 1926 6.5 Litre |
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1927 Bentley 6 ½-Litre news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Sport Coupe Designer: Surbiton Carriage Company Chassis Num: TW2713 Engine Num: TW2716 |
| Sold for $781,000 at 2006 RM Auctions. Sold for $726,000 at 2010 Gooding & Company. | |||
Bentley began development on a new engine that could continue their reputation for excellent power-to-weight. The three-liter four-cylinder was modified with the addition of two extra cylinders. The bore was enlarged and the end result was the 4 1/2 liter Bentleys. The 8-main bearing, six-cylinder engine proved to be what was needed to compete in the luxury car segment. They were quiet, smooth, and more refined. The increase in horsepower gracefully carried the large and luxurious vehicles in an elegant and refined manner.
The larger engine and larger chassis meant the rest of the vehicle's mechanical components required updating. The brakes were enlarged and used finned drums for better cooling.
A rolling chassis was shown at the 1925 Olympic Show and a completed version was ready by March of 1926.
To retain the reputation for being England's sporty marque, more development and refinement was required. By boring the cylinders to 100 mm and keeping the stroke unchanged, the vehicle displaced 6597cc, resulting in the 6 1/2 Liter Bentley's.
At the 1926 Olympia Show Bentley proudly displayed their latest 6 1/2 Liter creations.
TW2713
Mr. S.E. Parks of the United Kingdom received delivery of the vehicle in April of 1927. The sporty coachwork was created by The Surbiton Coach and Motor Works, known as Surbico. It was built to 6.5 Liter specifications but later updated to Speed Six configuration.
The vehicle was housed for many years in the Manx Motor Museum on the Isle of Man. During the early 1980's it was exported to the United States where the new owner used it in various driving events. It was later acquired in the early 1990's by an Australian collector who commissioned a full mechanical and chassis restoration. A cosmetic restoration was undertaken which carefully recovered and restored the car to its original condition.
This one-off design was auctioned at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, CA where it was expected to fetch between $900,000-$1,000,000. There was no reserve on the vehicle which suited the buyer rather well, who purchased the car with a winning bid of $781,000.
In 2010, this Bentley was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company Auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. As bidding came to a close, the lot had been sold for the sum of $726,000, inclusive of buyer's reserve.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2010
 |  |  | Sport Coupe Designer: Surbiton Carriage Company Chassis Num: BX2419 |
Chassis number BX2419 languished and laid dismantled in England for over 60 years. The current owner commissioned vintage Bentley expert David Ayre to being the painstaking two year restoration, which was completed in late 2006.
With speeds in excess of 80 mph, BX2419 is capable of long distance motoring in style and comfort. Covering thousands of miles encompassing the United States and abroad, this vintage Bentley made its Concours debut at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
| | | Sport Coupe Designer: Surbiton Carriage Company Chassis Num: BX2419 |
Chassis number BX2419 languished and laid dismantled in England for over 60 years. The current owner commissioned vintage Bentley expert David Ayre to being the painstaking two year restoration, which was completed in late 2006.
With speeds in excess of 80 mph, BX2419 is capable of long distance motoring in style and comfort. Covering thousands of miles encompassing the United States and abroad, this vintage Bentley made its Concours debut at the 2010 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
 |  |  | Sports Tourer Coachwork: Vanden Plas Chassis Num: BX 2421 Engine Num: DH 2201 |
Chassis number BX 2421 has a documented history from new. The original owner was E. Bullivant of Mortimer House, Egerton Gardens. The vehicle carried a guarantee date of March 1927, and was fitted with the later pattern push-on brakes and a 26 gallon tank, features which would only become standard the following year. It had a long steering column and a 3 liter exhaust fishtail. The Sports Tourer coachwork was crafted by Vanden Plas. The body was paneled rather than fabric and it was designed with an armrest for the driver. There were side lockers, a trunk at its rear and a double spare wheel carrier. Full weather protection was required and it had pockets to all the doors. Accessories included Zeiss headlamps. The total cost of the body alone was nearly twice that of a standard Vanden Plas body.
During Bullivant's first year of ownership, the car was upgrade with a new radiator and crankshaft driven dynamo, camshaft damper and 'new type carb.' In 1929, the car was traded at Jack Barclay for a newer model. the next owner was R. Winloe who kept the car maintained by the factory, and continued updates with high speed oil pump gears, a sprung steering wheel, rear hydraulic shock absorbers to the rear and a Spicer shaft, as well as converting it to a C type 'box with the help of Birkin & Coupers of Welwyn.
In 1936, it was purchased by C. Burrage-Moulton. By 1988, it had gone through 10 different owners and was now in the care of C. Pettit. In this period it carburetion was uprated with the fitment of early Speed Six pattern twin SU units. A short time later, the car was offered for sale at auction by Bonhams. Ownership passed to a private British collection, emerging recently for it sale.
