10th July 2019
Bentley Centenary
The 10th of July 2019 marks Bentley’s 100th year. From modest beginnings, Bentley has moved from strength. Bentley’s victories at Le Mans in the 1920s echoed around the world, and returned once again in the 21st century.
In 1919 Walter Owen (W.O.) Bentley created a company with a simple objective: to build “a fast car, a good car, the best in its class”.
Born in 1888, W.O. Bentley grew up as an engineer enthusiast. By October 1919 Bentley Motors was established and by September 1921 the first production Bentley left the factory and was delivered to its owner, Noel van Raalte, costing him £1,050. The car carried Bentley's hallmark radiator casing and flying 'B' insignia.
The Bentleys of the 1920s are some of the most distinctive cars of the vintage era. Numerous speed and endurance records were achieved. There were legendary achievements by the Bentley Boys. Attaining victories at Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930; where Bentley’s racing domination echoed around the motoring world.
Bentley Motors was beset by financial difficulty and in 1931 Rolls-Royce stepped in to buy Bentley Motors. Production moved to Derby where a new 3.5-litre ‘Silent Sports Car’ was produced, mixing the best attributes of both brands – agility with luxury, power with silence.
The move to Crewe in 1946 after World War II provided access to a community of skilled engineers and mechanics. Advanced technologies and a new approach to manufacturing, enabled Bentley to build a motor car complete and ready to be driven to its limits. One of the first to be built as a Bentley was the Mark VI
In 1952 the Bentley R-Type Continental made its debut, a Mulliner-bodied coupe with a top speed of just less than 120 mph. This made it the fastest four-seater car in the world and very quickly earned a reputation as the ultimate in high-speed luxury. By 1957 Bentley had launched the new highly anticipated four-door Bentley Continental Flying Spur and the Bentley S2 was announced in 1959. It used an all-new 6.2-litre aluminium V8 engine.
The 1960's brought continuous development to the Bentley Motors family. In 1965 the Bentley T series was launched before it was renamed in 1971 to the Bentley Corniche and again in 1984 to become the Continental, as we know it today.
The founder W.O. Bentley, died aged 82 in August 1971.During the ‘70s, the famous V8 engine was re-engineered to increase the capacity to 6.75 litres – the size it has remained to this day. More financial troubles were caused by the Aero Engine side having major difficulties with Lockheed RB211 engines. This caused the firm to have Receivers appointed. Out of the ashes two new firms were created, Rolls Royce Ltd which made Aero engines and Rolls Royce Motors Ltd which made cars including Bentleys.
1980’s saw the Bentley identity developed and the beginning of the Bentley range and model line we know today. The Bentley Corniche was renamed the Continental in 1984 which became one of the bestselling models to date.
By 1989 half of the cars emerging from Crewe were Bentleys. Ten years after the introduction of the Mulsanne Turbo, Bentley began to outsell Rolls-Royce two-to-one.
The acquisition of Bentley by the Volkswagen Group in 1998 added resource, new technologies and even greater impetus to the momentum of the Bentley renaissance. It was announced Bentley and Rolls-Royce would be separate companies once again, after 67 years together. Volkswagen AG announced it would invest £500 million in the Bentley marque, its Crewe factory and the building of an all-new Bentley.
By 2001, Bentley relived its heritage with a return to competition at Le Mans, entering two EXP Speed 8s. The team finished third, bringing Bentley back to the podium for the first time in 71 years. In 2001 Bentley announced it would build the first bespoke design Bentley State Limousine, commissioned through Bentley Mulliner, for Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee. This was the first Bentley to be used for state occasions.
In 2015, Bentley launched the Bentayga – the first luxury SUV. The fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world.
2018 saw the launch of the all-new third generation Continental GT. Sharper, lighter, faster and more refined than before, the third generation Continental GT is the definitive Grand Tourer. Since 2003, Bentley has delivered almost 70,000 Continental GTs to customers, making it the most successful Bentley in history.
Since the Volkswagen Group acquired the company in 1998, the number of Colleagues working at their Crewe site has increased from 1,500 to more than 5,000 today. The Company has an enviable record with their Apprenticeship programmes; these are keenly sought after positions.
10.07.19
Photos courtesy of Bentley Motors

Bentley R Type Saloon

1991 Bentley Limousine

1930 Bentley
Previous news stories
29th December - MOTORING IN MINIATURE
The National Motor Museum's...
