For everyone, Bentley evokes its own associations, but almost always they are related to luxury, high status, and outstanding engineering solutions. This image did not arise by chance. Over its more than a century-long history, the British brand has managed to significantly influence not only the automotive industry but also mass culture as a whole.
Aviation was at the origins of Bentley
The company's history began long before the first cars appeared. Even before Bentley was founded, its future creator, Walter Owen Bentley, was interested in aviation and worked on aircraft engines.
In the first decades of the 20th century, the company was engaged in the development and production of rotary engines for British fighters during World War I. This experience later became the foundation for creating the automotive brand.
The company's aviation past is still reflected in its corporate emblem with wings surrounding the letter “B”. Walter Bentley himself repeatedly emphasized that working on aircraft engines directly influenced his ideas about what powerful and technologically advanced road cars should be like.
Bentley Boys: a club of wealthy racers
In the 1920s, an unusual community of fans formed around the brand, which went down in history as the Bentley Boys.
This group included a variety of people:
- professional racing drivers;
- wealthy British aristocrats;
- heirs to large fortunes;
- horse riding enthusiasts;
- playboys and adventurers.
All of them shared a love for fast Bentley cars. They actively participated in races across Europe and helped strengthen the brand's reputation as a manufacturer of reliable and fast cars.
One of the most famous Bentley Boys was Woolf Barnato — heir to a large diamond fortune and chairman of the Bentley board. He became famous for the legendary race in a Bentley Blue Train with a six-liter engine between Calais and the French Riviera, which ended in victory.
Why the brand's creator disliked turbocharging
Despite his reputation as an innovator, Walter Bentley was very skeptical of supercharged engines.
He was convinced that installing a supercharger on a 4.5-liter engine would negatively affect the structural integrity and efficiency. However, the famous racer Sir Henry Birkin held the opposite opinion and actively promoted the idea of creating a more powerful version of the car.
The result was the Bentley Blower. The car made a strong impression, but its racing career was short-lived. The model did not achieve significant success in motorsport.
The naturally aspirated Bentley Speed Six performed much better, winning the legendary "24 Hours of Le Mans" race twice in a row — in 1929 and 1930. In essence, the company went ahead with the creation of the Bentley Blower largely under the influence of financial partners and sponsors.
Bentayga and the title of the fastest SUV
Over time, Bentley decided to go beyond traditional grand tourers and sports models. This led to the Bentayga — the first luxury SUV in the brand's history.
An ambitious goal was set for the new model: to create the fastest production SUV in the world.
This task was accomplished. The Bentayga Speed version reached a top speed of 306 km/h. Later, leadership passed to other models, including the Lamborghini Urus SE and Aston Martin DBS 707.
Nevertheless, experts still note that Bentley managed to achieve a rare combination of speed and luxury, which remains one of the brand's hallmarks.
Continental GT and the record among four-seater cars
The beginning of the new millennium brought Bentley another important achievement.
In 2003, the company introduced the Continental GT, equipped with a twin-turbocharged W12 engine. The car was able to reach a speed of 319 km/h and at that time was considered the fastest production four-seater car in the world.
Later, the manufacturer continued to develop high-performance machines. In 2022, the 730-horsepower Bentley Mature was announced.
The limited edition of the model demonstrated the brand's philosophy, according to which high performance should be equally suitable for both everyday use and track use.
Hundreds of hours of handcrafting
One of Bentley's main features remains its exceptional attention to detail.
Each interior is handcrafted by artisans who work with premium materials. The trim uses:
- high-quality leather;
- hand-finished wood veneer;
- carefully crafted decorative elements.
The production site in the English city of Crewe is considered a true center of craftsmanship. Here, experience and skills are passed down from generation to generation.
The creation of a single car's interior takes hundreds of hours of work. Each element undergoes careful selection and is assembled by hand, which in an era of mass automation looks like a true luxury.
Bentley and the British Monarchy
For decades, Bentley cars have been closely associated with the British royal family.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II commissioned a special Bentley state limousine. The car received an increased roof height and an armored body. It was subsequently actively used during official ceremonies and state events.
However, the connection with the monarchy was not limited to official transport. Various members of the royal family, including Prince Charles, Prince William, and the Queen herself, also used Bentleys.
Such an attachment of the monarchs to the brand only enhanced its prestige and status as an exclusive manufacturer.
Mulliner and cars without repetition
For clients who want a truly unique car, there is the Bentley Mulliner division.
It inherited its name from the famous British company H.J. Mulliner and specializes in deep car personalization.
Buyers can order:
- exclusive body paint;
- individual interior trim;
- personal embroidery;
- special decorative elements and badges.
Thanks to this, each car can become a unique project, fully reflecting the owner's wishes.
How Bentley ended up with Volkswagen
One of the most important events in the brand's modern history was the 1998 deal.
That's when the Volkswagen Group acquired Bentley for 430 million pounds sterling. However, the struggle for the company was quite intense.
Before the sale, Bentley, along with Rolls-Royce, belonged to Vickers Corporation. When the decision was made to divest assets in 1997, BMW, which already collaborated with Rolls-Royce as an engine supplier, was considered the main contender.
Nevertheless, Volkswagen offered more favorable terms. The German concern paid 430 million pounds against 340 million offered by BMW, and along with the brand, acquired production facilities in Crewe.
Secret acquisition of Rolls-Royce
However, this was far from the first change of ownership in Bentley's history.
After the global economic crisis of 1929, the market for expensive cars significantly shrank. The company's financial situation rapidly deteriorated, and in 1931, Bentley went bankrupt.
Several organizations bid for the brand, but the British Central Trust Fund won the auction. Only after the deal was completed did it become clear that Rolls-Royce — one of Bentley's main competitors — was behind the buyer.
The brand remained under Rolls-Royce management until 1970. During this period, and in subsequent decades, many Bentley models experienced a noticeable influence of Rolls-Royce design solutions.
Thus, the brand's history was filled not only with technical achievements and sporting victories but also with unexpected twists, thanks to which Bentley maintained its status as one of the most recognizable manufacturers of luxury cars in the world.