Bentley

(Included in the 2003 Artistry In Motion Commemorative Program Book and as
excerpted from The Making of a Legend, Bentley Motor Cars Limited, 2002; and
www.bentleymotorcars.com) by Bill Rothermel, SAH
In its 85 years of existence, the Bentley marque has amassed an unmatched wealth of
legends, true stories, heroic deeds, racing victories and world records.
The Company’s effortlessly powerful, hand-built grand tourers have a style and presence
that is all their own; a style that’s instantly recognizable.
Bentley was founded by Walter Owen Bentley, known to all as “W.O.” He was a born
engineer, but his first experience was not with cars – it was with trains. In 1905, aged 16
he set off on his bicycle to work at the Great Northern Railway locomotive works in
Doncaster, northern England.
Off duty, he soon abandoned his bicycle in favor of a motorbike and with his brother took
to racing. In their first event, the London to Edinborough Trial, they won a gold medal.
W.O. raced at the Isle of Man TT event and Brooklands race track, near London.
The internal combustion engine made sweeter music to his ears than steam trains and in
1912, Bentley’s family found funds enough to buy a small company importing French
DFP sports cars.
It was on a visit to the DFP factory in 1913 that W.O. noticed an aluminum paperweight
– and had the inspired idea of using the lightweight metal instead of cast iron to make
engine pistons. The first such Bentley pistons went into service in aero engines for the
Sopwith Camel in service during the Great War.
After it, W.O. revived his interest and in London set about development of a racing
engine – Experimental Bentley No. 1. “I wanted to make a fast car, a good car, the best
in its class . . .”
And he did. In the 20’s, with the 3-litre 85 bhp engine providing speeds of 80 mph and
more, Bentley Motors set numerous speed and endurance records, competed successfully
at Indianapolis, the Isle of Man TT, and Brooklands – and became inextricably linked
with the history of the 24 hour race at LeMans. In the hands of the legendary Bentley
Boys, Bentley achieved LeMans victories in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930 – taking
the first four places in 1929.
Yet despite its racing record and public acclaim, Bentley Motors was beset by financial
difficulty. By 1931 the golden age was over, bust as closure loomed Rolls-Royce stepped
in to save the Bentley name – and a new era began.
W.O. later became Patron of the Bentley Driver’s Club, a position he had until his death
in 1971.
Bentley Motors Historical Timeline
• 1919 - Bentley EXP 1 developed
• 1921 - First 3-litre motor car produced in Cricklewood, London. Highly praised
in Autocar
• 1924 – First of a string of Bentley victories at Lemans
• 1925 – First 6 ½ litre Bentley can cruise all day at 70 mph
• 1928 – Famous 4 ½ litre engine introduced, later supercharged and affectionately
known as the “Blower Bentley”
• 1929 – Bentley takes first four places at LeMans
• 1930 – Star of Olympian Motor Show is 8-litre Bentley
• 1931 – Bentley Motors taken over by Rolls-Royce Ltd.
• 1933 – “The Silent Sports Car” 3 ½ litre Bentley made in Derby
• 1936 – Bentley 4.25 litre saloon introduced, later with overdrive
• 1939 – Bentley Mk V prevented from production by outbreak of war
• 1946 – Bentley standard steel saloon – the Mark VI made in Crewe
• 1952 – Bentley R-type and 120 mph R-type Continental introduced. The
Continental is the world’s fastest four-seater motor car
• 1955 – Bentley S series
• 1959 - New 6,230 cc V-8 engine for Bentley S2
• 1962 - Revised Bentley S3 introduced
• 1966 – Bentley T series
• 1967 – Introduction of Bentley T drophead coupe’
• 1970 – Bentley engine capacity increased to 6,750 cc
• 1977 – Bentley T2 introduced
• 1980 – New Bentley Mulsanne saloon, named after the famous corner at LeMans
• 1982 – Bentley Mulsanne Turbo provides new levels of sporting performance and
is hailed as “the new Blower Bentley”
• 1984 – Bentley Eight announced
• 1985 – Bentley Turbo R – a full four-seater saloon with 150 mph top speed and
acceleration from 0-60 mph in under 7 seconds
• 1986 – Bentley specification further upgraded to Mulsanne S
• 1992 – Bentley Continental R grand touring coupe’ introduced
• 1993 – Introduction of Bentley Brooklands saloon
• 1995 – Bentley Azure convertible introduced. The most sophisticated Bentley
open tourer of the modern era
• 1996 - Bentley Continental T
• 1998 - Bentley Arnage
• 1999 – Project Hunaudieres
• 2000 – Bentley announces return to LeMans for 2001 race finishing third
• 2000 – Bentley Arnage T
• 2003 – Bentley launches the Continental GT at the Geneva Motor Show. The
Continental GT honored as “The Most Beautiful Car in the World” at the 2003
Design Awards
• 2003 - Bentley wins LeMans