Bentley Motors 1945-1964: Classic Marques

The prestigious ‘Winged B’ emblem, the hallmark of Bentley Motors, is synonymous with those grand cars which, in the 1920s and 1930s, dominated Brooklands and Le Mans and were driven to victory by hero racing drivers known as The Bentley Boys. When Bentley was taken over by Rolls-Royce in 1931, the individual character of the Marque remained, and continued to do so during the post-war years. Malcolm Bobbitt, member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, recalls Bentley development in the late 1930s and early 1940s which led to the introduction in 1946 of the Mark Vl, a fine car embodying the luxuries and qualities of its predecessors. The Bentley tradition of building super cars was sustained with the R-Type of 1953, and John Blatchley’s styling masterpiece, the beautiful S-Type which made its debut in 1955 and remained in production, with styling and engineering changes, until 1965. The most exquisite Bentley was undoubtedly the R-Type Continental. Boldly introduced - in 1952 when Britain was still experiencing the effects of post war austerity, this evocatively styled sports coupe was at the time the fastest and most expensive car in the British catalogue. The choice of the most discerning motorists, the Bentley Continental won acclaim for its exhilarating performance and unashamed luxury.