Bentley Motors – 100 Sporty Years

Of the numerous car manufacturers that were already on the scene in the early days, many have fallen by the wayside over time. After 100 eventful years, Bentley is once again undisputedly asserting itself in the luxury segment, even if it is no longer quite as purely British and purely sporty as it was in the beginning.

In 1919, Walter Owen Bentley founded his company Bentley Motors Ltd. He had previously run a dealership with his brother for vehicles made by the French manufacturer DFP. A war veteran’s loan opens up the opportunity for W.O. Bentley, as he is appreciatively called, the opportunity to fulfil his wish and build his own cars.

RACE ON SUNDAY SELL ON MONDAY

From the very beginning, the british manufacturer has been driven by the motorsport enthusiasm of its makers. The motto “Race on Sunday, sell on Monday” is attributed to W.O. Bentley. The racing cars were to achieve success on the race tracks at the weekend so that the customers would buy them immediately the next day. The truth is, however, that the racing programme cost a fortune and could not be absorbed by the revenue side.

The most successful model of the “pure Bentley years” 1919-1931 was the 3 Litre. A total of 1622 chassis were built and fitted with various bodies by the usual coachbuilders such as Vanden Plas. The four-cylinder engine with 16 valves and a capacity of three litres proved to be powerful and robust. The three litre engine is also the starting point for all other engines of the early era: it is bored out to a 4 1/2 litre unit, two cylinders are added to the 6 1/2 litre engine, which in turn is modified to the showpiece, the 8 litre. Even though W.O. is loathe to supercharge engines, this is done with the 4 1/2 litre blower, among others.

In the early years, it was somehow Bentley’s dilemma, but also its salvation, to focus on road-going racing cars. Even before buzzwords like branding entered the marketing-speak of manufacturers, the Bolides were making a reality on the race tracks.

THE GLAMOROUS BENTLEY BOYS

However, the circle of buyers is still very manageable. The most successful year in the early days was 1924 with 462 chassis sold, after which things went downhill. The so-called “Bentley Boys” were a fixed group of buyers. A circle of very wealthy young men, enthusiastic about motor sport, who buy cars with the B in the logo in order to compete in races.

One of them is Woolf Barnato, who alone has entered a Bentley in the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times – and won three times. This is not the only reason why Barnato is probably the most famous Bentley Boy. There is, for example, the famous bet for 200 pounds that he would be faster with his Speed Six than the luxury train Train Bleu, which ran from Cannes to London. He actually wins and thus gives his car the nickname Blue Train.

But Barnato also played a major role in the company’s survival independently of extravagant hobbies. In the years 1927 to 1930, Barnato saved the British brand’s survival with several financial injections.

In 1931, however, further financial support came to an end. Perhaps this was also because some of the Bentley Boys spent their entire fortune on their passion for automobiles. This was the case with Tim Birkin, who achieved prestigious victories at Le Mans by building a 4 1/2 litre Blower, but overstretched himself so financially that the entire family fortune was exhausted and there was no money left to finance Bentley.

A NEW START UNDER ROLLS-ROYCE

And so the biggest competitor on the island, Rolls-Royce of all companies, took over Bentley in 1931. First the old stocks from Bentley production were used up and the old models continued to be produced. This was followed in 1933 by the first Bentley developed by Rolls-Royce. The 3 1/2 Litre used a Rolls-Royce frame not previously in production and the revised engine from the 20/25 hp. The same frame was also available from 1936 as a 4 1/4 Litre with the larger in-line six cylinder engine from the 25/30 hp.

After the end of the war, the production of Rolls-Royce and Bentley moves to Crewe, where they are still built today. The close integration of the two brands, the badge engineering, is also pushed forward. The Bentley Mark VI from 1946 is the sister model of the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Subsequently, the models became more and more similar.

But always with the basic orientation that the Rolls should be more the comfort-oriented chauffeur-driven vehicle and that Bentleys are aimed at self-driving, sport-oriented drivers. On the one hand, pure badge engineering is damaging to the brand. Just a different radiator mascot and modified responsiveness do not make a sufficient unique selling point. On the other hand, family ties keep the manufacturer afloat, albeit at a fluctuating level.

UPS AND DOWNS IN 100 YEARS OF BENTLEY

Bentley’s 100-year history is therefore a varied one. Characterised by great successes, impressive vehicles, but also by entrepreneurial defeats and about-turns.

Today quite successful and relaxed under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley was always pushing the envelope, not only on the race tracks but also financially. W.O. Bentley’s vision of potent sports cars could thus only be lived in the early years.

Even though competitor Ettore Bugatti derisively called them the “fastest trucks in the world”, the Bentley Boys showed at Le Mans that they were strong and daring enough to outrun the agile, light racers of the competition.

But a conspiratorial bunch of filthy rich petrolheads doesn’t make enough sales to keep a brand alive. So it’s up to other companies to give the brand enough resources and factual know-how to keep the shining B on the radiator grille shining in the wind.

Pictures Bentley Motors Ltd.

Author: Lennart Klein

Lennart Klein ist Redakteur beim Classic Trader Magazin. Seine Begeisterung gilt zwei- und vierrädrigen Klassikern gleichermaßen. Traum-Klassiker: Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior & Mercedes-Benz 600. View all posts by Lennart Klein →