With its the B with wings, Bentley remembers its beginnings through its logo. Initially making engines for airplanes, most notable is the Bentley BR1, the company then transitioned to make one of the most fascinating vehicle lines the world has seen.
History:
Bentley Motors Limited is Bentley’s official name. Founded by Walter Owen Bentley in 1919. As mentioned, Mr. Bentley started with the aero-engines, but his passion for cars and racing prompted him to make cars of his own. And thus the Bentley line of cars was born.
Though its history is not exactly peachy, it has survived the Depression Era and several other financial challenges. Though currently owned by Volkswagen since 1998, the brand is still well and alive and still gives car enthusiasts the speed and power of a Bentley.
And it is for creating fast and reliable vehicles that Bentley made a name for itself. Showcasing a new 3-liter engine and aluminum pistons, Bentley raged on the racing scene and got away with several victories. Bentley won the 24-hour Le Mans spanning from 1927-30.
From then on, the company expanded from race cars to manufacturing coupes and convertibles. Not just offering power and dependability, Bentleys also offer the best in terms of comfort and luxury.
Notable Models:
EXP1 Prototype
This was the car that started it all. It had the 3-liter engine and a lightweight body. The great innovation with this model is that it achieved a light yet durable body that can handle the pressures of racing and the power of its engine. The result is the success that Bentley has built up on for the decades to come.
Mark VI
This model is a luxury car and is Bentley’s first after the WWII. A result of the acquistion of the company by Rolls Royce, it featured the shortened chassis of RR. And with its 4 liter engine, it had the power to go from 0-60 in 15 seconds. It was the first car to have a pressed-steel body, which was not standard at the time. Through those features, Bentley was able to incorporate luxury and performance in one vehicle. This led to the Mark VI as one of Bentley’s largest selling vehicles.
Mulsanne Turbo
Featuring a V8 engine, 0-60 under seven seconds and an output of 300 bhp, the Malsanne Turbo addressed the need for more power under the hood. Even through its 2.2 ton frame, it was able to match the speeds of other sports cars such as Aston Martin’s Lagonda and Ferrari’s 365GT4. It is also from this model that the different Bentley models came into being: the R series, T series, Azure and the Corniche and Continental series. All offering speed, power and excellent design aesthetics, these Bentley models were a hit during its times.
Recent Bentleys
Continuing its tradition of excellence, Bentley, now under Volkswagen, continued its current line of vehicles. Azure for convertibles, the Continental for coupes. You can still see the strength, power and luxurious designs that Bentley has been known for in the new models.
For more information about Bentley, you can look at the following links:
http://www.rrab.com/indexe.htm#top
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentley
http://www.bentleymotors.com/about_bentley/history/introduction/default.aspx
