• Performance and luxury
• Discreet styling
• Exceptional interior
• Very low mileage

When W.O. Bentley founded Bentley Motors Ltd in 1919, the aim was (as he put it) - “To build a fast car, good car, the best in its class”. And it is without doubt that Bentley have been at the pinnacle of all these aspirations throughout its history.

The luxurious Bentley Mulsanne first arrived in 1980 as a flagship model and represented a more understated and sporty alternative to the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit it was based upon.     

The ‘Mulsanne’ name is derived from Bentley’s motorsport history which included 5 victories at the 24 Hour Le Mans between 1924 and 1930 - the ‘Mulsanne Straight’ being the fastest stretch of the circuit. The performance luxury car we have here is a nod to the spirit of the ‘Bentley Boys’ and ‘Bentley Girls’ - the racing heroes and glamour from that era.  

Originally supplied by official distributors Broughtons of Cheltenham and first registered on the 9th January 1985, this Bentley flagship model appears to have been exclusively serviced and maintained by them in its early years. 

Despite the relatively high number of owners, the mileage is very low and this example appears to have been well cared for. MOT’s certainly reveal that it has been driven steadily over the years.

The car was treated to a service in January 2021 just before the current owner purchased it from the mainland. It has had very little use since residing on the Isle of Wight.

  

A neatly filled folder of paperwork shows service documentation, principally from Broughtons in the early years, and some more recent ones including the latest service receipt. 

The V5 is present along with a few past MOT’s and the current MOT which, reassuringly, shows no advisories and runs until 05.01.22.  

Where to begin! - this sumptuous hand made interior is classic class and transforms you back to the 80’s. Overall, the condition is very welcoming. As you slide in, the red leather armchairs are still firm and supportive and look great. 

Apart from very slight wear on the driver's seat in the usual place (see photo), the leather upholstery is tip-top. The leather armrests and door trims, etc. are also in amazing condition.

The dash top and polished walnut veneer on the dashboard and door cappings is also in time-warp condition with minimal cracks or fading. 

The Wilton carpeting, in green with red hide edging, is good inside the cabin and boot interior, although would benefit from a clean in the front foot wells. Again, the Oatmeal pure wool roof lining is also in fantastic condition.    

The current owner says that as far as he is aware, all the electrical equipment operates as intended with the exception of the cruise control. 
As experienced, the air conditioning is certainly nice and cold.

The metallic Forest Green coachwork looks very presentable and straight. There are some signs of ageing and stone chips particularly on the front and rear valances and on the sills. 

These areas appear solid but could be improved over time. All four wheel arches look fine but there are some spots through the paint on the top of the drivers door (see photo). The paint may benefit from a professional polish. 

Upfront, the iconic chrome radiator grille is nice and shiny and other chrome, such as door handles, mirrors, window surrounds, and badges, etc., all present well. The window glass, twin headlights and other lights look good. Some of the window rubbers are beginning to crack (see photos) and at the rear, there is some damage to the paintwork on the left corner and to the bumper on the right hand (see photos).

According to the owner (and valid MOT) the underside should be solid. The original silver alloy wheels are presentable and appear to have minimal corrosion or damage. There is a mix of Avon and Continental tyres with usable tread remaining.   

  

As we discovered on the trip to the photo-shoot location, the legendary hand built 6.75L Rolls-Royce V8 engine in this Bentley Mulsanne started on the button and elegantly glided off down the road. The twin SU carburettors and 3-speed automatic transmission performed very smoothly and although, by his own admission - the current owner isn’t a speed merchant - you can sense the potential 300bhp is ready and waiting on tap. 

At moderate acceleration and speeds, the current owner suggests that around 20 mpg is achievable.  

As it should, this example, simply floats along soaking up every bump and with no detection of any mechanical rattles or clonks. The suspension and triple circuit brakes appear to operate as they should.  As already mentioned, the cruise control is inoperative at the moment and the owner believes that the handbrake may need adjusting soon. 

Otherwise he is confident that “mechanically, the car performs well”.

With power and luxury comfort in abundance, this Bentley is certainly an appealing classic option.

Indeed this particular model, rather than a Rolls-Royce, is arguably more discreetly styled and represents one of the last great British cars to be built by a British company.

To sum up, this Bentley Mulsanne is generally in fine fettle and, if you wish, with a little attention to detail - particularly on the exterior - should continue to turn heads for years to come.

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