This year the world celebrates 126 years since the birth of Walter Owen Bentley, British automotive designer and founder brand Bentley. And although the date is not round, it is A good reason tell about an outstanding person and the company he founded
Walter Owen Bentley, born September 16, 1888 in London, became the ninth child in the family of a fairly wealthy entrepreneur. And already in childhood I was carried away by various mechanisms. Seeing his son's passion for cars, Bentley Sr. sent him to study at Clifton Technical College, after graduating from which the young man got a job on the railway, while attending classes at King's College.
Like many young people in his circle, Bentley was keenly interested in such novelties as a motorcycle and an automobile, so soon, after leaving the railroad, he got a job in the National Motor Cab company, where he serviced Unic cars, and in 1912 made an attempt to open own business. Together with his brother, Walter acquired the French company Doriot, Flandrin & Parant (DFP), which supplied its cars under license to England.
The brothers imported cars, saw them off pre-sale preparation, and then sold, while Walter tried to improve the design whenever possible. One of the main achievements of that period was the use of aluminum pistons in the engine. However, Bentley failed to bring many of his projects to their logical conclusion: the First World War, and he had to become an officer in the Royal Naval Aviation. Here his experience as an engine engineer came in handy, since the main thing was the modernization and development of new aircraft engines.
During the war years, Bentley personally designed two very successful units, named after their creator BR1 and BR2 (“BR” stood for “Bentley Rotary”). This activity put him among the most famous specialists of his time. Engines designed by Walter Owen Bentley were installed on Sopwith Camel airplanes.
Dream come true
Having made a name for himself in aviation, Bentley did not forget about his youthful passion and, as soon as the war ended, he organized a car company - Bentley Motor Ltd with production in Cricklewood. Its activity began in August 1919, and the car that the designer built together with his friends F. Burgess and G. Varley became the firstborn. The car had a 4-cylinder engine with a volume of 3 liters and a power of 80 hp. Friends didn’t really think about how to name the brainchild, so they simply called it 3L, which indicated the volume of the engine.
The car turned out to be comfortable, functional and reliable - exactly what, according to Bentley, a real one should be. English car. Its highlight was a five-year warranty - no automaker took on such obligations at that time, and this attracted wealthy buyers. The model went into series in 1923, was produced until 1929 and was equipped with various bodies. Moreover, in terms of workmanship, comfort and other technical indicators cars Walter Bentley competed on equal terms with the famous Rolls-Royce and earned the right to be considered real aristocrats in automotive world.
Two years later, the Bentley line expanded with the Big Six model with a 147 hp 6-cylinder engine. During the 20s, both models were constantly improved, and new ones appeared.
The brand's products were widely known for sports victories, which its cars won more than once at races in Le Mans and Brookland. There, the colors of the firm were often defended by the racing driver Wolf Barnato, who, being a very wealthy man and a personal friend of Walter Bentley, sponsored his company. It was thanks to the financial assistance of Barnato that the company managed to survive at the beginning of the global economic crisis in 1929.
The most expensive and prestigious Bentley model was the 8L, which appeared in the second half of 1930. But finding customers on expensive cars it became more and more difficult, and business went from bad to worse. Barnato himself got into trouble financial position and could no longer help Bentley, which eventually went bankrupt and was auctioned off. At the same time for the legacy famous brand a real fight ensued. At first, Napier wanted to buy it, but the British Equitable Trust Ltd prevented it. True, she left the auction without salty slurping, losing her prey to larger fish: in 1931, Bentley was bought for 125 thousand pounds by her competitor, Rolls-Royce.
Bentley remained for some time in the company he founded as a hired specialist, but in 1935 he left the company and moved to another well-known British company, Lagonda, as chief designer. There he developed one of the most outstanding cars 30s of the last century - model V12. At the same time, the brand he founded did not sink into oblivion, and although Bentley himself had nothing to do with it, he organized a club of fans of the brand of his name - the Bentley Drivers Club, in which there was a small workshop where he restored old models.
Under the umbrella of Rolls-Royce
The first Bentley, created after the transfer of the brand to the ownership of Rolls-Royce, was the 3.5L car, which appeared in 1933 (based on the Rolls-Royce 20 / 25HP chassis). The model was called Peregrine and was very successful: 3.5L was once called “the quietest sports car in the world”. True, it was from that time that the brand began to appear less and less at races, and its results became more and more modest. Over time, the production of Bentley was transferred to the Rolls-Royce plant in Crewe.
