1927 Bentley 6 ½-Litre

The company bearing W.O. Bentley's name won five 24 Hours of Le Mans victories in the Pre-War era, including an unbroken four-year streak from 1927 through 1930. The first 3-Liter car was introduced in 1919 and would prove themselves in events such as the Tourist Trophy, and at Indianapolis where a single car competed in 1922. Ambitions for glory soon shifted to the 'Grand Prix d'Endurance' at LeMans. In 1923, a 4th place was earned followed by an outright win the following year.

The Bentley 3 Liter had proven itself as a capable machine but to stay competitive, more was needed. Additionally, the large and stately coachwork that many customers selected required a more refined and suitable engine for comfortable motoring. A chance encounter with the prototype Rolls-Royce 'New Phantom' in France convinced W.O. that 4½-liters was not enough; so two more were added. The behemoth power unit was fitted to a high-quality chassis with a sturdy transmission and axles. Production continued from 1926 through to the introduction of the success, the 8 Liter, in 1930. Among its accolades were LeMans wins in 1929 and 1930.

The 6½-Litre Bentley had a 6,597cc engine with a single Smith's five-jet carburetor and twin ignition magnetos. With a 4.4:1 compression ratio, the engine offered 147 horsepower at 3500 revolutions per minute. There were four-wheel mechanical drum brakes with Dewandre servo assist and a synchro-less gearbox. A total of 544 examples were built but only 10-percent received open touring bodies (362 were 6½ Litre and 182 were Speed Six models). Wheelbase sizes ranged from 132 to 152.5 inches, with the 150-inch platform being the most popular.

The high-performance Speed Six chassis was introduced in 1928. It had a compression ratio of 5.3:1, a high-performance camshaft, a single-port block, two SU carburetors, and 180 horsepower at 3500 RPM. Wheelbase sizes included 138-, 140.5-, and 152.5-inches. The most popular was the short and sporty 138 inch. The racing versions had a wheelbase of 132 inches with an engine with a compression ratio of 6.1:1 that offered 200 horsepower.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019