In November of 1931 Rolls-Royce outfoxed Napier to take control of Bentley motors. W.O. Bentley remained on for a short time. In 1935 the first of the Derby Bentleys were produced by Rolls-Royce. These cars were based on a modified version of the six cylinder motor used in the smaller Rolls-Royce, the 20/25. Quick, light and quiet, the Derby Benltey cars became known as "Silent Sports Cars."
In 1935, W.O. Bentley decided not to stay with the firm that bore his name. W.O. moved to Lagonda, where he became Chief Designer. In February of 1939, a Greek shipping magnate ordered a 4.25L car with an advanced aerodynamic body style. Named for its owner, the Embiricos Bentley set the stage for a new generation of Bentley cars.
The Bentley marque led the way when car production began at Crewe after World War Two. The 4.25-litre Mk VI, which later evolved into the R-Type, appeared in May 1946. Designed by Ivan Evernden, it was generally conservative, though such touches as integral headlamps were seen by some as a radical departure. The straight-six engine dated back to 1938.
Its Pressed Steel body was a new design that could be fitted and completed in-house. Bentley would no longer rely solely on specialist coachbuilders working mainly in aluminium over an ash frame, though Mulliner, Park Ward and others such as James Young still supplied bespoke bodies for about a fifth of its output.
Its Pressed Steel body was a new design that could be fitted and completed in-house. Bentley would no longer rely solely on specialist coachbuilders working mainly in aluminium over an ash frame, though Mulliner, Park Ward and others such as James Young still supplied bespoke bodies for about a fifth of its output.
The Bentley marque led the way when car production began at Crewe after World War Two. The 4.25-litre Mk VI, which later evolved into the R-Type, appeared in May 1946. Designed by Ivan Evernden, it was generally conservative, though such touches as integral headlamps were seen by some as a radical departure. The straight-six engine dated back to 1938.
Despite fears about the quality of post-war steel, the heaviest gauge possible was used and the number of Mk VIs that survive testify to its durability. Capable of 90mph, it was the biggest-selling model in Bentley's history, with more than 5,200 customers by 1952.
The engine capacity was increased to 4.5 litres in 1951 and these big-bore Bentley Mk VIs are now collectors' items. In 1952 the stretched engine was used for the replacement R-Type, the first Bentley to offer automatic transmission as an option. At first seen as "new-fangled", the four-speed box actually made the car 1mph faster and quickly became the popular option.
Designed by John Blatchley, Chief Stylist until 1969, the R-Type was longer than the Mk VI and had restyled rear wings and boot to look sleeker and provide more luggage space. It also had the first automatic choke on a Bentley.
Mulliner contributed an exotic, lightweight, fastback body for the highly-tuned R-Type Continental model which, with a top speed of almost 120mph, became the fastest four-seater in the world. Evernden's aerodynamic design harked back to a pre-war Bentley Corniche design, and caused a sensation. It is one of the most admired cars ever built.
The Bentley post-war design prospered for ten years, but 1955 signalled the first new car to be both built and engineered at Crewe, the 100mph Bentley S1. Its softer styling made its more upright predecessors appear "of their day". This was the last Bentley to be powered by a six-cylinder engine, the 4.9-litre version used in later R-Type Continentals. The S1 was a foot longer than the R-Type, to give the occupants more space, and automatic transmission was now standard.
Chief Stylist Graham Hull's new four-door saloon with an advanced body style that paid subtle tribute to the Bentley S-type was launched at Le Mans in 1998. This was the Arnage.
It was followed by the exhilarating Arnage Red Label which, with its 6.75-litre V8 engine, delivers more power and torque than any other production saloon in the world.