In the 30s, the image of Bentley also changed. The company's products began to move from the category of sports cars to the luxury category. True, the Second World War interrupted the development of the brand, but almost immediately after its end, the Mark-VI model appeared on the market. The management of Rolls-Royce considered it expedient to release it on the basis of its Silver Wraith. In the future, it adhered to the same principle, and since the mid-50s of the last century, almost all Bentley models have become similar to Rolls-Royce like brothers.
However, differences still remain. They were due to the fact that in a representative Rolls-Royce, the owner of the car could not afford to personally drive: etiquette required that it be located in the rear of the cabin, and the emphasis was on it. Bentley were positioned as " luxury cars for driving pleasure”, so they were “sharpened” for the driver.
In the 17th and 18th centuries in Britain, among the young scions of aristocratic families, there was a tradition to go on a big tour of Europe in search of useful knowledge and for life experience. After 200 years, this tradition has found its continuation in the name of the Gran Turismo class. Gran Turismo models combine breathtaking performance and comfort, able to cover even the longest distances with ease and make every journey unforgettable.
Combining performance and luxury is Bentley's motto, so it's no surprise that our cars have led the Gran Turismo class for almost a century. From the original Bentley
before new Continental GT - these cars have become faithful companions of several generations of fans to make modern "grand tours" and continue to be so.
The first Gran Turismo Bentley
Developed by W.O. Bentley in 1919, the year Bentley Motors was founded, the 3 Liter entered
for sale in 1921. The use of metric units in its name hinted at the fact that this car was created for traveling around the world. express roads continental Europe. Innovative design for that time - cylinder head
with diametrically opposed valves, two spark plugs per cylinder and two carburetors - provided the 3 Liter with excellent dynamics, which brought victories in. In 1924, John Duff with Frank Clement took first place, and in 1927 their success was repeated by Dr. Benjafeld "Benji" (Dr 'Benjy' Benjafield) with Sammy Davis (Sammy Davis). Their running characteristics
praised by The Autocar magazine, noting the exceptional "obedience in the traffic flow
and extraordinary speed potential on the roads common use". The tradition of Gran Turismo has become the style of Bentley.
Power without effort
1926 Bentley 6 ½ Liter
with a six-cylinder engine was intended
to accommodate the heavier sedan bodies favored by some customers. But this car, called Speed Six, equipped with a 200-horsepower engine, showed an easy and smooth acceleration, which became a new benchmark for car dynamics, thanks to which Sir Tim Birkin () won the Le Mans race in 1929. In 1930, Barnato and Glen Kidston took first place, and Frank Clement with Dick Watney came second. installed a mesh grille on the front of his first cars to protect against stones. Its features can still be traced in the design of the car radiator grille to this day.
Bentley 8 Liter
In 1930, Bentley created the 8 Litre, so powerful that the company claimed it could reach speeds in excess of 160 km/h, regardless of the type of body chosen by the customer. W.O. considered this car his best creation, and many agreed with him. Capt. W. Gordon Aston
in his review of the Bentley 8 Liter for The Tatler magazine noted: “Never in my life have I seen a car that
which combines such incredible dynamics with such a smooth and quiet ride. This combination of speed and silence made traveling even more enjoyable.
Unfortunately, the release of the model was stopped due to
with the crash on Wall Street and the Great Depression that followed. They managed to release only 100 copies of this unique car. .
In honor of the 8 Liter model created by W.O., a limited edition Mulsanne models. .
Bentley Derby
Due to financial difficulties, Bentley was sold in 1931. former competitor, Rolls Royce, and production moved to the city of Derby. The Bentley Derby was the first car produced here, first in 3 ½ Liter and later in 4 ¼ Liter. Six-cylinder engine worked smoothly and quietly, developing a power of about 120 hp. With. - Very impressive feature power for that time. Under the new owner, the quality of the cars remained the highest: they were stylish, refined, with elegant proportions, fast and easy to drive.
Bentley Embiricos
In 1938, wealthy Greek racing driver André Embiricos, living in Paris, ordered a Bentley 4 ½ Liter with a streamlined, aerodynamic body made of duralumin, a lightweight aluminum alloy. This car possessed ideal qualities for a Gran Turismo class model: it developed an unusually high top speed(maintained 183.4 km/h on the Brooklands for over an hour) and was still good enough for road trips. Bentley was so inspired by this piece that he decided to use these advantages in the coming years to create cars for the general public.
