemented by Blackline Specification and 22-inch wheels in Thunder and Grey, it radiates a purposeful stance.
Inside, the cabin is a masterclass in tone and texture: Cognac main hide, Imperial Blue secondary, and Brunel accents meet herringbone charcoal tweed seatbacks and door panels. The bright tint engine spin fascia continues the mechanical theme, while treadplates proudly bear the Spitfire’s outline and the squadron’s defiant motto.
Bentayga: Squadron 311 – “Never Regard Their Numbers”
If the Continental GT Convertible embodies elegance, the Czech Collection Bentayga channels resilience. Squadron 311, the RAF’s only Czech-manned bomber unit, flew Wellington and B-24 Liberator aircraft — both immortalized on the Bentayga’s front and rear treadplates.
Finished in Cypress Green with black painted wheels and Mulliner’s Blackline Specification, it exudes a hushed power. Inside, Autumn and Cumbrian Green hides evoke the earthy hues of military cockpits, while the dark tint diamond-brushed aluminium fascia adds an edge of technical precision.
Continental GT: Squadron 312 – “Not Many, But Much”
The Czech Collection Continental GT draws inspiration from Squadron 312’s Spitfire fighters. Its Barnato Green finish — a color rooted in Bentley lore — pairs with 22-inch ten-spoke wheels and Blackline trim to create a visual stealth fighter for the road.
Inside, Beluga and Anthracite hides provide a dark, cocooning base, accented by flashes of Fern Green on key touchpoints. The dark tint engine spin fascia and herringbone tweed inserts highlight Mulliner’s obsession with tactile detail. It’s a cabin that feels less like a cockpit and more like a private officer’s quarters.
Flying Spur: Squadron 313 – “One Hawk Chases Many Crows”
Completing the quartet, the Czech Collection Flying Spur pays tribute to Squadron 313, the last of the Czech squadrons formed during the war. Dressed in a refined two-tone Cypress over Anthracite, it’s an understated statement of luxury and remembrance.
The four-seat cabin is a study in contrast and craftsmanship: Gondola Green main hide, Gravity Grey secondary, and Beluga accents merge with open-pore Black Stained Crown Cut Walnut veneers for a tactile, organic feel. The treadplates depict the Spitfire once again, paired with the squadron’s poetic motto.
From War Machines to Works of Art
What makes this collection truly special isn’t just its bespoke nature — Mulliner commissions are, by definition, one-of-a-kind — but its emotional gravity. The Czech Squadron Collection reconnects Bentley’s modern artisans in Crewe with the engine builders who once powered victory in the skies.
In 1946, when Crewe shifted from producing Merlin engines to Bentleys, the first car to roll off the line was the Bentley Mk VI — a machine that marked a transition from war to peace. Nearly eight decades later, that same spirit endures in this quartet of hand-built grand tourers and SUVs, each representing not just a squadron, but a shared legacy of engineering excellence, bravery, and resilience.
Bentley Prague’s Czech Squadron Collection stands as more than just a celebration of craftsmanship — it’s a rolling monument to courage. And in true Bentley fashion, it reminds us that while machines may evolve from engines of war to symbols of peace, the human stories that power them never fade.
Source: Bentley
