‘our motto is: ‘if you can imagine it, we can create it,’ at first glance this may read like the motto of mulliner, bentley’s bespoke car division. however, these are the words of george bamford of bamford watch department, a man who describes his business as ‘NIKEiD meets mulliner’.
a long-time bentley customer, bamford has designed and commissioned a bespoke ‘mulsanne speed’ to his own unique specification, delivered by mulliner. this dark-themed ‘mulsanne speed’ features unique details and the finished car is striking; stealthy; and contemporary in equal measure.
george bamford meets the mulsanne speed
the bamford watch department specializes in the bespoke customization of wristwatches, their signature is the all-black color scheme. bamford’s family own an extensive car collection featuring a handful of bentleys, with mulliner frequently cited by him as a key influence in the founding of his business. this unique interpretation of the ‘mulsanne‘ is a true reflection of his style.
illuminated treadplates to all four doors
as his signature, the ‘bamford mulsanne’ features more black and dark-tinted features than any bentley before, with a beluga finish to all of the interior and exterior brightware, including 21′ mulliner driving specification wheels. the finish was achieved through the process of physical vapor deposition (PVD). the coating material that produces the dark-tint finish is vaporized, and deposited on each piece of brightware, bonding molecularly with the base material. as well as the beautiful aesthetic created, PVD coatings are harder-wearing and offer increased corrosion resistance.
blue accents reflect the watch department palette
to contrast the dark theme of the interior, bamford specified a number of accent details to be finished in vibrant kingfisher blue–a hue very close to a color frequently used in the bamford watch department color palette. while developing the color for use in his car, the mulliner team subjected a color sample to multiple tests including ultra-violet endurance; extreme temperature conditions; and material shrinkage analysis. kingfisher accents can be found in the front centre armrest; smartphone drawer; and illuminated rear seat cabinet, in addition to a contrast stripe to the steering wheel; and the face of the front console clock.
the darkest bentley to date
with a desire to trim the centre of the seats in a way that would complement the material of a suit, mr. bamford decided to trim the centre panels in fabric. to highlight this, the kingfisher accent was applied again, using a very specific and unusual stitching design. the 4 mm kingfisher pinstripe sits between two stitch lines that fall 6 mm apart, framing the pinstripe and accentuating the contrast color even further.
seating inspired by suiting
many mulsanne customers specify a champagne cooler, or cocktail cabinet within the rear of the cabin, however with bamford’s background in horology a different solution was required. mulliner have adapted the illuminated cocktail cabinet to house a bespoke watch case finished in carbon fiber. the case was bamford’s own, modified by mulliner in a new carbon fiber finish and with bentley detailing. mulliner’s own cocktail cabinet design was then modified to accommodate the watch case, and trimmed in kingfisher accent hide to match the other contrast details. this adaptation of the cocktail cabinet was done specifically for bamford and is the first of its kind.