28th December - A few lookbacks about Museum happenings…&he...
28th December - ...
22nd December - BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM
Here is the story of ...
22nd December - 2022 EVENTS AT GAYDON
Here are some of The Britis...
20th December - Happy Christmas everyone and a Good New Year
a pi...
11th December - Video tribute to Sir Stirling Moss.
As a speciall...
9th December - NEW COVID RESTRICTIONS
New restrictions are now i...
7th December - MUSEUM OF LAND SPEED
Carmarthenshire Council have...
3rd December - ALL-NEW THREE-WHEELED MORGAN DESIGN Pics AHEAD OF ...
25th November - SPECIAL DEFENDER SHOW
James Bond fans are in for ...
17th November - "THE PRISONER" MINI MOKE
Many of you m...
16th November - VSCC LAKELAND TRIAL 2021
There was a great turnou...
7th November - Haymarket Automotive completes Three Peaks challen...
5th November - HOVERCRAFT MUSEUM
Well, they aren’t motors ...
30th October - 90 year old retires after 75 years work in same fr...
26th October - Back on track – DHF 2022 dates are announced...
25th October - 77-mile Limited Edition MGB Roadster being auction...
23rd October - A few pics of the New Grenadier 4 w/d vehicle whic...
21st October - On the road to resolution: DVLA & Classic Car ...
14th October - LONDON TRANSPORT SPECIAL
Festive Tunnel Walks
LO...
13th October - NEC Classic Motor Show Sale: 12th – 14th Nov...
11th October - BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM QUIZ NIGHT
The British Motor...
4th October - NEW BOSS AT NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM
The National Mo...
1st October - MINI PLANT TOURS
Below is quick summary of the P...
23rd September - GREAT BRITISH CAR JOURNEY
After four years in the...
22nd September - EVERYDAY CARS ARE GOOD VALUE
The latest data from...
21st September -
VSCC welcomes post war sports cars
The Vintage S...
18th September - Good news if you have a family member at Uni in th...
6th September - VAUXHALL HERITAGE FLEET
Vauxhall Motor Company ha...
21st April -
MUSEUMS RE OPENING
British Motor Museum at Gaydo...
20th April -
VAUXHALL CLASSICS AUCTION
Following our earlier ...
16th April - Prince Philip RIP
Always a keen environmental per...
6th January - VAUXHALL HERITAGE COLLECTION
Vauxhall’s re...
18th November - NEWS ITEMS Nov. 2020
MOTOR MUSEUMS
All motor mus...
16th October - MUSEUM NEWS
AEROSPACE BRISTOL
Aerospace Bristol ...
25th September - NEWS
BICESTER HERITAGE
Bicester Heritage has be...
14th September - There are some interesting small museums on the we...
10th September - News items
BRITSH MOTOR MUSEUM
The British Motor...
23rd August - NEWS ITEMS
Grampian Transport Museum
Whilst folk...
12th August - BICESTER HERITAGE IS BACK
COVID COMPLIANT AND SOC...
27th July - COVID-19 Information
Here are some up to date ite...
13th July - FIRST LOOK AT THE GRENADIER 4 X 4
INEOS Automotiv...
3rd July - GOOD NEWS, SOME OF OUR MOTOR MUSEUMS RE-OPEN THIS ...
16th June - With Motor Museums closed its worth remembering ma...
19th May - BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM
Despite the restrictions ass...
28th April - 2020 FESTIVAL OF THE UNEXCEPTIONAL
Hagerty has po...
15th April -
Vauxhall through the decades
VAUXHALL H-TYPE TEN...
4th April - As most museums are closed during the Coronavirus ...
22nd March - RECENT ADDITION
A recent addition to Lakeland Mot...
19th March - MUSEUM NEWS AND EVENTS.
SILVERSTONE EXPERIENCE
...
29th February - MUSEUMS and EVENTS
“The Great British Car J...
29th January - GOLDEN ARROW NEWS
From today, Golden Arrow is on ...
19th December - Museum and Motoring News
Dewsbury Bus Museum have...
21st November - Auction News
One sold….Silverstone Auction...
2nd November - The Warwickshire Event Centre will be hosting the ...
30th September - E-Type saved
E-Type UK, one of Britain’s le...
