When we think of iconic hood ornaments, it is the Spirit of Ecstasy by Rolls-Royce that comes to mind first. But equally enthralling is the "Flying B" by Bentley. This hood ornament is a fine fusion of luxury, heritage, prestige, and now even technology. The first-ever Bentley hood ornament came into being in the 1920s. Which was a brass "B" with horizontal wings.

It wasn't until 2006 that the "B" got a retractable mechanism, but only upon impact, and it didn't have a cover plate. But now, in its sixth and latest evolution, the Bentley "Flying B" gets its most intensive upgrade. There are a lot of first-time features like a cover plate and electronically illuminated wings.

While the heritage-rich symbol has taken a modern approach, the manufacturing process is still very much intensive and old-school. Perfection is what Bentley strives for and the lost wax method in which the "B" is made, clearly showcases it.

Made from a single piece of high-grade stainless steel, the Bentley "Flying B" hood ornament takes 11 days to complete, and adore the most luxurious Bentley cars out there. Talking of which, the hood ornament is offered as standard only with the Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner.

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Bentley's "Flying B" Ornament Gets A Bold Evolution

Bentley hood ornament has glow-up wings
Bentley

The latest sixth-generation Bentley hood ornament has a notable design shift as compared to the fifth-gen model. It was introduced in the redesigned Bentley Flying Spur for the first time. The latest design is the work of Hoe Young Hwang, whose creation was shortlisted by the in-house team.

His design unanimously impressed the Board and here we have it. Apart from being a bit more "modern" in design, the latest "Flying B" hood ornament also has a lot of first-time features in the history of Bentley's ornament. But more impressive is the meticulous manufacturing method.

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Intensive Manufacturing Method Of The "Flying B"

Bentley "Flying B" manufacturing process
Bentley

The making of Bentley's hood ornament is very intensive because it uses the investment or lost wax casting process. This method is mostly used to create elements that have a very complex design. The process needs a lot of attention and patience. It starts with molten wax being injected into a die wherein a water-soluble core is present where the cool crystal wings are meant to be.

Above that, a ceramic central core is present that creates a passage inside the wax molding for the wiring for the "glow-up" wings. The wax ornament is removed from the die. The water-soluble core seamlessly dissolves to create the perfect mock-up of the real deal.

Next up, the wax "Flying B" is covered in various layers of ceramic solution that contains colloidal silica and alumina. Once the outer ceramic mold is set, the inner wax is melted out in a steam pressure chamber to leave a hollow cavity.

Then molten stainless steel is poured into the mold and then shot blasted to remove any traces of loose ceramic material when cooled. It is to be noted that the molten metal comes from a single piece of 316-grade stainless steel with added molybdenum for resisting corrosion. The freshly baked hood ornament is then hand-polished to attain perfection and make people stare in awe!

Cool Features Of The New Bentley Hood Ornament

Bentley "Flying B" being made
Bentley

The latest iteration of the "Flying B" is very special and bold because it comes with a lot of first-ever features since the inception of this ornament back in the early 1900s. The sixth-gen Bentley hood ornament is the first one to come with internal illumination for those gorgeous wings, which are also clear acrylic for the first time. It is the first to be electronically deployed. It is also the first time that the Flying B gets a cover plate to hide in plain sight when retracted back into the car body.

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Bentley Owners Adore The "Flying B"

Bentley "Flying B" inspection
Bentley

Bentley is pushing the envelope of luxury with its Flying Spur line-up. And the Mulliner model is the epitome of what British luxury stands for. The "Flying B" hood ornament might be a tiny spec in the multitude of luxury and comfort that Bentley offers, but it is what puts the final exclusive touches on these luxury land yachts.

Bentley's customers have been in love with it, ever since its inception. But more so recently, because almost 97 percent of the Bentley Flying Spur customers opt for the optional "Flying B". It is standard only with the Flying Spur Milliner models.

The "Flying B" Has Aged Like Fine Wine

Bentley hood ornament final inspection on car
Bentley

The "Flying B" might have only gone through six modifications ever since its inception back in 1919. But it has evolved along with time to provide a fine blend of heritage, luxury, technology, and style.

The latest iteration is by far their coolest yet as it comes with illuminated wings. Imagine looking at one at night?! It's surely a sight to behold. The intensive manufacturing process provided by the aggressive fine-tuning is just the icing on one of the most luxurious and sought-after automotive ornaments.

Source: Bentley