Pre war Le Mans style Bentleys
Discussion
I saw a couple of these going down the M40 this morning, several miles apart. It struck me that while every other example of a pre 1960 car I've seen on a motorway has been trundling along the inside lane at 40 or 50, every time I've seen one of those Bentleys it's been bombing down the outside lane overtaking everything.
Is there a generic name for open top pre war Bentleys that look like they belong at Le Mans, or do you have to know what size of engine before you know what to call it?
How many are roadworthy in the UK?
What do they do to the gallon?
Is there a generic name for open top pre war Bentleys that look like they belong at Le Mans, or do you have to know what size of engine before you know what to call it?
How many are roadworthy in the UK?
What do they do to the gallon?
Dr Jekyll said:
Is there a generic name for open top pre war Bentleys that look like they belong at Le Mans, or do you have to know what size of engine before you know what to call it?
I call them "Cricklewood" Bentleys, as opposed to the Rolls-Royce produced "Derby" Bentleys. The Le Mans style tourer bodywork is usually by Vanden Plas.Dr Jekyll said:
How many are roadworthy in the UK?
I don't know, but this is a very useful website: http://www.vintagebentleys.org/Dr Jekyll said:
It struck me that while every other example of a pre 1960 car I've seen on a motorway has been trundling along the inside lane at 40 or 50, every time I've seen one of those Bentleys it's been bombing down the outside lane overtaking everything.
What you need to remember about pre 60s cars is that they were built before the introduction of speed limits on Motorways.And of course even where speed limits were in force they didn't apply to the likes of a Bentley.
So while modern things are designed to crawl along at 70 on perfectly good roads, proper cars aren't designed for this limitation and therefore shouldn't be impeded.
Dr Jekyll said:
That basic design dates back to the days of the blanket 20 limit though.
OK, I was thinking more of my XK150, new enough for Motorways to exist old enough to be allowed free run.I've a period review when the journalist comments that he over took a police car which was on a call at the time while on one of his test drives.
a8hex said:
Dr Jekyll said:
It struck me that while every other example of a pre 1960 car I've seen on a motorway has been trundling along the inside lane at 40 or 50, every time I've seen one of those Bentleys it's been bombing down the outside lane overtaking everything.
What you need to remember about pre 60s cars is that they were built before the introduction of speed limits on Motorways.And of course even where speed limits were in force they didn't apply to the likes of a Bentley.
So while modern things are designed to crawl along at 70 on perfectly good roads, proper cars aren't designed for this limitation and therefore shouldn't be impeded.
If only that was legally correct.
A couple of years ago on the way to the Channel Tunnel:
Vintage Bentley by Retro-Motoring & WoertherseePics, on Flickr
The hurried snap out of the window (I was a passenger in the back) really doesn't do the moment justice. They weren't hanging around at all, they disappeared off in to the distance at a good 100mph. An absolutely glorious sight that I won't ever forget!
Vintage Bentley by Retro-Motoring & WoertherseePics, on Flickr
The hurried snap out of the window (I was a passenger in the back) really doesn't do the moment justice. They weren't hanging around at all, they disappeared off in to the distance at a good 100mph. An absolutely glorious sight that I won't ever forget!
Almost 6 years ago I was on my way back from collecting my 88 911 from London travelling up the M6 between Preston and Lancaster somewhere. I was running at around the legal limit (?) when I came up on a 1920's Bentley similar to the one in the photo's above. The weather was lovely and the motorway was very quiet as we ran along together at some very impressive speeds, the old Bentley sounded incredible, at those speeds it sounded like it was just above tick over! I'll never forget that run.
Hooli said:
a8hex said:
Dr Jekyll said:
It struck me that while every other example of a pre 1960 car I've seen on a motorway has been trundling along the inside lane at 40 or 50, every time I've seen one of those Bentleys it's been bombing down the outside lane overtaking everything.
What you need to remember about pre 60s cars is that they were built before the introduction of speed limits on Motorways.And of course even where speed limits were in force they didn't apply to the likes of a Bentley.
So while modern things are designed to crawl along at 70 on perfectly good roads, proper cars aren't designed for this limitation and therefore shouldn't be impeded.
If only that was legally correct.
Well it bloody well should be
One of the best places to see a large gathering of vintage Bentleys is the annual Bentley Drivers Club meeting at Silverstone.
http://youtu.be/tqgmqdvOPxU
http://youtu.be/tqgmqdvOPxU
I don't claim to be an expert. However, these are very impressive cars with huge charisma. The key dealer is Stanley Mann. If you want to see what is possible take a look at Petersen Racing. Old Number One is in Sinsheim Techical Museum in Germany. Bear in mind that most Bentleys did not look like the one you saw, only the last of them. The earlier types looked less immediately impressive. The fastest 4 1/2 Litre Supercharged 'Blower' Bentley never actually won Le Mans. A lot of very nice 'customer' Bentleys have been re bodied as replica ' Van den Plas' Le Mans type cars. Like so many old cars, what is real and what is new is a grey area. Engines were exchanged when the cars were new. Authentic chassis may have been totally rebuilt. A Petersen recreation may well contain a large number of original parts. All is never quite what it seems. If you don't take it too seriously it doesn't really matter.
hot metal said:
There are a lot of fakes, many old saloon bodied Bentleys have been converted into tourers or more likely Le mans style racers.
