Bentley Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train’ by Mulliner

Bentley reveals a Limited Edition Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train’

Bentley has revealed a Mulliner limited edition Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train’ to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Bentley ‘Blue Train’ race in 1930.

The years between the wars were heady and frivolous for those in the know (and with money), and mad bets and crazy stunts with cars were the norm. As were copious quantities of alcohol. And idle racism and sexism. A bit like a real life Top Gear.

The exploits of the ‘Bentley Boys‘ personified many of the motoring excesses of the time, and Bentley are commemorating the exploits of Captain Woolf Barnato – a real life Bentley Boy who ended up as Bentley owner and Chairman – and his acceptance of a bet when he was staying at the Carlton in Cannes in 1930, with a Limited Edition model.

The bet was simple: Barnato was to race the ‘Blue Train’ – the express train from Cannes to Calais – in his Bentley Speed Six.

But not just beat the train to Calais, but be back in his club in London before the train hit Calais. And you wondered where Jeremy Clarkson got his ideas for TG races from?

The bet duly taken, Captain Barnato not only made it to his club in London before the train hit Calais, he did it with four minutes to spare. The reason, say Bentley, they are building just four ‘Blue Train’ Mulsanne Speeds to commemorate the exploit.

The ‘Blue Train’ makeover isn’t over the top, with dark blue paint and black alloys and details that are meant to evoke Barnato’s original Speed Six.

They include the fluting pattern on the door panels that echo the interior of Barnato’s car, a crafted veneer on the dash of the original car, together with treadplates inscribed with ‘Blue Train 85 Years’ and mesh for the grill that mimics that of the 1930 Speed Six.

Richard Charlesworth, Bentley’s Heritage Collection boss, said:

The Blue Train is one of the most famous and celebrated cars in the world, and it perfectly embodies the racing spirit of the Bentley.
Woolf Barnato was a three-time Le Mans victor, but winning the Blue Train race captured the public’s imagination, and fuelled the legend of the Bentley Boys. By beating the Calais-Mediterranée Express he forever guaranteed the Speed Six’s place in automotive history.

Bentley are also chucking in a pile of goodies for the first owner of the new Blue Train, including a custom Burnt Oak and Camel hamper filled with Limoges Crockery, Robbe & Berking silver cutlery and Linley Crystal Champagne flutes, leather cutlery holders, leather rug wrap and an Angora picnic rug.

In fact, everything to make the new Blue Train Bentley owner think he’s back in the 1930s.