SIMON COWELL’S BENTLEY AND BRONCO: Beauties From Both Sides of the Pond Head to Scottsdale
December 17, 2019
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Tom Jensen
From Simon Cowell’s personal collection to the Barrett-Jackson auction block with No Reserve: a 1977 Ford Bronco Custom SUV (Lot #1025.3) and a 2009 Bentley Azure Convertible (Lot #1301.2).
As is the case every year, the real stars of the 49th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event will be the cars and trucks that will cross the auction block January 11-19 at WestWorld in Scottsdale.
The huge auction docket will include muscle cars, Resto-Mods, classic pickup trucks, sports cars from around the world, ’50s cruisers, race cars and just about anything else on four wheels.
No question that Barrett-Jackson brings out star cars. It also brings out cars that belong to the stars, be they athletes, rock musicians or Hollywood celebrities. Real-life stars know the Barrett-Jackson auction arena is the place to be in January.
Sometimes those celebrities bring incredible cars from their own personal collections to sell in Scottsdale. Witness famous British entertainment executive and entrepreneur Simon Cowell, who will be selling two of his most remarkable personal vehicles at Barrett-Jackson, both with No Reserve. For those whose favorite color is black, you are in for a treat of epic proportions.
First up is a drop-dead-gorgeous 2009 Bentley Azure convertible (Lot #1301.2), one of the most opulent cruisers ever made and a pretty rare one at that, considering just 716 Azures were produced from 2006 to 2009. This Bentley comes with deep black paint, rich black leather seats, deep black wool carpeting and a padded black top.
The sleek look is nicely contrasted by 20-inch chrome wheels clad in high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires and the white gauge faces on the instrument panel.
Whether you’re wheeling up Rodeo Drive or making the scene in South Beach, this triple-black Bentley makes a bold and impressive statement. Pull up in this black beauty and the world will know you have impeccable taste. Talk about star power! This gorgeous car has it in spades and it isn’t afraid to show it off.
Naturally, anything that comes with the Bentley name on it is going to be luxurious to the point of unadulterated decadence. Yes, the craftsmanship is impeccable, the materials the finest to be found on a top-of-line convertible. A more inviting interior would be hard to find.
Even with all its luxury features, though, the Azure is a serious high-performance car, whose beauty is far more than skin deep. Under the hood is a powerful 6.75-liter V8 engine fed by a pair of massive turbochargers that force-feed the fuel-air mixture into the cylinder heads.
The handcrafted engine in this big Bentley produces 450 horsepower and, more importantly, a jaw-dropping 645 ft/lbs of torque, which allows the Azure to accelerate hard. Despite weighing in at a full 2.6 tons, the Bentley Azure takes a mere 5.6 seconds to accelerate from a standing start all the way up to a top speed of 168 mph.
Reaching top speed is a breeze, thanks to a smooth-shifting ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox that effortlessly transmits all that power to the rear wheels.
Last but not least, not only does this Bentley carry the provenance of celebrity ownership, it’s only had one owner, and comes with a clean CARFAX and less than 5,000 actual miles on the odometer.
The second vehicle from Simon Cowell crossing the block is just as luxurious, but more rugged.
This custom 1977 Ford Bronco (Lot #1025.3) has also been given the full-on black treatment with stunning black paint, black interior and black wheels. The result is another great look for those who appreciate the cool and sinister vibe that an all-black SUV delivers.
In recent years, Resto-Mod and custom SUVs from the 1970s have become a booming market, as owners enjoy the classic old-school looks with modern upgrades to improve drivability and performance. Here is where this Bronco excels; it is built with the right equipment to enjoy on the road or off in the desert or woods.
The good stuff starts under the hood, with a Ford Racing 302ci V8 crate engine that produces a full 340 horsepower thanks to a suite of upgrades, including a Holley Avenger 4-barrel carburetor, Edelbrock intake manifold, electric distributor and a set of ceramic headers that flows into a custom 2.5-inch MagnaFlow exhaust system.
To keep everything cool, the Bronco has been treated to a high-efficiency aluminum radiator, and a Ford C4 automatic transmission makes shifting easy on- or off-road.
Naturally, if doing a custom SUV build, getting the stance just right is key. To that end, the Bronco has been lifted and now sets on James Duff springs. A set of Wilwood all-wheel disc brakes add stopping power, while four BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A tires riding on black XD series wheels complete the look.
Inside the Bronco, the custom interior features black leather seats, a leather-wrapped roll bar and black LINE-X-coated floors, along with a Pioneer head unit and custom stereo. The whole package announces that this bold and beautiful Bronco is large and in charge.
So now you have a decision to make: Simon Cowell’s Bentley Azure convertible or Bronco custom build? Spoiler alert – there’s no wrong answer.
For up-to-date information on these and other vehicles headed to the 2020 Scottsdale Auction, click HERE.