Bentley Motors has been round for 105 years now. Since its founding in 1919, the marque has developed a rich and wonderful history that features marvels of automotive engineering and racing. Let’s take a look at how that historical past has formed Bentley and helped to create implausible examples of energy, velocity, and luxurious within the trendy period.
Robust Beginnings
Bentley was founded on July 10, 1919, by Walter Owen “W.O.” Bentley. At this level, he obtained his pal F. Gordon Crosby to design the well-known winged B Bentley brand. In these early years, the winged B had an asymmetrical form with a various variety of wings, which helped throw off would-be imitators.
Bentley’s first main vehicle success was the Bentley 3 Litre. This automotive was the manifestation of W.O. Bentley’s unique imaginative and prescient of “a quick automotive, automotive, the perfect in its class.” It stayed in manufacturing for eight years, from 1921 and 1929. Throughout that point, the Bentley 3 Litre gained many races, together with the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and 1927.
Some experiences inform us that W.O. Bentley didn’t approve of enrolling a 3 Litre in the race at Le Mans as a result of he believed the car wasn’t meant to run for twenty-four hours at a time, however the car was profitable anyway, exhibiting that it was a superior piece of automotive craftsmanship.
Whereas the three Litre’s manufacturing was gradual at first, it did finally get going, and fashions have been even offered to two future kings (Edward VIII and George VI). It additionally attracted the eye of many aristocratic racers often called the Bentley Boys and Girls. They completed many daring racing feats over the Twenties and Thirties and assisted to form Bentley’s public picture from the very starting by exhibiting that driving a Bentley was a part of dwelling life to the restrict and having as many adventures as attainable alongside the way in which.
The Racing Bentley’s Development
Because the Bentley Boys and Women took their automobiles out racing time and again, they realized that the automotive wanted to vary. One of many chief Bentley Boys, Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, first drove the 4 ½ Litre Supercharger Bentley Blower in races, earlier than switching over to the 6 ½ Litre. The 6 ½ Litre Bentley obtained a high-performance model referred to as the Pace Six, and it turned probably the most profitable racing Bentley in historical past. It gained Le Mans in 1929 and 1930, thanks partially to its new practically 6.6–liter engine and a redesigned chassis.
Whereas Bentleys have been recognized for racing, there have additionally been fashions meant for touring and different driving functions. These included the Bentley 8 Litre, which was the firm’s first grand tourer. Whereas it was the most important and most luxurious Bentley of its day, it was sadly launched proper across the identical time because the 1929 inventory market crash that ushered within the Nice Melancholy. Due to this huge worldwide monetary disaster, demand for the 8 Litre slowed to a crawl, and solely 100 examples of this mannequin have been produced between 1930 and 1932.
After that admittedly giant bump within the highway, the Bentley Mark V emerged within the Thirties with a redesigned chassis, although its manufacturing was halted as soon as Britain entered WWII (1939-1945). Fortunately, the Mark V’s manufacturing was resumed in 1946, after the top of the battle. That’s when the Mark VI got here alongside, as a totally developed and improved-upon model of the Mark V.
From the Fifties by means of to in the present day, Bentley has targeted on the posh saloon market, with many various fashions leaving their mark over time. These automobiles embody R-Kind Continental, the S1 Continental Flying Spur, the Azure, and the Bentley Brooklands.
Nonetheless, their legacy of crafting extremely high-performance fashions lived on within the design and sheer pressure discovered of their trendy powertrains.
Discover Your Bentley in Miami
If you’re intrigued by Bentley’s celebrated historical past and also you wish to turn into part of the Bentley story, tell us! At Bentley Miami, now we have new and pre-owned Bentleys on the market, and we’ll allow you to discover the one that matches your fashion, regardless of the place in South Florida you’re.
Contact us online or give us a name at (786) 577-5225 in the present day.
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