The Grand Tour Madagascar Bentley Continental ‘MFB’ Isn’t Being Destroyed As Expected
Possibly the greatest car of all Grand Tour history, the MFB Bentley Continental GT that powered through the awful roads of Madagascar, hasn’t been destroyed, according to Bentley Motors Head of Product Communications, Mike Sayer.
Jeremy Clarkson drove the British GT across the smooth roads of Reunion Island, and when realising that they were about to undertake the worst roads in the world, he modified the Bentley for off-road use before heading over to Madagascar. Of course, this isn’t entirely true. In fact, The Grand Tour team partnered with Bentley Motors themselves to build the car, which began its life as a press vehicle for journalists.
Sayer described the work as “a very collaborative joint project. They did the major mechanical work – because they knew what they needed – with some guidance from us. We then finished it off and ensured everything was working properly.”
But after Madagascar, reports of this car being scrapped flooded the internet after Clarkson himself admitted it was to happen thanks to the DVLA. He said the following according to DriveTribe:
“I fell so deeply in love with that car that I decided I’d bring it back to the farm,
“It took a while but, eventually, the Bentley arrived back in Britain, and I was very happy. But then came word from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The Bentley had started in life as a development mule and the rules say these must be destroyed to ensure they don’t ever seep onto the market”.
After Clarkson gave it back to Bentley after using it on his farm for a couple of months, Sayer has now confirmed its pace in Crewe, the home of Bentley Motors:
I’ve done some silly things with Bentleys over the years, but this tops them all. This is the GT we arranged and helped prepare for The Grand Tour special in Madagascar. Have a look on Prime – the abuse this car soaks up is incredible. It survived, and is now back in Crewe… pic.twitter.com/BeCt1Xp63E
— Mike Sayer (@Mike_Sayer) December 19, 2020
“I’ve done some silly things with Bentleys over the years, but this tops them all. This is the GT we arranged and helped prepare for The Grand Tour special in Madagascar. Have a look on Prime – the abuse this car soaks up is incredible. It survived, and is now back in Crewe…”
Sayer has also confirmed that it’s now on display:
On display outside the Bentley factory as we speak
— Mike Sayer (@Mike_Sayer) December 19, 2020
It’s within the factory boundary, but if you have a look from the gate at the east end of Pyms Lane you should be able to see it in a glass box
— Mike Sayer (@Mike_Sayer) December 19, 2020
He also confirms that it won’t be scrapped:
Very not true
— Mike Sayer (@Mike_Sayer) December 19, 2020
Sayer also gave his followers information on a few details from the episode. He confirms that the car broke down when a hose connection blew due to it overheating, which was because the radiators were caked in mud. He also insisted that the warning light for the air suspension, lit up because of the modifications, couldn’t be disabled.
“Believe me, I was annoyed by that!” he wrote.
So this is great news for fans of the car, especially if you want to see it in person. The MFB can be seen through the Bentley Motors factory gates in Crewe, that’s in Cheshire England.
I think John from the Mongolia special might have a word to say about “the best car”.
Doesn’t quite look right without all the mud on it.