10th September - JIM CLARK MOTORSPORT MUSEUM
Formula One legend, S...
25th August - Classic cars on show
Around the country many Clas...
14th August - A 1971 Morris Marina 1.3 deluxe has been donated t...
3rd August - 1977 MORRIS MARINA 1.3 ESTATE IS CROWNED WINNER OF...
10th July - Bentley Centenary
The 10th of July 2019 marks Ben...
4th July - Leyland Society Gatherings
The Leyland Society Ga...
10th June - Museum News
SILVERSTONE EXPERIENCE
On Tuesday 9t...
2nd June - ONCE A YEAR DAY FOR VAUXHALL
On Sunday, June 9th ...
20th May - 25th & 26th May
Land Rover Legends is a Land...
6th May - Volunteers in our transport museums provide a valu...
24th April - Forthcoming events
Sunday 28th April – UK &...
29th March - SCHLUMPF Book Review
“The most beautiful ca...
6th March - MORGAN MOTORS HANDS CONTROL TO THE ITALIAN INVESTO...
18th February - DEATH OF JOHN HAYNES, O.B.E.
Few car enthusiasts ...
3rd February - CITROEN CENTENARY 1919 – 2019.
As part of C...
19th January - LAST MGB
Not a Motor Museum but the Abingdon Cou...
15th January - New Year Records at Brooklands Museum
The UK&rsqu...
21st December - Lotus 70th Anniversary
An important personal coll...
27th November - Museum News
DONINGTON MUSEUM CLOSES AFTER 45 YEAR...
10th November - Gloucester Transport Hub ( a good excuse for pics ...
1st November - Brooklands Museum’s Military Vehicles Day on...
26th October - MORRIS MINOR – 70 years on the road by Ray N...
12th October - Would you give away a 1968 Anglia Super in mint co...
8th October - Sunday Scramble. The Sunday Scramble at Bicester H...
29th September - London Battle Bus returns to Covent Garden for Fir...
22nd September - To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of one of the w...
23rd August - ROLLS-ROYCE
This 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV Sta...
12th August - A rare car was sold recently by Anglia Car Auction...
31st July - MORGAN MOTOR COMPANY SET FOR A SPECTACULAR WEEKEND...
23rd July - Brooklands Museum annual Supercar Saturday 28th Ju...
17th July - A convoy of 70 rare and important Land Rovers stol...
10th July - Bear Grylls takes a young fan on a special trip at...
2nd July - This coming weekend, 7th and 8th July, the British...
26th June - Take your Landie out this weekend!! An Attempt to...
24th June - For those of our followers who are motor cycle ent...
15th June - Grand Re opening of RAF Museum Hendon, London on 3...
11th June - A world-leading car museum is being planned for th...
6th June - Now in its sixth year, visitors are once again inv...
27th May - MG – Made in Abingdon
Bob Frampton’s ...
24th May - LAND ROVER LEGENDS
Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire...
16th May - On Sunday, June 10 2018 Vauxhall Motors will open ...
14th May - The National Motor Museum is offering enthusiasts ...
7th May - .
Bicester Heritage, Oxfordshire - 26th and 27th M...
2nd May - The British Motor Museum and Jaguar Daimler Herita...
20th April - Morgan Motor Company will bring an iconic Routemas...
9th April - DRIVE IT DAY
22 April 2018
Sunday 22nd April is ...
4th April - Jim Clark 50th Anniversary of 7 April 1968 - Weeke...
30th March - Forthcoming Events
BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM, Gaydon. ...
21st March - One of Hitler’s Command cars currently on di...
10th March - Don't often put a car auction on news but this is ...
5th March - National Motor Musuem new display
A stunning coll...
20th February - A rare Riley RME Woody Estate Car belonging to Dow...
19th February - ...
1st February - It is not often that a car can claim to have shape...
28th January - 2018 is Land Rover's 70th Anniversary
Land Rover ...
25th January - Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is to help the charity...
13th January - Over 1,100 classics at New Year’s Day Gather...
11th December - Forthcoming events:
January Open Day - Gaydon
The...
22nd November - BROOKLANDS EVENT
The First British Motor Races W...
15th November - DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON 15 November 2017 - 15 April ...
6th November - A classic car saved !
The roadworthy 1959 Standa...
11th October - Aerospace Bristol
Aerospace Bristol opens on 17 O...
