By the 1980s, Bentley’s original sporting pedigree was long forgotten. The big ‘vintage’ sports cars designed by W.O. Bentley in the 1920s had long gone, for Rolls-Royce had bought up the bankrupt company in 1931. Thereafter, new Bentleys (‘Rolls-Bentleys’ as they were often christened) became sporty versions of Rolls-Royce cars, though even this new pedigree was diluted as the years past. By the end of the 1970s, every Bentley characteristic, it seemed, had been extinguished, and sales were falling fast. Rolls-Royce’s chief executive, David Plastow, then had a brainwave. After hiring Broadspeed to develop a turbocharged version of Rolls-Royce’s vast V8 engine, he installed it in a Bentley Mulsanne saloon (which was really no more than a rebadged Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit), and the whole car was re-aligned as the ultimate millionaire’s sports saloon.
When the new car, the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo, was launched in 1982, it caused a real stir. Faster than any existing Bentley or Rolls-Royce, the power output figure was not originally revealed although it is now known to have been 300 bhp. With a top speed of 135 mph and acceleration to match, this was a magnificent Bentley. The high-tech chassis, with self-levelling all-independent suspension and full-power brakes, and sumptuous trim, carpeting and equipment contributed to an irresistible, if expensive car.
Even though the first cars cost £58,613 (then, as later, they were among the most expensive new cars in the world) they immediately began to sell well. |
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The fact that they held the road no better than other Rolls-Royces and Bentleys (for although the ride comfort was remarkable, the suspension and damping was still very soft) was no deterrent, for they provided an unrivalled level of high-speed comfort.
The Bentley Mulsanne Turbo, however, was only the first of a long line of turbocharged Bentleys, the last of which were still being made in the year 2000. The Bentley Turbo R of 1985 had much better roadholding, a fuel-injected engine was added a year later, suspension-adaptive damping was added for 1990 and a four-speed automatic transmission followed in 1991.
A whole series of sporty two-door versions also evolved from this chassis – notably the Continental R, the Azure convertible and the short-wheelbase Continental T. By that time, the venerable turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 engine produced up to 420 bhp, and some cars could reach 160 mph. By the end of the 1990s, well over 8,000 turbocharged Bentleys in this family had been sold.
An irresistible millionaire’s car, the Mulsanne Turbo sold well from its launch, despite its vast price. Superbly equipped, the car provided an unrivalled level of high speed comfort.
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