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.
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