In 2011, it returned to a Bonhams auction, this time at the Quail Lodge in California. It would leave the auction unsold after bidding failed to satisfy the vehicle's reserve.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2011
The Bentley 6.5 Litre was a continuation of the Litre series Walter Owen Bentley had created. The four-cylinder 4.5-liter unit used in the 4½ Litre was used for the 6½ Litre Bentley but the 6½ Litre Bentley had two extra cylinders. The Bentley stright-6 had a cast-iron block and head with an overhead camshaft having four-valves per cylinder. There were two spark-plugs per cylinder. The 100 mm bore and 140 mm stroke resulted in a displacement size of 6597. Horsepower was in the neighborhood of 180 - 200.
The design was based on the Bentley 3Litre but inspired by the Rolls-Royce Phantom I. There were a variety of chassis sizes available that ranged from 132 inches to 152.5 inches.
In 1928 Bentley introduced the Speed Six which would, in time, become the most successful Bentley racer. Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin, and Glen Kidston drove the Speed Six to victories at the 1929 and 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In total there were 363 examples of the Bentley 6½ L and 182 examples of the Speed Six.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
The design was based on the Bentley 3Litre but inspired by the Rolls-Royce Phantom I. There were a variety of chassis sizes available that ranged from 132 inches to 152.5 inches.
In 1928 Bentley introduced the Speed Six which would, in time, become the most successful Bentley racer. Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin, and Glen Kidston drove the Speed Six to victories at the 1929 and 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In total there were 363 examples of the Bentley 6½ L and 182 examples of the Speed Six.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2006
The Bentley Company was created by Walter Owen and Henry Bentley in 1919. Within a few years they had their first 24 Hours of LeMans victory. The company prospered for a number of years before going into receivership in 1931. The company had created a total of 3033 cars and had won victories at LeMans five times.
The litre series engines began in 1919 with the four-cylinder 3-litre unit. For its day, it was very technically advanced, thanks, in part, to the technical abilities of WO Bentley. The engine had dry sump lubrication and an overhead camshaft which operated four valves per cylinder. The use of aluminum pistons was also ahead of its time. In an effort to reduce gasket leaks the entire cylinder block was cast as one piece. The displacement size was increased during the early 1920s culminating to the 6-litre Bentleys. This new model, announced in 1925, had a displacement size of nearly 6.6 liters from the new six-cylinder engine. It drew inspiration from the 3-litre units that had brought many victories to the company. During 1925 and 1926 the Six-Litre Bentley's had mild success on the racing circuit as these seasons were plagued with bad luck for Bentley. In response, Bentley began work on a performance version.
The new special model was ready by 1928 and dubbed the Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Speed Model, also known as the Speed Six. The true potential of the Speed Six was experienced during the 1929 and 1930 LeMans race where the Bentley Speed Six models dominated the race. The drivers and co-drivers who piloted the machines to victory were Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin, and Glen Kidston.
Success at LeMans was due to many factors including expericne, knowledge, and a durable 200 horsepower engine. The company looked poised to be a strong competitor at LeMans in 1931 but financial difficulties kept them from competition.
The Bentley Company was later bought by Rolls Royce and the proud and historic racing program was discarded.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2006
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe litre series engines began in 1919 with the four-cylinder 3-litre unit. For its day, it was very technically advanced, thanks, in part, to the technical abilities of WO Bentley. The engine had dry sump lubrication and an overhead camshaft which operated four valves per cylinder. The use of aluminum pistons was also ahead of its time. In an effort to reduce gasket leaks the entire cylinder block was cast as one piece. The displacement size was increased during the early 1920s culminating to the 6-litre Bentleys. This new model, announced in 1925, had a displacement size of nearly 6.6 liters from the new six-cylinder engine. It drew inspiration from the 3-litre units that had brought many victories to the company. During 1925 and 1926 the Six-Litre Bentley's had mild success on the racing circuit as these seasons were plagued with bad luck for Bentley. In response, Bentley began work on a performance version.
The new special model was ready by 1928 and dubbed the Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Speed Model, also known as the Speed Six. The true potential of the Speed Six was experienced during the 1929 and 1930 LeMans race where the Bentley Speed Six models dominated the race. The drivers and co-drivers who piloted the machines to victory were Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin, and Glen Kidston.
Success at LeMans was due to many factors including expericne, knowledge, and a durable 200 horsepower engine. The company looked poised to be a strong competitor at LeMans in 1931 but financial difficulties kept them from competition.
The Bentley Company was later bought by Rolls Royce and the proud and historic racing program was discarded.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2006
| Bentley Ready For Classic Thousand Mile Challenge | |
 | •Iconic Bentley Blowers ready for great Mille Miglia adventure •Bentley Continental W12 and V8 models join historic cars in Italy (Crewe, England & Brescia, Italy. 16 May, 2012) W.O. Bentley's gift for creating cars that combined the speed of a thoroughbred racing machine with an enviable reputation for strength and comfort, allowing them to effortlessly cover hundreds of miles, is set to be underlined once again at the 2012 Mille Miglia when two 4½ litre Bentley Blowers take on the ...[Read more...] |
 1927
Bentley
models |
| Bentley 3-Litre |
| Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model |
| Bentley 4.5 Liter |
| Bentley Speed Six Markham |
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| 1926 6.5 Litre |
