WO Bentley founded the company and designed the cars using his engineering experience gained from locomotive and aeronautical practices.  

The Bentley Boys were a group of wealthy British motorists who drove their WO Bentleys to victory in the 1920s and created the marque's reputation for high performance alive. In 1925, as the marque faced financial challenges, one of the Bentley Boys, Woolf Barnato of De Beers fame, acquired the company.

The Bentley Boys included:

Woolf Barnato, Benjafield, Birkin, Bourne, Clement, Davis, Duff, Duller, Dunfee, d'Erlanger, Gallop, Kidston, Kensington Moir and Rubin.

Restored Bentley 3 litre Le Mans Team Car engine.

Above, a line drawing of the 1929 4.5 litre supercharged car - Birkin's Team car with victories at Brooklands and the icon of Bentley cars to the general public.

Above is the Reid Railton designed single seater blower car.  Please note that these superb line drawings are prepared by Mr D N Sykes and we can arrange for either prints to be made or for your specific car to be drawn.  Please apply to us at the usual address.

Recent Specification Changes on Bentley Cars

Brooklands

Introduced in 1992 as a four door saloon and central gearshift.

1994 saw a 20% power increase and twin airbags.

1996 featured electric steering wheel adjustment and some styling changes.

1997 saw the light pressure turbo engine at 300hp and the Brooklands R.

Turbo R

Introduced in 1987 to replace the Bentley Turbo.  It had stiffer suspension, fuel injection and styling changes.

1989 saw a larger turbo system in order for the car to run on unleaded fuel.

1990 saw changes to the fascia and a move to active ride through electronically controlled damping.

1992 featured the four speed gearbox replacing the previous three speed.

1993 was the year that the centre console gear change was introduced and airbags.

1994 models featured the 10% power increase, shift management system and twin airbags.

1996 was greeted with a 386hp engine, further styling changes and traction control.

in 1997 the long wheel base was the norm.

1998 saw the Turbo RT model with 400hp.

Continental R

1992 saw the car introduced as a two door with Turbo R running gear.

By 1994 the power was up by 10%.

1996 featured revised styling and electric wheel adjustment.  The Continental T was introduced with a shorter wheelbase, larger wheels and tyres and more aggressive styling.  Power output was 400hp.

1997 had an 8% power increase and traction control.

In 1998 the Continental SC Targa was introduced with sedanca based styling.

By 1998 the Continental R Mulliner was introduced with a longer wheelbase than the Continental T 386hp but otherwise all of the T specification.

Arnage

The new four door car named after the area of the Le Mans circuit in France where the car was launched in 1998.  Initially a 4.3 litre twin turbo charged engine producing 350hp, mechanical components being extensively based on BMW units.

In October 1999 the Red Label Arnage was launched with the Bentley 6,750cc V8 producing 400hp and 620lbft torque.  The car featured additional rear legroom and a GPS system.

Production Numbers and Dates