Mystery Buyer Snags 2011 Bentley Mulsanne "Chassis Number One" for $550,000

"As of right now, I have no information on the buyer of the Mulsanne," said Gooding & Company spokesperson Kathryn Hellwig in response to an e-mailed query by Inside Line. "This is typically something we don't release."

The Mulsanne was one of 129 lots auctioned by Gooding & Company during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where the Bentley made its official debut. Curiously, the Mulsanne did not make the auction house's top-10 list of sales results during the weekend. For example, a classic 1962 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider fetched $5,115,000, while a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C2300 drophead coupe brought in $4,180,000.

Still, the Mulsanne auction is generating lots of interest, thanks to a dramatic YouTube video of the event. At one point, the auctioneer intones to one unseen bidder: "Is it not beautiful, sir? Is it not worth another bid?" Bentley later pointed out to Inside Line that the car used during the auction was the first prototype, so it is not the actual specification that the unknown buyer purchased.

Bentley spokesman David Reuter told Inside Line on Tuesday that "I'm not certain who the final purchaser was."

"In terms of spec, we'll be learning more about that in the near term," Reuter told Inside Line in an e-mail when asked what color and features the mystery buyer has requested for Chassis Number One or VIN00001. "Details on spec will be determined by the buyer."

Bentley said in a statement that the first production car will be "built to standard U.K., European or Middle Eastern market specification. However, should the client's preference be for a U.S.-specification motorcar, he or she will receive the very first example of the model destined for the U.S. — and it will still carry the first chassis number, 00001."

The luxury marque noted that U.S. production is planned to follow approximately a few months after initial production.

"If the successful bidder requires non-standard features, the additional cost will be borne by the client via arrangement with Bentley Motors," the company said. "Bentley Motors will coordinate the production and delivery of 00001 directly with the successful bidder."

It is a little difficult to put the amount that the Mulsanne commanded at auction into perspective, since Bentley has not yet announced pricing on the car.

When asked to ballpark a price, Reuter responded: "More than an Arnage, which today runs from $224K (regular model) to $264K (long-wheelbase model)."

Inside Line says: The first Bentley Mulsanne is spoken for, but the proceedings were sure fun to watch. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent