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The Saloons The Continentals The Concepts The History: Bentley's History in Le Mans A late May day in 1923 and a 3-litre Bentley leaves London for the coast. On board are two drivers, one mechanic and a few spares. Spool 79 years and one fortnight to an early June day. As you read this another Bentley is on its way to exactly the same place: Le Mans.
© 1998
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Bentley History: Crewe-build Bentleys
In the ’30s, Rolls-Royce employed a fifth of all workers in the aircraft industry. As war seemed inevitable, demand for aeroplane engines soared. Rolls-Royce and the British government looked for other sites. ‘Shadow’ factories were set up to meet demand and to reduce the likelihood of production being wiped out in the event of an enemy strike. Crewe was a railway town, which meant a good transport infrastructure and a ready supply of skilled labor. The site chosen, on the outskirts of Crewe, were potato fields, part of Merrill’s Farm. Construction began in July 1938. Five months later the first Merlin aeroplane engine was built. At its peak in 1943, 10,000 people were employed at the factory.
Car production ceased during the war years. When the war ended, the factory at Derby was committed to building new-era jet engines. Car production moved to Crewe, where employees had to be retrained in unfamiliar techniques necessary for car manufacture, such as painting, anti-corrosion preparation, body mounting and woodwork.
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Magnificent R-Type Continental gives glimpse of the future The most famous and influential R-Type model, however, was the Continental. This two-door, four-seat vehicle, mechanically based on the R-Type saloon, had a body designed by Bentley chief stylist John Blatchley and built by HJ Mulliner.
It was a lovely thing: flowing, extravagant bodywork, pronounced haunches, minimal front overhang. Inspired by the one-off pre-war Embiricos Bentley coupe, it became a seminal piece of post-war design.
In 1955, the R-Type was replaced by the S1, the first car to be developed and built at Crewe. There was a Continental coupé version, although it lacked the grace and pace of the R-Type Continental.
The S1 was longer and roomier than the R-Type; automatic transmission was standard. It was also the last Bentley fitted with a six-cylinder engine. Its successor, the S2, saw the debut of the all-aluminium 6.25-litre V8 – lighter yet more powerful than the outgoing six – which, in various modified forms, has remained in production. The S2 was the first Bentley that had power steering as standard. Air conditioning was an option. The S3, distinguished by its four-headlamps in the front wings, followed in 1962. The Bentley T-series, the ‘badge engineered’ Rolls-Royce
The T-series, launched in 1965, was Bentley’s first ever car made with a unitary construction, as opposed to a separate chassis. It had independent self-levelling suspension for superior ride comfort and was the first Bentley to use four-wheel disc brakes. Two-door and convertible Continentals were offered. In 1968, engine capacity increased to 6.75 litres, the capacity of the current Arnage.
photos: Bentley
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