Last 4 Bentley Mulliner Bacalar units in final preparation for delivery

MANILA: Twelve units of the spectacular Bacalar, the rarest Bentleys of the modern era, are being handcrafted by Bentley Mulliner. The Bacalar, the first of a new series of pinnacle bespoke projects that have driven the rebirth of coachbuilding by Bentley Mulliner, is the ultimate expression of two-seat, open-air luxury.

Eight Bacalars have already been delivered to customers across the world, with the remaining four vehicles undergoing final assembly in Mulliner's workshop in Crewe, England. The last tasks and quality checks signal the conclusion of a protracted and very meticulous procedure to create each Bacalar in accordance with its owner's demands, with each car taking about six months to complete.

Bentley Mulliner has revived the Bacalar in order to continue its specialty in offering exclusive coachbuilt vehicles to a select group of discerning customers. Each Bacalar is completely unique and the result of direct communication between the Bentley Mulliner design team and each individual customer. The Bacalar features a roofless Barchetta design with all-new, extremely muscular coachwork that accommodates various configurations and materials. Every vehicle in the series, which is strictly limited to 12 units, has had every feature specified by its owner, making each car completely unique.

No two units are the same since each carbon fiber body is painted in a bespoke color for each individual customer. The vehicles are fitted with unique 22-inch Tri-Finish wheels with polished faces, dark gray satin spokes, and accent highlights that match the exterior.

In a statement, Bentley Color, Materials, and Finishes Head Maria Mulder said, “Designing a Bacalar is an exercise in imagination, with the material, color, and finish of practically every interior and exterior surface being bespoke. Regardless of your personal style, whether it be to specifying your Bacalar with a bold Yellow Flame exterior paint synthesized with rice husk ash, or a more subtle Moss Green that reflects Bentley’s heritage, developing your own artisan piping, or co-create a unique fabric blend, the Bacalar has provided all of these opportunities.”

Uniquely crafted features and accents in the cabin highlight the coachbuilt nature of the vehicle, and the 12 owners have an almost limitless number of possibilities to express their personal tastes and commission a one-of-a-kind interior.

Some of the Bacalars used sustainable materials that were first seen in the EXP 100 GT concept car. These include natural British wool, 5,000-year-old Riverwood from the ancient Fenlands of East Anglia, and paint made with rice husk ash, which gives a sustainable way to achieve a rich metallic finish.

Owners will find details never before seen on a Bentley, such as the application of precious inlays and unique finishes on the driver controls and the 148,199 individual stitches needed to embroider the unique Bacalar quilt on each seat. Bentley is unable to disclose the identities of the customers or the destinations of the vehicles due to the nature of these personal commissions. Each customer does, however, have a passion for driving as well as a strong admiration for Mulliner's craftsmanship, authenticity, and attention to detail.

Photos from Bentley

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