R-Type Continental
Bentley Embiricos inspired Bentley to experiment
with a streamlined silhouette, which he was able to implement after the Second World War. So in 1952, the famous R-Type Continental line was born. Thanks to a squat, elongated and graceful body, a smoothly descending roofline and "fins"
on the hind wings, which increased stability, he could develop a cruising speed never seen before
160 km / h, when there were four people in the cabin. At that time, there were no motorways in Britain, and the real sensations of long-distance travel could only be obtained in continental Europe, which is why the model was called the Continental. The Autocar magazine described the R-Type as "a modern flying carpet that travels long distances without causing fatigue during the ride." It was the best accolade for a Gran Turismo car. Its revolutionary design, including its expressive power line, is still reflected in Bentley's Gran Turismo models to this day.
Names in the automotive industry:The Rise and Fall of Walter Owen Bentley
Ettore Bugatti called his cars "the most fast trucks". But no amount of sarcasm could stop Bentley's triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1920s. Then it seemed that everything was perfect for the British engineer Walter Owen Bentley, but life sometimes presents harsh surprises.
text: 5 wheel / photo: pinterest.co.uk, wikipedia.org / 09.09.2018
Walter Owen Bentley was born to a successful businessman on September 16, 1888. The youngest, ninth child in the family, surrounded by attention. His childhood was carefree. Walter was interested in various mechanisms from a young age. Having received an elementary technical education, at the age of 16, Bentley got a job as an apprentice engineer on the Great Northern Railway in Doncaster, Yorkshire. Deciding that he was capable of more, Bentley ended his career in 1910 on railway as a stoker on the Atlantic steam locomotive.
While still working as a stoker, Bentley became interested in motorcycles and engines. internal combustion. In his spare time, he spent time in the garage, upgrading his bike, and also took part in races, including competitions on the Isle of Man. Racing becomes his passion, engines - the meaning of life. Having finished with steam locomotives, Walter Bentley gets a job at the National Motor Cab Company taxi company, but soon quits and in 1912 founded a sales company with his brother. french cars- Bentley and Bentley. And while his brother was doing business, Walter was absorbed in the modernization of cars.
In 1914 Walter Bentley on his sports car replaces cast iron pistons with aluminum-copper alloy pistons and reworks the camshaft. An innovative solution for those years, it turns out to be successful, and DFP cars modified by Bentley win several awards in competitions. Even the First World War did not stop the young engineer. He successfully implements solutions proven on cars on the engines of aircraft of the Royal Navy. In return, the government encourages Bentley financially, awards the Order of the British Empire and names the upgraded engines in his honor - Bentley Rotary 1 (BR1).
In 1919, Walter, having assembled a team of highly qualified engineers, founded the company Bentley Motors Ltd, known to this day, in Cricklewood. He no longer upgraded other people's cars, but began to develop his own. In the same year, his first car debuted at the London Motor Show. Bentley 3L was equipped with a three-liter four-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder with a capacity of 70 forces and was accompanied by an unprecedented for those years factory warranty of 5 years. In 1921 the car was launched in mass production.
Motor racing victories, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, confirm Bentley's reputation for reliability and speed. It was in those years, during successful performances in Le Mans, that the now famous Bentley Boys racing society was formed. At the same time, Ettore Bugatti publicly calls Walter Bentley's cars "the fastest trucks."
Bentley did not recognize supercharging, believing that an increase in power without sacrificing reliability can only be achieved by increasing the engine size. This is how the Bentley 4L (4 liters), 6L and 8L models appeared - the most expensive model Bentley, introduced in the 1930s. However, the multimillionaire and one of the Bentley Boys, Wolfe Barnato, who saved the company from ruin in the mid-1920s, persuaded Walter to build a supercharged car for him. But something happened that Bentley feared. In the first race, the Bentley Blower 4½ L retired due to technical problems, having managed to develop a maximum speed of 218 km / h before the breakdown.
The economic crisis that broke out in the early 1930s puts an end to future plans Walter Bentley. Wolfe Barnato significantly reduces his support. The company's losses reached £136,220 and Bentley eventually filed for bankruptcy. The company is bought by Henry Royce, one of the founders of Rolls-Royce. He closes the racing division, and leaves Walter Bentley in a position that he mockingly calls "I don't know what I'm doing."
In the winter from 1931 to 1932, Walter Bentley's personal Bentley 8L is confiscated, his wife leaves him. In 1935, Bentley went to Lagonda, for which he designed powerful engine V12. After World War II, Lagonda did not do well. There was a shortage of steel in the country and financial difficulties. Later, Lagonda was bought by David Brown and merged with Aston Martin.
Walter Owen Bentley passed away on August 13, 1971 at the age of 82. He didn't have children.
