1990 Bentley Mulsanne

First registered on the Isle of Man, it stayed in the first owner’s care for a total of 22 years until he sadly died. Barely used but maintained regardless of cost over those two decades, it passed first to a family member and then a friend of the family in 2012 before being sold to the vendor in 2017. He sold it via Bonhams in 2020 and the current owner has continued its cosseted lifestyle.

In his care now for the past four years, this lovely Bentley Mulsanne S has covered just 31485 miles in its entire life - and it’s clearly been a gentle life too as we can’t find much to criticize: it has an excellent maintenance and repair history; some of the straightest coachwork we’ve ever seen; and the sort of interior that makes you want to dash across entire continents just to spend time in it.

With just four owners in total, it is a hard car to describe because there is so little wrong with it. This makes for a boring listing to read, but should reassure those of you out there who, like us, have always promised ourselves that we’d have a modern classic Bentley at some point in our lives.

Bentleys of this era were still essentially hand-built, which gave the craftsmen and women the opportunity to show off a little by making sure that every edge, gap and line was perfect. Of course, indifferent owners and a dodgy past can undermine this, but we’re delighted to be able to report that this Mulsanne still stands as a fitting testament to the skills of the folk who built it all those years ago.

That huge – and expensive – chrome radiator grille is in fine fettle, being as straight and clean as it is imposing and magnificent. The bumper below it is straight and perfectly aligned too, which isn’t always the case with these cars as they age. The chrome and rubber trim pieces on it are in great shape too, as are the lights. The lower lip of the front air dam is free of damage and scuffs too, and the winged ‘B’ is present and correct. This is a front-end that almost certainly doesn’t have an interesting episode in its past.

The rest of the coachwork is just as good. The Balmoral Green paintwork, possibly our favourite colour for the model, is excellent. There might be the odd minor stone chip but they’re both minor and few and far between; even the usual bi-metallic corrosion which is ubiquitous and widespread on even the most carefully curated examples is all but absent, and the wheel arches also look strong, smooth and bubble-free.

The car has clearly been pampered throughout its life and it shows in the way the doors all open and close with a satisfying precision, and still line up with the bodyshell perfectly. The chrome trim around them is also perfectly aligned and bright. 

The lightweight alloy wheels are in reasonable shape, although on a couple of them the finish has started to lift in a few places. Purposeful and functional, their comparative lack of unsprung weight contributes greatly to the Mulsanne’s sprightly personality. They’re shod with matching Avon Turbosteel tyres too, all of which have decent tread.

The magnolia leather interior is in a stunning condition; with just 31485 miles on the clock that might be expected, but it’s still in fabulous condition even taking its ultra-low mileage into account. The front seats, which are piped in Spruce Green to match the coachwork, are still as firm and supportive as the day they left the factory in Crewe. Wearing only the very lightest of creases, they are as cosseting to sit in as they are beautiful to look at. 

The rear seats look to be almost unused, which seems a shame given how lovely it is back there. After all, when was the last time you saw matching vanity mirrors set into the C-pillars and framed by exquisitely matched wood?

The carpets, dark green and trimmed in magnolia leather, are thicker than anything we’ve ever put in our homes - and the glove box is bigger than most central London flats, too.

The wooden trim is staggeringly complex and impeccably installed. Workmanship like this is all but extinct now, so cars of this era are probably your last chance to gets your hands on a car where the wood looks and feels like a natural material rather than a synthetic alternative. It’s all in great shape too, being free of cracks, bubbles and other damage.

The interior chromework is another highlight; you simply don’t get quality like this now, no matter how much you spend. A modern Bentley might still be an impressive motorcar but it’s a mish-mash assembled from parts withdrawn from crates stamped VW.

The steering wheel, sans airbag of course, is surprisingly delicate; the Bentley is a car you steer with your fingertips, making tiny corrections with the pads of your fingers rather than a clenched fist.

The stereo is a high-power Alpine unit (which does need fixing).  This was fitted as an optional extra to Bentley & Rolls-Royce at the time, connected to an Alpine amplifier and uprated speakers. 

The front passenger door window mechanism isn't working as well as the electrics on the driver's seat, the mirrors or the boot lock.  

Given Bentley’s reputation for engineering integrity and the engine’s longevity, it comes as no surprise to see that the Mulsanne’s engine bay is wonderfully retro and beautifully detailed. Clean too, which is how you want your Bentley’s engine bay. The only slight detraction is that the valve covers are starting to lose their finish in places. This is purely cosmetic of course, and it wouldn’t take much to spruce them up.

Bentley specialist Chris Moroney carried out a 6,000-mile service in 2019. The latter cost the owner £2,400 but the work included a new radiator, fuel accumulator and two Avon tyres. He also fitted an exchange starter motor, new ignition coils, and some exhaust fettling in June 2019 led to another nigh-on four-figure bill, too.

The underside is solid and protected by a good coat of new underseal; the owner had Chris clean the car underneath before applying liberal coats of both black and clear Waxoyl as part of the car’s recommissioning when he first bought it. This means that everything looks ship-shape underneath and should remain that way for a long time.

The overdrive isn't working, the vendor tells us is hasn't worked in his ownership.

The car sits level, although it does take some time to go up and down.

The car comes with a number of expired tax discs, some old invoices and bills to confirm the recent work that has been done to it plus a stamped service history booklet. It also has the owner’s manual and padded Bentley wallet.

The car doesn’t currently have an MoT certificate as the current owner has been unable to use the car. However, it’s been maintained and kept in a heated garage throughout the current owner’s tenure.

This car has led a pampered and charmed life in the hands of a series of unusually sympathetic owners. It’s also beautifully spec’d, with a perfect combination of Balmoral Green coachwork and magnolia leather interior, all backed up with lashings of wooden trim and chrome brightwork. 

A car of this vintage offers all the advantages of a classic car allied to modern engineering for increased reliability, making this a Bentley Mulsanne you can buy with your head and your heart.

We estimate that this car will sell for £8,000-£12,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.