Bentley
A Fast Car, a Good Car, the Best in its Class: The Fusion of Racing Pedigree and Luxurious Grand Touring
Introduction
Bentley’s story is a unique tale of two distinct eras: first as a dominant force on the racetrack, and later as a benchmark for high-performance luxury. Founded by W.O. Bentley, the brand’s early motto was to build ‘a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.’ This philosophy initially produced rugged sports cars and formidable racers that won Le Mans five times. After a period under Rolls-Royce, Bentley reemerged to reclaim its performance heritage, creating the modern grand tourers that now define it: cars of immense power, craft, and capability, equally at home on the autobahn as at the country club.
| Detail | Information |
| Founded | 1919 (by Walter Owen Bentley) |
| HeadQuarters | Crewe, England, UK |
| Founder’s Motto | “To build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class” |
| First Car | Bentley 3 Litre (1921) |
| Racing Legacy | 5-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1920s, 2003) |
| Parent Company | Volkswagen Group |
Iconic Bentley Engines
- Bentley 3 Litre & 4.5 Litre (1921-1931): The racing hearts. Large, durable, and powerful inline-four and inline-six engines that powered Bentley’s early road cars and Le Mans winners.
- Bentley “Blower” 4.5 Litre Supercharged (1929-1931): The most famous Bentley. A supercharged version of the 4.5L engine, famously campaigned by Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin. Less reliable but brutally powerful.
- L-Series V8 (1959-2020): The Crewe workhorse. The massive 6.75L pushrod V8 shared with Rolls-Royce, used for decades in the Mulsanne and Arnage, known for its immense torque.
- Volkswagen W12 (2003-Present): The modern marvel. A 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12 engine, symbolizing Bentley’s engineering under VW and providing devastating performance in the Continental GT and Flying Spur.
- Volkswagen 4.0L V8 (2012-Present): The performance engine. A twin-turbocharged V8, also used in Audi models, offering a more agile and efficient option in the Continental and Flying Spur.
Legendary Bentley Models
- Bentley 3 Litre (1921-1929): The car that started it all. The first production Bentley, available with elegant coachbuilt bodies, and the first to win at Le Mans.
- Bentley 4.5 Litre & “Blower” (1927-1931): The racing icons. The standard 4.5L was a successful racer, but the supercharged “Blower” is the most legendary and recognizable vintage Bentley.
- Bentley Continental R (1991-2003): The modern revival. The first Bentley of the modern era to have its own unique body (not shared with Rolls-Royce) after the brand’s revival. A high-performance coupe.
- Bentley Arnage (1998-2009): The flagship sedan. The last Bentley to use the classic 6.75L V8, representing the end of the Rolls-Royce era and the beginning of VW ownership.
- Bentley Continental GT (2003-Present): The savior. The car that truly revived Bentley under VW ownership. A grand tourer that combined W12 power with all-wheel drive and luxury, defining the modern Bentley.
- Bentley Flying Spur (2005-Present): The performance sedan. The four-door version of the Continental GT philosophy, offering supercar performance in a luxurious sedan package.
The Bentley Boys and Le Mans
Bentley’s early identity was forged not in boardrooms, but on the racetrack, specifically at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A group of wealthy, daring British drivers known as the ‘Bentley Boys’—including Woolf Barnato and Sir Henry Birkin—piloted the company’s powerful but heavy cars to victory against more nimble rivals. Their wins in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930 were a testament to the cars’ durability and speed. This racing pedigree is the foundational myth of the brand, a heritage of toughness and performance that modern Bentleys still reference today.