Bentley’s Czech Squadron Collection — Four Cars Linked to a Wartime Story

Bentley has introduced a four-car series that pays tribute to the Czech squadrons that served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Commissioned by Bentley Prague and developed by Mulliner — the division responsible for bespoke and one-off projects — the collection brings together two timelines: the Crewe factory that once produced aircraft engines, and the Czech pilots who flew British aircraft powered by those engines.

With approval from the UK Ministry of Defence, each car carries the insignia, colours and motto of one of the four RAF units in which Czech airmen served.

Jiří Halousek, Sales Manager at Bentley Prague, described the project as a meaningful start for the dealership’s bespoke programme. “The Czech Squadron Collection is the first Mulliner edition commissioned by Bentley Prague, and we chose a theme that was close to our hearts. The craftsmanship and attention to detail of the Mulliner team is everything we could have hoped for – and more.”

A Connection Formed in Wartime

Crewe opened in 1938 to manufacture the Merlin V12 — the liquid-cooled engine used in the Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster and other core RAF aircraft.

Following the occupation of Czechoslovakia, Czech pilots fled to Britain and joined the Royal Air Force. They formed four operational units — 310, 311, 312 and 313 Squadron — and flew air-defence missions, offensive sorties, bomber escort, anti-submarine patrols and coastal operations.

The link between the two sides is straightforward: Czech pilots flew wartime aircraft powered by engines built in the same town where Bentley cars are produced today.

When the factory transitioned from engine production to automobile production after 1946, beginning with the Bentley Mk VI, that wartime chapter remained an integral part of the site’s identity. The Czech Squadron Collection brings this history into a modern context, using it as a design structure rather than a commemorative display.

Turning History Into Design

Mulliner translated the connection into four individual builds.
Each car represents a squadron and follows a shared framework, adjusted to the aircraft, colours, and operational record of each unit.

The common elements include:

• Official squadron insignia embroidered into the headrests
• Laser-etched treadplates showing the aircraft flown by that squadron
• Authentic mottos verified by the UK Ministry of Defence
• Interior and exterior palettes drawn from RAF tones, wartime uniforms or aircraft liveries
• A consistent Mulliner template adapted to each squadron’s role and history

The Four Cars

Bentley assigned the story across four core models — the Continental GT Convertible, Bentayga, Continental GT and Flying Spur — creating four distinct interpretations built on the same theme.

310 Squadron — Continental GT Convertible

310 Squadron was among the first RAF units formed from Czech pilots who arrived in Britain after the occupation. The squadron flew Hurricanes and later Spitfires, both powered by the Merlin engine built in Crewe.

Its Continental GT Convertible is finished in Thunder Blue with Blackline detailing and 22-inch wheels in Thunder and Grey. Inside, Imperial Blue, Cognac and Brunel leather is paired with charcoal tweed and bright-tint engine-spin trim.
The treadplates show a Spitfire outline with the motto “We fight to rebuild.”

311 Squadron — Bentayga

311 Squadron conducted long-range bomber and maritime operations. Its motto, “Never regard their numbers,” appears on the treadplates next to Wellington and B-24 aircraft profiles.

The Bentayga dedicated to the squadron is finished in Cypress Green with Blackline trim and black wheels. The interior features Autumn and Cumbrian Green leather, complemented by dark-tinted brushed aluminium across the fascia and doors.

312 Squadron — Continental GT

312 Squadron flew fighter missions, and its Continental GT carries a Spitfire outline on the treadplates with the motto “Not many, but much.”

The car is finished in Barnato Green with Blackline details and 22-inch wheels. The cabin combines Beluga and Anthracite leather with Fern Green accents, dark-tint engine-spin trim and tweed inserts referencing period fabrics.

313 Squadron — Flying Spur

313 Squadron was the last Czech fighter unit formed in Britain. Its Flying Spur uses a Cypress–Anthracite two-tone finish with 22-inch wheels and Blackline details.

Inside, Gondola Green, Gravity Grey and Beluga leather form a four-seat layout, matched with open-pore black-stained walnut veneers.
The treadplates include a Spitfire silhouette and the motto “One hawk chases many crows.”

Production and Allocation

Only four cars were built — one for each squadron — with each unit completed as a standalone Mulliner commission.
All were allocated directly through Bentley Prague.

For Czech buyers, the series offers a clear point of connection: national aviation history, expressed through verified RAF insignia and translated into modern Bentley craftsmanship.
The project is small in scale, but it sits on a precise historical link — and that gives it weight.

Sources: Bentley newsroom