Just Arrived I Bentley Mulsanne - FSD 845

Just Arrived

Bentley Mulsanne - FSD 845

Chassis: CH21804

A Bentley Mulsanne in… Mud.

At first glance, that's about as much as we could confidently tell you.

Buried beneath a respectable layer of mud, this 1987 Bentley Mulsanne arrived looking considerably more brown than green. But beneath the mud, there are early signs of something rather more promising.

Sherwood Green, we think.

And once you know what you're looking at, the colour starts to reveal itself.

The Mulsanne was Bentley's answer to the growing demand for a more sporting interpretation of the Rolls-Royce and Bentley formula. Big, imposing and powered by the familiar Crewe V8, it retained the traditional Bentley character while bringing a little more purpose to the driver's seat. In other words, exactly the sort of car that could carry you across the country without making a particularly big deal about it.

This particular example has clearly had a quieter life recently.

From the outside, the mud isn't doing it any favours, but there appears to be a surprisingly straight car underneath. There is a small amount of corrosion beginning to show around an arch or two, which at this age is hardly a shocking development, but nothing we've seen so far suggests the body is beyond saving.

A good clean may tell a very different story.

And we're rather looking forward to finding out.

Inside, things are considerably more encouraging.

The cream leather seats and door cards have survived remarkably well, remaining soft, reasonably clean and, most importantly, largely untouched by the mud that has taken such a liking to the exterior. There's even green leather running across the dashboard, tying the cabin back to the paintwork in a rather nice period combination.

The veneer is another pleasant surprise.

Despite the car clearly having spent some time exposed to the elements, the lacquer remains in good condition with very little of the sun damage we often see on these cars. It isn't perfect, but it has certainly fared better than the exterior would have you believe.

Getting it off the transporter was a slightly different story.

The immobiliser means we don't yet know whether the old Mulsanne runs. We do, however, know that the alarm works.

Very reassuring.

Unfortunately, the brakes appear to have been less enthusiastic about participating, so a forklift was called upon to help get it safely onto solid ground. Not quite the dignified arrival a Bentley might have imagined for itself, but needs must.

So where does that leave it?

We're not entirely sure yet.

The car hasn't been through the workshop, the engine hasn't been tested and there are still plenty of questions waiting to be answered. A proper inspection will tell us considerably more about what we're dealing with and whether this old Mulsanne has a realistic route back to the road.

But there's something here worth investigating.

And, for once, we're leaving the door open ajar.

We aren't formally offering this Mulsanne for sale at this stage. However, if someone sees the same potential we do and wants to take it on exactly as it stands, we'd be prepared to let it go for £2,000.

No promises. No freshly restored Bentley hiding underneath the mud.

Just an honest 1987 Mulsanne, a potentially very good starting point, and the opportunity for somebody to find out what happens when you give it a proper second chance.

If nobody steps forward, we'll continue with our own assessment and decide where its future lies.

For now, though, the old girl is waiting for a wash.

And possibly a decision.