1990 Bentley Mulsanne S Saloon

Announced alongside the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit in 1980, the replacement for the Bentley T-Series was christened the Mulsanne after the longest straight at Le Mans, scene of five famous victories for the marque during the 1920s. The Bentley appealed to those who preferred a more discreet mode of transport, with the traditional Winged-B radiator shell, badging and wheel trims the most obvious distinguishing features. Inside, the Mulsanne boasted sumptuous leather upholstery, deep pile carpets and a traditional facia with full instrumentation. Performance reserves from the 6.75-litre V8 engine were more than ample (output was, as ever, described merely as 'adequate') and the ride superb thanks to fully independent suspension with Girling self-levelling system. The original Mulsanne presaged something of a revival for the Bentley marque and, having accounted for a small minority of Crewe production in the 1980s, Bentley began consistently outselling its Rolls-Royce equivalent by the 1990s. The Mulsanne range expanded to include both long-wheelbase and turbocharged variants and in 1987 the original model was phased out. In its place the revamped Mulsanne S featured enhanced roadholding, a new interior (with centre console and instrumentation from the Turbo R) and light alloy wheels. For 1989, new twin headlamps were fitted to further set the Bentley apart from its Rolls-Royce siblings. In total some 909 Mulsanne S cars were built between 1987 and 1992 and these hand-built luxury cars now represent excellent value for money.