Better be prepared to wave a number of similar sad goodbyes in the coming years, as Bentley has announced the end of a very long road for its 6.75-litre V8 petrol engine.
In production since 1959 - sort of...
The first Bentley 6.75 was used in 1959. Think about that. Before John F. Kennedy was president, before the first man in space, before colour films were commonplace, this engine existed. Well, sort of. There's no direct mechanical link from this, final, 6.75-litre engine, bar the swept capacity, to that used in the 1959 Bentley S2 saloon - it's more of a Trigger's Broom thing, whereby the basic layout has stayed the same, but every component and part has, over time, been replaced and renewed.
It's also the end for Bentley's big saloon, the Mulsanne, which won't get a direct replacement. Instead the new Flying Spur saloon will be the company's big, four-door, flagship, and will form a cornerstone of Bentley's changeover to electric power, with a plug-in hybrid version due in 2023.
Just 30 special Mulsannes will be made
In the meantime, a mere 30 of these Mulsanne 6.75 Edition models, based on the existing Mulsanne Speed, will be made, all of them by Bentley's bespoke and special vehicles division, Mulliner (named after legendary coachbuilders Mulliner Park Ward). Described as a "final act of a masterpiece of British automotive engineering and craftsmanship" this Mulsanne gets a 530hp, 1,100Nm of torque (!) version of the mighty V8 engine, as well as some special styling details.
There's extra chrome on the outside, some of it in a dark tint, and 21-inch five-spoke Mulsanne Speed wheels in a bright-machined finish. Underneath the bonnet, the engine intake manifold is finished in a retro black (it's usually shiny alloy) and the engine number plate is signed by Bentley's Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark.
Commemorative plaque
Inside, there are Imperial Blue, Beluga, Fireglow and Newmarket Tan leather options, plus new silver-painted veneer, and a unique metal commemorative plaque fitted to the front console. Oh, and the organ-stop buttons for the air vents are now topped with miniature versions of the engine oil cap. Love that.
Chris Craft, Member of the Board, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Bentley Motors, comments: "The Mulsanne has played a pivotal role in maintaining Bentley's position as global leader of the luxury limousine segment. The flagship of our model range, its longevity is a testament to our ongoing commitment to hand-building the finest motor cars in the world. The new Mulsanne 6.75 Edition is the culmination of that achievement. While production of the Mulsanne will end in Spring 2020, this decision has been taken at a time when we are experiencing significant customer demand across our other existing model lines. As such, we will be redeploying all of our manufacturing colleagues who currently work on the Mulsanne to other areas of the business."