The genuine cars, along with the converted vintage saloons, are listed (with whatever history is available) here: http://www.vintagebentleys.org/There are an increasing number of lookalikes and replicas, ranging from the vaguely comical Leyland Sherpa-based "Sherpley" to the Petersen cars, mostly based on the post-war Bentley Mark VI.
"Proper" Bentleys were those designed by W.O Bentley in the period up to 1931 when the company went bankrupt and was bought by Rolls Royce. There have been many fine Bentley's since but the WO Bentley's (as above also known as Cricklewood Bentley's) are the originals.
There are replica's and fakes of various forms of ghastliness but they break down into fairly easy to understand chunks:
3 Litre - the original Bentley. An impressive, relatively light and fast car with a 3 Litre, 16-valve, four cylinder engine. Beautifully engineered and, with a light body, fast and reliable. These built the legend and won twice at Le Mans. Sporting ones have a red background to the badge, pedestrian ones a blue background and the Supersports had a black background (red label, blue label etc. representing chassis length).
4 1/2 Litre - development of the above, bigger, more evolved - arguably the best all-rounder. Won once at Le Mans.
"Blower" - supercharged version of the above. Non-factory effort by Henry Birkin that WO was sniffy about. The classic "bulldog" Bentley although never won Le Mans.
6 1/2 Litre - larger 6 cylinder car. More evolved, more refined and often originally with saloon or limo bodywork. Sporting version was the:
Speed Six - superb car still capable of cruising across France at 90+. Won Le Mans twice and now egregiously expensive.
8 Litre - most advanced of all - a fabulous car that bankrupted the company (along with the depression). Mainly Saloons and Limo's originally but the sporting ones are pretty epic and represent the fastest of all.
4 Litre - poverty (!) spec' version of the above, little regarded in the day and rare.
These days there are all sorts of combinations and bitsa's and most seem to have become Le Mans Replica's over the years - a WO saloon is a rare thing. They're great though, all time, beautifully engineered and reliable classics that are raced, rallied and driven every day whatever the weather.
There are replica's and fakes of various forms of ghastliness but they break down into fairly easy to understand chunks:
3 Litre - the original Bentley. An impressive, relatively light and fast car with a 3 Litre, 16-valve, four cylinder engine. Beautifully engineered and, with a light body, fast and reliable. These built the legend and won twice at Le Mans. Sporting ones have a red background to the badge, pedestrian ones a blue background and the Supersports had a black background (red label, blue label etc. representing chassis length).
4 1/2 Litre - development of the above, bigger, more evolved - arguably the best all-rounder. Won once at Le Mans.
"Blower" - supercharged version of the above. Non-factory effort by Henry Birkin that WO was sniffy about. The classic "bulldog" Bentley although never won Le Mans.
6 1/2 Litre - larger 6 cylinder car. More evolved, more refined and often originally with saloon or limo bodywork. Sporting version was the:
Speed Six - superb car still capable of cruising across France at 90+. Won Le Mans twice and now egregiously expensive.
8 Litre - most advanced of all - a fabulous car that bankrupted the company (along with the depression). Mainly Saloons and Limo's originally but the sporting ones are pretty epic and represent the fastest of all.
4 Litre - poverty (!) spec' version of the above, little regarded in the day and rare.
These days there are all sorts of combinations and bitsa's and most seem to have become Le Mans Replica's over the years - a WO saloon is a rare thing. They're great though, all time, beautifully engineered and reliable classics that are raced, rallied and driven every day whatever the weather.
I did a bit of googling and found a bit of info about the one in my photo above. I'll have to dig out the hi-res original pic to read the plate on the second one behind it.
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/gf392.php
1930 Bentley 6½ Litre. Fantastic!
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/gf392.php
1930 Bentley 6½ Litre. Fantastic!
a8hex said:
Hooli said:
a8hex said:
Dr Jekyll said:
It struck me that while every other example of a pre 1960 car I've seen on a motorway has been trundling along the inside lane at 40 or 50, every time I've seen one of those Bentleys it's been bombing down the outside lane overtaking everything.
What you need to remember about pre 60s cars is that they were built before the introduction of speed limits on Motorways.And of course even where speed limits were in force they didn't apply to the likes of a Bentley.
So while modern things are designed to crawl along at 70 on perfectly good roads, proper cars aren't designed for this limitation and therefore shouldn't be impeded.
If only that was legally correct.
Well it bloody well should be
XJ13 said:
I have an abiding memory of seeing one of these majestic beasts bowling along a small country road late one summers evening - wonderful! I agree they "shouldn't be impeded" and allowed to drive at whatever speed they choose. Owners of lesser machinery and traffic cops should graciously move aside for them - maybe even salute as they pass?
^^^^^^^^^^^ THIS!!XJ13 said:
Owners of lesser machinery and traffic cops should graciously move aside for them - maybe even salute as they pass?
There can be few things on the road with more F
off out of my way p presence on the road than a vintage Bentley. A wide body Virage in Mason's black is about the only thing I can think off which is more likely to having you pulling out of the way when it loomed in your rear view mirror.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff