Bentley cars have been built alongside Rolls-Royce cars since 1933, but
although they incorporate the same high standards of design and construction,
they have distinctly different heritage and have attracted a distinctly
different type of driver. It is wholly appropriate, therefore, that a section
be devoted to not only telling the life story of Walter Own Bentley, the
company ounder, but to looking at the most notable cars to bear his name.
Walter Owen Bentley, affectionately known as “W.O.’, was born of middle class
parents in 1888 and was the youngest of nine childrenTaking his gratuity back
to London, W.O. set up an office in Conduit Street, enlisted the services of
two engineers and turned his hand to designing and building a sporting car
(something he has passionately wanted to do for many years). The first
prototype took the road nine months later. A polished exhibition chassis was
shown at the 1919 Motor Show. And, in 1921, a second prototype was raced at
Brooklands. In 1922, after having overcome many problems associated with the
supply of materials and components, W.O.’s car – called the Bentley 3 litre –
as put into full production at a factory in Cricklewood. In the same year, a
team of three racing Bentleys won the team prize in the Tourist Trophy Race.
And, in 1923 and 1924, a Bentley car finished fourth and then first in the 24
hour sports car race at Le Mans.
During the next six years, teams of Bentleys were entered for each 24
hour race at Le Mans and, although the 1925 and 1926 teams failed to finish,
Bentleys were first across the finish line in 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930 to set
up a record of wins that was not equaled until the 1950’s (by Jaguar) and not
beaten until the 1960’s (by Ferrari). Away from the race track, however, things
back home at the Cricklewood factory were not going too well. The depression
had so badly affected sales that, in 1931, the Bentley Company was forced into
liquidation and taken over by Rolls-Royce Limited. The production of Bentley
cars was subsequently moved to Derby and ultimately to Crewe in 1946.
