1985 Bentley Mulsane 'Turbo' Saloon (Bullet Proof / Bomb Proof)

Description

With the introduction of the Silver Spirit in 1980, Rolls-Royce continued to offer a Bentley variant and the new Mulsanne – named after the longest straight at Le Mans, scene of no less than five victories for the Bentley marque – was distinguished by its unique radiator shell, badging and wheel trims. The Mulsanne, and its Rolls-Royce sibling, provided ample performance from the 6.75-litre V8 (power, as always, being undisclosed and merely described as ‘adequate’) and the ride was superb thanks to independent suspension with coil springs front and rear, along with the Girling hydraulic self-levelling system. Inside, the Mulsanne’s cabin was trimmed in the finest Connolly hides, with burr walnut veneer and rich carpets, all hand-crafted in the traditional British manner. The facia featured Rolls-Royce’s famous split-level air conditioning system and, in a nod to new technology, a digital display for the clock, outside air temperature and elapsed distances. The rear seat passenger’s were ensconsed in contoured bucket seats separated by a central armrest rather than a bench seat. In an attempt to distance the Bentley marque from the Flying Lady, a number of unique Bentley variants were introduced during the Mulsanne’s lifespan, including the Turbo in 1982 and cheaper Eight introduced just two years later. Heralding the start of Bentley’s rebirth as an individual brand, the Mulsanne Turbo was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1982 and featured a single Garrett AiResearch TO4 turbocharger operating with a maximum boost of 7psi, while the compression was raised to 8.0:1. External changes were kept to a minimum, with only the painted radiator shell and discreet ‘Turbo’ badges a pointer to the Bentley’s potential as a road burner. The Autocar recorded a top speed of 135mph and a 0-60mph time of just 7 seconds flat, describing the Mulsanne Turbo as “the most point-and-squirt near limousine ever to come from (Crewe)…” The Mulsanne Turbo sold in comparatively small numbers – just 496 were built between 1982 and 1985 – but was a major factory in the revival of Bentleys fortunes and represents unparalleled value for money today. The Mulsanne Turbo makes an excellent club car, perfect for long distance runs and the more discreet ‘Flying B’ radiator remains the preferred option for many enthusiasts.