Whether you pick a Bentley model that has long been discontinued or the most modern one such as the Continental GT, the Mulsanne, or Flying Spur, there's no doubt you'll be driving one of the world's most intricately built cars. All Bentleys pronounce themselves loudly with imposing exterior designs and sophisticated interiors that have evidently passed through the hands of extremely talented crafters. This is true for modern Bentleys just as much as it is for their classic counterpartsBentley was positioned to succeed and gain greatness right from the onset. After opening for business in 1919, the company scaled into the winning circle pretty fast, bagging the coveted Le Mans in 1924, just one year after the epic race track opened. In the next couple of years up until 1930, Bentleys won five more times in varied years.Walter Owen Bentley or W.O. as he preferred to be called had demonstrated his love for wheels in motion. He joined the Great Northern Railways at the age of 16 to start an apprenticeship. From this point on, his path was well cut out, and fate conspired to ensure that his name would be eternally carved in the annals of history.What specific Bentleys are the most prominent? It's difficult to rank a brand such as this one in that manner because each of their products is made daringly different. Nonetheless, we scoured the automotive history to give you some of their greatest Bentleys of all time. Here we go.
10 Bentley Speed 6
Among the most respected ancestors in the Bentley lineage is the Bentley Speed 6. It was one of the outstanding race winners in its heydays and carried a powerful engine that laid the groundwork for most of the company's future work. Walter Owen put the lessons picked from his railway job to give the Speed Six features such as aluminum pistons, twin spark ignition as well as dry-sump lubrication.
The Speed Six came out in 1928, immediately capturing the attention of those who had witnessed a previous famous model carrying the 6.5-liter. The engine on the Speed Six generated 180 hp for the road-going version while the racing model pushed as much as 200 ponies. About 180 examples were built. Back then, Bentley sold its cars as chassis only and the owner would make the body in whatever style and design they deemed fit. As such, each Speed Six you may come across would be significantly different from the other. The price for these collectibles today is in the range of $2.8 million.
9 Blower Bentley
Another incredibly famous Bentley from back in the day is the Blower. This racing icon is further cemented in motoring history by the fact that it was raced by Sir Henry (Tim) Birkin, a racer whose exploits on the track paint a picture of a deeply passionate man.
The Blower encapsulated the innermost desires translated into a racing machine, even though it never won a race. It went on to be associated with racing luxury in a way that was previously unknown. It's a heritage car that gave it all the world of motoring.
8 Bentley Eight Litre
It is believed that quite a good number of Bentley Eight units exist around the world today. A total of 100 units were built. They coincidentally came around during the Great Depression. As a result, Bentley never made as much money out of them. However, their architecture, which was based on the rolling chassis, couldn't go unnoticed.
The Bentley Eight Litre was the marquee's last car before the company was bought out by Rolls Royce. It would weigh as much as two tones depending on the coachwork done. The enormous 8-liter straight-six managed 220 hp, quite a notable feat by the standards of those days.
7 Bentley Mark VI
The importance of this Bentley cannot be overemphasized. Produced between 1946 and 1952, it was the firm's first car after WW II and after its acquisition by Rolls Royce. It also wore all-steel coachwork.
This machine was meant to be a high-performance car and carried the tag of the most expensive car globally at the time. Being the world's fastest 4-5 seater, the Mark VI grabbed headlines and left an indelible mark in its space.
6 2000 Bentley Arnage
The Arnage was reportedly meant to be powered by a 4.4-liter BMW engine. A bruising battle for control and ownership of Bentley and Rolls Royce brands that involved Volkswagen and BMW saw the vehicle make do with a pushrod 6.75-liter V8. The engine, though heavier, gracefully complemented the Arnage and served it well to the final edition of its lifespan.
The Arnage is a car that assumes varied characters as the situation may demand. It doesn't shed the gentleman's look, but it could be easily turned into a track toy precisely because it has the components to make it one.
5 Bentley Brooklands
The Brooklands racetrack in Surrey, England, is part and parcel of Bentley's history because the brand famously set a few records there in the '20s and '30s. That's how the 1992 Bentley Brooklands obtained its name. A coupe model came later in 2007, much to the celebration of enthusiasts.
The Brooklands carried the familiar 6.75-liter twin-turbo engine that oozes 530 hp. It was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission that rotated the rear wheels. Notably, the front and rear suspensions were independent. Just slightly over 500 units were built.
4 2020 Bentley Mulsanne
The Mulsanne is a pure taste of luxurious driving. This affluence is not only exemplified by the engine specs but also by the exterior styling. The first batch of Mulsanne's was produced between 1980 to 1992. It would take a break until 2010 when it came back to run for ten more years and bow out in 2020.
The Mulsanne is much of an executive car for the CEO living a high life. Think of any luxury you would love on wheels, and the Mulsanne will deliver. With more than 100 exterior colors that customers can choose from, there is nothing really that you can't get from it.
3 Bentley Flying Spur
The Flying Spur went into production in 2005. Bentley made several versions of this car, such as the Continental Flying Spur, Qatar Edition, Series 51, and Linley Limited Edition.
This first Bentley generation sipped from a 6-liter, twin-turbo W12 engine that cranks 552 hp. In spite of its obese weight of 2.5 tons, it's still a swift machine capable of 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. This engine has been sufficiently revamped to produce 172 hp and 530 hp. The top speed is a remarkable 205 mph.
2 Bentley Turbo-R
Most of the nameplates in the Bentley lineup have a historical perspective attached to places. The Bentley Turbo-R sheds this pattern to pronounce its purpose from the onset. The Turbo-R was the vehicle to make a clear distinction between the Bentleys and Rolls Royces.
The engine was thus appropriately tweaked and to a 6.75-liter V8 that produced 300 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. It was a fast car with a lightweight body uncommon in Bentleys. It was also unique in styling and, therefore one of the most noticeable cars of its time.
1 2021 Bentley Continental GT
Choose a Continental GT with either a V8 or W12 engine and you are guaranteed no less than 542 hp, with the W12 option offering a staggering 650 hp. Besides this, you will ride in one of the world's most amazing grand tourers and the crème of its class.
The Bentley Continental GT is unapologetically exorbitant in every way. As the first car since the takeover by Volkswagen, this car had to work extra hard to lift the company's image, and it suitably fell in place. An elegant, spacious, and finely crafted car that rides on a twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 engine, this car is a living translation of a creator's dream.