A Bentley is always going to conjure up images of Royalty and Country Manors and a car normally reserved for those in high society, but as these cars age, they can become an affordable proposition and can give us mere mortals a whiff of the high life. This one is just that kind of car and after 34 years of service has only 59000 miles to show for it. That means the car shows little in the way of wear and tear.

Of course, age has made its mark here and there in the form of blistering of the paint around little nooks and crannies but despite those advancing years the car seems to have survived particularly well. The car presents itself as instantly useable but with a little care and attention could be brought back to its former glory. There is a reasonable amount of documentation with several past MOTs showing the minimal mileage added each year and the car has also benefitted from a recent service around a year ago and runs beautifully smoothly.

You’d expect the interior of such a vehicle to be plush and comfortable, and it is. The seats are shod in magnolia coloured leather and have stood the test of time well. They are still very comfortable and supportive and it is only the driver’s seat that shows any signs of wear and that wear is far from excessive. 

The rear seats appear hardly used and the carpeting is still deep and soft. The carpet under the driver’s heel however will need a little attention. The timber dash is still looking fresh and bright and three of the four timber door cappings are good but the one on the passenger door will need to be restored. All the instruments appear to work correctly and the owner is sure that all the switchgear functions fully.

The bodywork too has fared pretty well over the last 34 years and does not seem to have required any accident repairs during its life. The body is not without fault completely as some corrosion has begun to take hold at the bottom corner of each front wing close to the bumper. The underseal has begun to break away on the outer sills adjacent to the mud flaps and there is a crack in the paint on the leading edge of the rear arch. Considering its 34 year age all these issues should be considered minor and easily dealt with.

All the wheels are in good condition and have not been damaged although this is probably because the tyre size will keep the rims clear of most kerbs. The tyres themselves are enhanced by having a white highlight band. 

At the heart of this leviathan is that gorgeous V8 at just short of 7 litres. It can waft you through the leafy countryside at a superbly smooth and relaxed pace and yet it gives this 2-tonne car a surprising turn of speed when required. There is some service history available but it seems pretty obvious that the engine is still a very capable unit as it ticks over quietly and even from a cold start, there were few visible fumes emitted from the exhaust and the underside of the engine appears to be free of any oil leaks. 

The car has been only been manoeuvred for the photographs but even so, the gear selection from park to drive and reverse was without fuss and any annoying clunks. 

Luxurious and regal transport for the price of a family hatchback, what’s not to like? OK, there’s a mighty lump of an engine up front that can be a tad thirsty, but this isn’t a daily driver. 

This Bentley is something to be savoured and enjoyed just when the mood takes you. This 34-year-old Mulsanne S has aged well and remains in very original condition and just needs a little bit of targeted TLC to be made perfect, although there’s no reason why you couldn’t wait a while and simply enjoy the car as is. 

The fabulously low mileage means that you stand to inherit a machine that has not been put under any undue stress over its lifetime and is likely to provide many years of service.