Speed Six

Speed Six

The Speed Six is a high-performance automobile produced by Bentley Motors during the late 1920s. Developed for endurance racing and sporting road use, it combined a large-capacity inline-six engine with lightweight coachbuilt bodies from firms such as H. J. Mulliner, Vanden Plas, and Gurney Nutting. The model attained fame through victories at events including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and appearances alongside figures and teams like W.O. Bentley, Bentley Boys, and Tim Birkin.

Overview

Launched by Bentley Motors under the stewardship of W.O. Bentley and commercial direction influenced by W.G. "W. G." personnel, the Speed Six was designed as a sporting derivative of the Bentley 3 Litre platform. It was campaigned by privateer teams and works entries at endurance contests such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, and various Brooklands meetings. Prominent drivers associated with the marque include Earl of March, Sir Henry Birkin, John Duff, B. "Barnato" Woolf, and later collectors linked to Victor Gauntlett and Lochard estates. The car’s reputation intersected with contemporaneous manufacturers and competitors such as Riley Motors, Alfa Romeo, Sunbeam and Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S..

Design and Specifications

The Speed Six employed a hand-built, long-stroke inline-six engine developed by W.O. Bentley with a displacement of approximately 6.5 litres, feeding a robust crankshaft and side-valve/overhead valve combinations tested at facilities like Bentley Gaydon workshops. Chassis dynamics were influenced by collaborations with coachbuilders including H. J. Mulliner & Co., Vanden Plas (England) Limited, Gurney Nutting, Arrow, and bespoke bodies from private coachworks used by owners such as Jack Dunfee and Sir John Duff. Suspension used semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear linked to traditional live axles tuned for Brooklands banking and Le Mans high-speed stability. Braking systems were mechanical drums derived from practices in 1920s racing; transmission was a four-speed manual gearbox with a right-hand drive layout customary for United Kingdom road cars. Chassis numbers and specification sheets were archived by collectors and historians referencing institutions including the National Motor Museum, British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, and private papers of W.O. Bentley.

Racing History and Performance

The Speed Six achieved notable endurance racing success, most famously with victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930 where entries prepared by privateer teams and works-affiliated drivers overcame competition from Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, and Sunbeam factory squads. Drivers like Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry Birkin, John Duff, and Tim Birkin exemplified the Bentley Boys ethos in high-speed endurance events at venues such as Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe, Brooklands, Monaco Grand Prix (historic events), and various continental hillclimbs including Shelsley Walsh and Goodwood Motor Circuit meetings. The Speed Six’s reliability in long-distance races was chronicled alongside contemporaries such as the Bentley 4½ Litre and competitors from Bugatti Type 35 entries. Performance metrics included top speeds exceeding 100 mph on long straights, high torque outputs for overtaking on circuits like Autodromo Nazionale Monza, and durable chassis performance under drivers who later became noted figures in motorsport history.

Notable Owners and Usage

Prominent owners and campaigners of Speed Six chassis included members of the Bentley Boys such as Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin, and privateers like John Duff and Victor Gauntlett in later preservation efforts. Wealthy patrons from United Kingdom and international collectors including figures linked to Gulf Oil patronage, aristocrats like the Earl of March, and industrialists inspired bespoke commissions from coachbuilders such as H. J. Mulliner and Gurney Nutting. Speed Six cars later entered collections maintained by institutions such as the National Motor Museum, auction houses like Bonhams and Christie’s, and private museums associated with figures such as Ralph Lauren. Several chassis were repurposed for road rallies, vintage concours events at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Goodwood Revival, and historic racing series organized by Historic Motorsport clubs.

Cultural Impact and Media Appearances

The Speed Six occupies a place in automotive culture through documentation in periodicals like Autocar (magazine), The Motor (journal), and books by historians such as L. J. K. Setright, Graham Robson, and Clive Power. It has appeared in exhibitions at the National Motor Museum and feature segments on broadcasters including BBC Television automotive programming and documentaries produced by Discovery Channel and History Channel. The car features in period fiction and biographical works about the Bentley Boys and figures like W. O. Bentley and Woolf Barnato, and is represented in scale model form by manufacturers such as Corgi Toys and Model Car World collectors. Auction records and restoration case studies have been covered by Bonhams, Gooding & Company, and magazines such as Classic & Sports Car (magazine) and Octane (magazine), further cementing its status in motoring heritage.

Category:Bentley vehicles