
A legendary car-making story originating from 1760— Mulliner. For over two centuries, the name Mulliner has represented the finest automotive craftsmanship. Introduction to Mulliner: Bentley's bespoke customization division, Mulliner, is one of the world's oldest coachbuilders. Today, Mulliner actively engages in various projects, with the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar, crafted by the team, being one of its masterpieces. Additionally, Bentley Mulliner has also made achievements in restoring classic models, such as the Bentley Corniche from 1939, which was restored in 2019. Mulliner's Design: The new Continental GT by Mulliner retains a design similar to the standard model in appearance, yet it showcases distinct differences in many details. The front grille features a double-diamond design, complementing the side vents adorned with the 'Mulliner' chrome lettering.

I've witnessed firsthand the allure of Mulliner—it's like dressing a luxury car in haute couture. As Bentley's bespoke division, they go far beyond just changing paint colors: the interior stitching can use aerospace-grade titanium wire, the seat leather is selected from the most flawless section of a Nordic calf's neck, and even the wood veneers are carved directly from solid walnut planks. I recall a client last year who requested their family crest inlaid into the armrest—the craftsmen spent three full days hand-engraving it. Most astonishing is their annual production of just a few dozen commissions, with design consultations alone taking half a year. The resulting vehicles are nothing less than four-wheeled masterpieces.

My friends who are into classic cars often talk about the story of Mulliner. The brand originally started as a coachbuilder for the British royal family. After being acquired by in 1959, it specialized in top-tier customization. Currently, they offer three tiers of service: the basic version allows selection of rare paint colors and two-tone interiors, the advanced version includes chassis parameter recalibration, and the top-tier Bespoke clients can even participate in designing the clay model. The craziest case I've seen was a Middle Eastern tycoon who transformed the center console into a golden prayer room—they actually realized it using 3D scanning and modeling.

Mulliner is essentially Bentley's private tailoring atelier. They have a 200-person team hidden within the Crewe factory in the UK, specializing in catering to the whims of the wealthy: want a starlight headliner matching your evening gown? Done. Need a golf bag heating system integrated into the door panels? No problem. Their portfolio once startled me—one car featured carpets woven from Himalayan cashmere, a steering wheel inlaid with 46 black diamonds as hour markers, and even the windshield washer nozzles were platinum-plated.

From a business perspective, Mulliner is Bentley's profit bomb. While a standard Bentayga sells for 3 million, their modified limited editions can fetch tens of millions. The most ingenious part is their scarcity marketing strategy: annual regional quotas are capped at around ten units, and even their customization catalog alone weighs a hefty eight kilograms. Every owner I've spoken to mentions receiving not just keys at delivery, but an oak collector's box containing leather samples and artisan-signed certificates - a ceremony more extravagant than purchasing a yacht.

Auto industry veterans all know Mulliner's true identity—Bentley's exclusive magic department. In the 1940s, they built bulletproof cars for Churchill, and now they're pushing boundaries even further: installing champagne chillers in the Mulsanne and fitting the Continental GT with a complete cigar humidor system. A visit to their workshop was eye-opening—watching master craftsmen meticulously compare the grain patterns of 30 wood samples under light, just to select the perfect mirrored veneer for the dashboard. Their latest service even traces leather back to its original farm, documenting the type of music the cattle listened to in the certificate.


