Bentley Cars

W.O. Bentley and brother HM purchased Lecoq and Fernie, an automobile company in France, and renamed it Bentley & Bentley. The company is headquartered in Mayfair, and in 1919, after making plane engines in World War I, the company was reintroduced as Bentley Motors.

The famous "flying B" logo first appeared on 1920's Bentley 3 1/2 liter car, which was built in London near Baker Street. The first production model, another 3 1/2 liter, was delivered in 1921. Here, you will learn more about Bentley's history.

More Power, Please! (1921-30)

Bentley had its first racing win in 1921 at Brooklands, and entered its first (and only) Indy 500 the next year; it qualified last and also finished in last place. A private citizen's Bentley earned a 4th-place finish at the first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923, which encouraged WO Bentley to start a factory team. In the twenties, Bentley engines grew larger, topping out with an 8-liter that weighed over two and a half tons.

Bought Out by Rolls Roysce (1930-39)

WO Bentley's dedication to refinement resulted in gorgeous cars, and it also created a financial debacle. In 1926, WO was demoted, becoming managing director. Then, Woolf Barnato became the company's chairman; things did not improve in 1931. Rolls-Royce bought Bentley that year, and kept WO around (some believe this was only done to keep him from starting a competing company). The first Bentley produced by Rolls Royce launched in 1933, and WO left for good in 1935. 1939 saw the opening of a factory in Crewe.

The End of Bentley? (1940-82)

The period during which Rolls owned Bentley is believed to have almost caused the company's downfall. 1946's MkVI was the first built using only Rolls Royce parts, and the 1952 R Type Continental model was the last built without a Rolls "sister model". At the Crewe factory, Rolls and Bentleys were built side by side. WO Bentley died at age 83, in 1971.

Coming Back (1981-98)

Things began to turn around for Bentley, when the 1982 Mulsanne Turbo was launched. The model was named for the straightaway at Le Mans, & in 1984, the Corniche was rebadged as the Continental. 1991 saw the debut of the Continental R, which was the first since 1954 to have a Bentley body. Bentleys outsold Rolls Royces by the beginning of the 1990s, but both companies celebrated a fifty-year partnership. In 1995, Rolls Royce contracted with BMW for that company to supply engines to both Rolls and Bentley.

Splitting Up (1998-2006)

Rolls Royce was bought out by Volkswagen in 1998, and then BMW bought rights to the Rolls name. In the end of 2002, Rolls and Bentley would become two separate entities, after 67 years. VW announced a nearly $1 billion investment to keep Bentley afloat, and in 2001, Bentley went back to Le Mans.

From 2006 to Now

Since it was introduced at 2003's Detroit Auto Show, the Continental line has grown to include seven very fast convertibles and sedans, and even one vehicle that can run on either gasoline or ethanol blend. All have the same W12 engine, and with the launch of the Mulsanne in 2009, Bentley is back on solid ground.