Bentley has achieved a milestone with its Mulliner division by building the first car in the Speed Six Continuation Series, which is now en route to its new owner in the USA.
This makes it the first Bentley Speed Six constructed and sold since 1930. The term “continuation car” refers to a precise recreation of a classic car that is no longer in production.
In this instance, Bentley is meticulously crafting each vehicle according to the original specifications, including reproducing 600 individual parts such as a new engine block casting for the 6½-liter racing engine.
Bentley has deliberately avoided incorporating modern technologies from current models like the Continental, instead opting to recreate an authentic 1930s Bentley experience in both appearance and performance.
The Bentley 6½ Litre was introduced in 1928, with the Speed Six variant quickly becoming Bentley’s most successful race car.
Known for its legendary six-cylinder, 6½-liter engine, the Speed Six produced 180 horsepower in standard form and 200 hp in racing trim.
The continuation model’s engine was tested on a dynamometer, where it reached an output of 205 hp.The first model in this series, pictured here, features an authentic paint color, Parsons Napier Green, characteristic of the period.
The interior has been crafted to replicate the Speed Sixes that triumphed at Le Mans in 1930, with rich, deep brown leather upholstery and a rope-wrapped steering wheel for enhanced grip.
The gauges have been faithfully reproduced using original manufacturing processes, as has the wooden floor and red carpeting.
The new owner, John Breslow, already possesses a Blower Continuation Series car, making this Speed Six a “racing companion” to his Blower model.
The Bentley Blower derives its name from its supercharged 4½-liter four-cylinder engine, which was developed after Bentley’s driver, Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin, championed forced induction over Bentley’s preferred approach of using larger engines.
The Blower was faster and more powerful, though it sacrificed some reliability, a key factor in endurance racing.In contrast, the Speed Six became known for its dependable performance, leading to its success at Le Mans.
In fact, Bentley recently highlighted that a factory-built Blower completed its first 24-hour race this year at the Benjafield’s 24, held at the Portimão circuit in the Algarve.
Hosted by the Benjafield Racing Club, the event featured 25 period Bentleys with a diverse group of 87 club members competing together. It must have been an unforgettable experience.