02/18/2013 at 12:02 pm
Walter Owen Bentley was born in September 1888 in a large family of English businessman Daniel Bentley and became the ninth child.
The first job of the future pioneer of the English car industry was on the railroad. He began his journey as an apprentice at the Great North American Road depot, after which he went to work as a steam locomotive stoker. After some time, the young man begins to get seriously interested in sports on motorcycles and leaves his job, starting to master a new area - sales. foreign cars in London.
Bentley receives a degree in engineering from Clifton College, which led him to develop aircraft engines. But his passion for racing and cars, in which Bentley personally took part, did not leave him. During this period of time, he thinks about creating own car, which would combine the excellent driving performance with the reliability and solidity of luxury cars.
In 1914, Bentley only improved his racing car: I installed aluminum pistons on the motor, which turned out to be a very thoughtful technical solution. Later, his updated car won the Brookland competition, followed by a Bentley racing car winning the Aston Clinton race.
During the First World War, Bentley went to serve in the naval aviation, where he was engaged in the design and improvement of aircraft engines for the troops. At this time, he found application for his development and used aluminum pistons in aircraft construction. This innovation brought Bentley fame and wealth.
But an irresistible interest in cars returned Bentley in 1918 to this field of activity. A year later, he officially establishes a company called "Bentley Motor" and founds manufacturing plant in Cricklewood.
Varley and Baarges took part in the creation of the first car and presented their 3L car at the London Motor Show in 1919. Bentley quickly won its target audience, and the production of cars increased to 8 pieces per week.
Cars from the company "Bentley" stood out among the rest high quality, solidity, comfort and made up worthy competition prestigious Rolls-Royce.
But Walter Bentley was a passionate fan of car racing, cars under his production systematically took part in competitions, starting in 1923. Until 1930, no one could beat the Bentley cars at Le Mans. Soon the country was hit by an economic crisis that put the company in a difficult position.
In 1931, Bentley filed for bankruptcy and was taken over by Rolls-Royce. Company founder Walter Bentley was offered the position of a new car demonstrator.
In 1935, the founder left the company for the Lagonda company, which continued to actively participate in sports competitions. During his years in this organization, he was able to develop powerful car, who taught the name Lagonda Bentley and gained wide popularity in the 30s. Bentley also joined the Armstrong Siddeley engineering community, where he did his favorite thing - design. automotive engines. Walter worked at Lagonda until his retirement, and in his old age he organized his own racing car club, where he was highly respected and pursued his most passionate hobby - car racing.
The English designer who became the founder of the Bentley company was born in 1888, was a member large family. The strongest passion of Walter's youth was transport. He began his career on the railroad, from where he later moved to the National Motor Cab Company, where he repaired and serviced Unique motor crews.
In 1912 Bentley opens his own company, for which, together with his brother, he buys out the company " DFP”, which had a license to supply cars to the UK. Preparing cars for sale Walter made efforts to improve their design. In 1914 he came to a very successful technical solution by introducing aluminum pistons into the engine.
During the First World War Walter Bentley served in the Royal Naval Air Service, became interested in the possibility of improving aircraft engines, which made his name famous. Two motors that were installed on aircraft " Sopwith Camel were named after him.
In 1918 Bentley returns to the automotive industry. In the same year he founded the company Bentley Motors Ltd.". A car of its own design was built at the Cricklewood plant - it was shown at the London Motor Show. Since 1920, the novelty has entered mass production. Bentley cars received a five-year warranty, which set them apart from cars from other manufacturers, in addition, they were comfortable, practical and reliable, competing with Rolls-Royce. Some time later, from the conveyors of the company Walter Betley other models came down.
Bentley cars gained wide popularity after the victory of the sports team of the same name in several major auto races at once. Cars of the English designer have repeatedly taken part in such competitions and have repeatedly won the 24-hour race held at Le Mans.
Sponsor of the company Bentley Motors Ltd." had a friend walter bentley, who helped her stay afloat in difficult times « Great Depression". However, he was not omnipotent, and in 1931 the company ceased to exist, having gone bankrupt. Several companies fought for the right to acquire it, but in the end " Bentley Motors Ltd." passed into ownership Rolls Royce. Walter Bentley worked there under a contract as a simple employee, but in 1935, after its expiration, he moved to work in a company "Lagonda" agreeing to the proposal of her leadership to take the post of chief designer. Here he created one of the most outstanding cars of the 30s - V12.
Walter Bentley was also known as the organizer of the brand lovers club named after himself. In his workshop, he was engaged in the restoration of old cars.
Bentley passed away in 1971. His name is immortalized in the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit.