29th September - Ferrari 70th Anniversary helps Save the Children f...
20th September - Scottish Borders Council has successfully secured ...
13th September - Sunday 1st October 2017
The Shuttleworth Collecti...
6th September - An October attraction:
Bicester Heritage Centre: ...
20th August -
Wolseley Cars 1948 to 1975. A pictorial history b...
3rd August - BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM NEWS
Last week the British M...
26th July - 26th July 2017
POSTAL MUSEUM OPENING
London&rsqu...
20th July - The newly opened REME Museum in Wiltshire have som...
13th July - Museum events and news
1. Epping Ongar Heritage R...
1st July - The Black Country Living Museum, on a 26 acre site...
29th June - Hope that tomorrow Friday 30th June will bring a s...
12th June - Plans for the new Jim Clark Museum in Scotland
...
8th June - The Dunsfold Collection Land Rover Show this weeke...
2nd June - Charity cheered by sale of Ferrari for over half a...
16th May - Forthcoming events at the British Motor Museum, Ga...
15th May - The 1949 Vincent Black Shadow Series C was sold at...
6th May - Some Club News courtesy of the FHBVC
The Austin...
26th April - “All things Italian” is the focus of t...
25th April - A really Classic Motorcycle coming up for sale:
...
9th April - Alvis Continuation Cars are now being built at Ken...
2nd April - The British Motor Museum of Gaydon, Warwickshire, ...
28th March - Brooklands Museum MG Day to Celebrate 50 Years of ...
16th March - Spring is coming so are you going to join the Driv...
6th March - A new 4 wheel drive on the horizon
Ineos Automo...
30th January - Forthcoming events in the Motor Museum world
Br...
3rd January - Museum News 3rd January 2017
1.
REME MUSEUM
P...
23rd December - SILVERSTONE NEWS
The Heritage Lottery Fund has ...
3rd December - Microcars were big news in November when Essex bas...
26th September - Robert White car auction raises £3.5m for Do...
8th September - Vincent was one of a number of historical vehicles...
3rd August - FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
The Buses Festival, which ...
13th June - Some events for your diary.
Battle Bus tour to...
3rd May - MAKING A MORGAN
James Gilbert of Morgan Motor...
27th April - BODMIN BROUGHS break World record price for a Brit...
7th April - The REME Museum of Technology is on the move!
As ...
2nd March - Land Rover pulled the plug on the iconic Defender ...
28th January - COVENTRY
Currently housed in the History Centre...
16th January - At Brooklands Museum on January 1st over 7,000 peo...
14th December - GAYDON (BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM) The HRCR (Historic R...
4th December - Brooklands Readies itself for the UK’s Bigge...
19th November - £36,000 was the price paid at auction on 14t...
14th November -
The Heritage Motor Centre, home to the British M...
2nd November - Bicester Heritage, located at a former RAF base ne...
23rd October - Military Vehicles Day at Brooklands Museum on Sund...
20th October - Race, Fly, Draw and Play Top Trumps this October H...
1st October - To celebrate Family Arts Festival, join the Herita...
24th September - On Sunday 11th October, Brooklands Museum is marki...
23rd September - LONDON TRANSPORT RARE OPENING THIS WEEKEND
Disc...
3rd September - Major bus acquisition for London Transport Museum ...
2nd September - Lord Montagu, founder of England’s National ...
14th July - Visitors to the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed sa...
15th June - Pendine special event
This year celebrates the ...
21st May - The Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon has been added...
20th April - STONDON MOTOR MUSEUM
Stondon Motor Museum close...
15th April - JIM CLARK MUSEUM
Plans to expand and improve a...
25th February -
For many people Earl's Court in London brings ba...
16th January - The Transport Trust have announced their 2014 Rest...
15th January - History on Wheels Museum, at Eton Wick, Buckingham...
12th December - FANTASTIC BARN FIND
Over 60 rare cars have been d...
5th October - For those who are MG car lovers you can now visit ...
4th June - If you own a Wolseley car then don’t miss th...
26th May - Announced in May 2014 that production of the Hindu...
16th May - Frazer Nash fans can see a special display in the ...
15th May - This is interesting History website of Mitsubishi ...
25th November - After you've been to see [the film RUSH](http://ww...
22nd September - The National Motor Museum (originally the Montagu ...
22nd May - Due to illness the story of the "Driven by De...