1927 Bentley 6 ½-Litre Sport Coupe

The six-cylinder, 6.5-liter Big Six, introduced in 1926, was W.O. Bentley's first chassis to compete with the larger horsepower premium cars of the day.

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.

Along with an unbroken four-year streak from 1927 through 1930, Bentley won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times in the pre-war era. Despite its success, the company was taken over by Rolls-Royce during the early 1930s.

The 6 1/2 Litre Bentley was produced from 1926 to 1930, with 544 examples built. Its engine had a 3.9-linch bore and 5.5-inch stroke for a total displacement size of 6,597cc. The straight-6 engine had overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and a single-piece engine block and cylinder head cast in iron. With a compression of 4.4:1 and a single Smiths 5-jet carburetor, the engine delivered 147 horsepower at 3,500 RPM.

This particular Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Sports Tourer wears coachwork in the style of Vanden Plas. Its restoration was the work of David Ayre, who utilized the major components, including the chassis, axles, steering box, and gearbox from a complete 6 1/2 Litre open four-seater, originally bodied by Motor Bodies Ltd., that had been disassembled for restoration in the early 1950s. L.J. Budgen had purchased the project in 1963, and his widow later sold it to Mr. Ayre.

The original frame of BX 2419 was shortened to 11 feet, 2 inches. The axles from the original car were restored and installed, and the front axle is an unnumbered period unit that was installed following damage sustained in 1928. The original steering box was rebuilt and modified to Le Mans specs. The brakes were upgraded to Speed Six type, and a new bulkhead (also to the Speed Six design) was fitted as well. The 7,982cc single overhead camshaft inline six-cylinder engine (built from an eight-liter engine block) has three SU HV5 carburetors and delivers approximately 225 horsepower at 3,500 RPM. There is a front beam axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs and Hartford friction dampers. At the back is a live axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs and Hartford friction dampers.

The touring coachwork is covered in fabric and has stout cycle fenders. There is a high-capacity Le Mans-style fuel tank, a pair of Carl Zeiss headlamps ahead of a Speed Six-profiled radiator shell, and a triple windscreen setup. It wears a dark green exterior with a green leather interior.

Since 2005, this car has been driven over 12,000 miles, many of those miles accumulated during long-distance tours and family outings.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2023