Bentley delivers first 'new' Speed Six in 94 years
Napier Green Continuation car is going Stateside - 11 more to follow...
A lot has happened since the summer of 2022, so a brief recap of the Bentley Speed Six Continuation, the first of which you see here. Following the roaring success of the Blower Continuation (12 cars sold out at £1.5m each before being announced publicly), the same approach was employed for a Speed Six version to sit alongside. In its own time, it was the ‘ain’t no replacement’ alternative to the forced induction Blower; where that used 4.5 litres and a supercharger, the Six displaced a whopping 6.5 litres. So little wonder the dozen Continuations of that sold out sharpish, too.
This is the first of them, set to reside in the collection of US-based John Breslow alongside his Blower Continuation (and probably many other things). It’s painted Napier Green with deep red leather, one of five colours from the period available to Continuation customers. Bentley actually visited the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu (not near Crewe, notably) to ‘verify the period Parsons Paints that are available to customers.’ It’s that level of time and effort Speed Six customers are paying their seven-figure sum - and waiting their eight months - for; no detail is being left to chance when it comes to Continuation Bentleys.
The money will also be going into the new parts required to (re)make an exceptionally old car. Bentley suggests that more than 600 new bits were needed to successfully produce an authentic race-spec 6.5, which now makes a smidge more horsepower (205 versus 200) than in period because of ‘modern engineering materials’. Everything is made a bit better than it was 94 years ago, basically, which is no bad thing - especially for those customers who want to use their cars. The hope is for the Continuation cars ‘to create a Bentley exactly as it would have looked and performed in 1930.’ If every other collector car niche has been ticked off the list, the promise of an entirely different automotive experience probably holds a lot of appeal. Or there will be those like Mr Breslow who just want to complete the set.
Delivery of this Speed Six will be the first time that has happened for almost a century, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more Continuation Series cars follow - the appetite does seem to be there. They’re being put to good use, too, one of the Blowers recently completing a 24-hour race in Portimao. Which sounds like both huge fun and a great validation of Mulliner’s work in making these things. Long may it continue.
Might have missed it in the blurb, but are these legally allowed be used on public highways? If so, how do they get around new safety rules, or have they used some original chassis numbers to circumvent that?
Might have missed it in the blurb, but are these legally allowed be used on public highways? If so, how do they get around new safety rules, or have they used some original chassis numbers to circumvent that?
However for those that own them, they may well just pop the plates from their road legal original on there and drive around.
You can get a road legal one but it's scaled down a bit and fully electric!
£1.5m (say,) won't get you a Le Mans winner, by a long chalk, but it would get a fully restored original with some decent history. Why would you want a replica?
This is a wonderful machine though, love seeing companies do this, like the Jaguar continuation cars.
but looking at that picture, its huge... I don't like huge cars for me personally.
but was there not a UK garage that makes such at 75% scale? those look more lovely in such scale for me personally view.
If you want one, can afford one and want a newly-built one that won't leave you stranded I can see the appeal.
And credit to Bentley for making them - I'm sure there won't be a shortage of orders.
If you want one, can afford one and want a newly-built one that won't leave you stranded I can see the appeal.
And credit to Bentley for making them - I'm sure there won't be a shortage of orders.
Many years ago, my parents' Sunday lunches were typically open house things and my father's friends (mostly ex drivers) were regulars and they'd also often bring guests. I remember one of them was Stanley Mann and the conversation being about these old cars. This was around the time of the Old No1 legal case and I recall one particular comment which was that the only pre war Bentley in existence that was original was a car that had been made by Mann using original Bentley parts. Ie like Bugattis, there's really no such thing as an 'original' Bentley, they're all Trigger's Brooms.
I guess that a new one gets you cast iron provenance for not a lot of money a well as something that's easier to use?
It's going to be a stunning thing and hopefully they won't all get stuffed in storage boxes but left lying about to be seen.
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