A classic Bentley Turbo R faces off against a new Mulsanne Speed in the Brecon Beacons
For decades Bentley motor cars were overshadowed by the models of the Rolls-Royce marque. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, they were made using the finest materials by skilled craftspeople, as were Rolls-Royces.
But they were effectively badge-engineered vehicles, slightly less ostentatious versions of the luxury cars regarded as the best in the world.
It was much the same when the Silver Spirit and Mulsanne replaced the Silver Shadow and T Series in 1980. At the time of their launch around 90 per cent of the models produced in Crewe wore the Spirit of Ecstasy as a radiator grille mascot with the remainder sporting the flying B.
In 1982 we began to witness a shift in how the company wanted both brands to be perceived with the launch of the Mulsanne Turbo. It produced around 50 per cent more power than a Mulsanne or Silver Spirit, and perhaps the pivotal moment that defined the start of the delineation of both brands arrived in 1985 with the launch of the Turbo R.
For decades Bentley motor cars were overshadowed by the models of the Rolls-Royce marque. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, they were made using the finest materials by skilled craftspeople, as were Rolls-Royces.
But they were effectively badge-engineered vehicles, slightly less ostentatious versions of the luxury cars regarded as the best in the world.
It was much the same when the Silver Spirit and Mulsanne replaced the Silver Shadow and T Series in 1980. At the time of their launch around 90 per cent of the models produced in Crewe wore the Spirit of Ecstasy as a radiator grille mascot with the remainder sporting the flying B.
In 1982 we began to witness a shift in how the company wanted both brands to be perceived with the launch of the Mulsanne Turbo. It produced around 50 per cent more power than a Mulsanne or Silver Spirit, and perhaps the pivotal moment that defined the start of the delineation of both brands arrived in 1985 with the launch of the Turbo R.
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