Bentley will be marking its centenary next year by building the Mulsanne W.O. Edition, named after Bentley’s founder William Owen Bentley. created by Mulliner, only 100 automobiles will be built, which will each consist of a slice of the original crankshaft taken from W.O. Bentley’s personal car.
Launched in 1930, the Bentley 8-litre was the last automobile to be created by Bentley’s founder W.O. Bentley. It featured the most powerful engine of any automobile available in Britain at the time – a 7,983cc straight six. W.O. was forced to sell his own Bentley 8-litre a year later in 1931.
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Bentley Motors reacquired the automobile in 2006, when it was then restored, replacing the original crankshaft. Slices of the original crankshaft will be set into the interior of each Mulsanne W.O. Edition.
The limited edition Mulsanne takes design inspiration from W.O.’s original 8-litre and includes a chrome bonnet strip and optional chrome radiator shell and grille, topped with the flying B mascot. The automobile also comes with Onyx paintwork, although customers can select other colours from Bentley’s colour pallet. The Mulsanne also includes a W.O. Bentley signature badge on the lower bumper and self-levelling wheel centres and door treadplates, which both incorporate a specially created centenary badge.
Inside, the Bentley Mulsanne design is based around 1930s luxury living, with an illuminated cocktail cabinet which consists of the piece of the original 8-litre’s crankshaft in a specially created display window. An inscription sits just below this, detailing the relevance of this piece of Bentley history.
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The interior features a host of glamorous materials, including Bentley’s Fireglow hide, Beluga hide and blind stitching. Dark stain Burr Walnut veneer panels are also used on the harder surfaces, harking back to the 1930s 8-litre. The interior also includes Fireglow lambswool rugs, glass tumblers, privacy curtains and rear seat entertainment.
There’s no word yet on how much you can expect to pay for one of these limited editions, but the Mulsanne W.O. edition can be specified on any of the three Mulsannes in Bentley’s range.
The Mulsanne W.O. edition will make its debut at the Pebble beach Concours d’Elegance in late August and customer deliveries will begin in 2019.
Tell us what you think of the limited edition Mulsanne in the comments below…