The height of luxurious motoring, Bentley is now at a hundred years old. The luxury car manufacturer has certainly marked its place in the automobile industry. Beyond the fantastic interior design and powerful engine, Bentley has a few hidden gems in the trunk of its cars. Vindis - a Skoda dealership - offers some insight:
Wings of Angels
Bentley’s famous wing design has definitely captured the hearts of many car enthusiasts. Back, when the company was gaining traction in the early 1920s, founder W.O. Bentley called upon the help of close friend and designer, Crosby, to establish a badge that could not be fraudulently reproduced. Therefore, he requested one which featured asymmetric downward aiming feathers. Although ‘wings’ were a popular choice for many car manufacturers when establishing a badge during this era, rumour has it, Bentley’s logo was designed to represent W.O.’s background as an aeronautical engineer during the Great War.
Added Extras
To add something extra special, Bentley target their sophisticated customers with interesting features. They offer a specialised, one-off kit for their owners to fulfill their hobby - the hobby being falconry, of course. The Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner is, admittedly, a rather obscure optional extra, but it depicts exactly what Bentley is about - creating a car for their client, catering to their wants and needs during development. This definitely goes beyond the needs of a VW service! The flight master station, which is stowed neatly in the boot space of the Bentayga, includes a GPS tracking system, binoculars, and hand-crafted leather bird hoods. Don’t be concerned if the Falconry isn’t your forte, however. Bentley promise to appease customers by asking to submit their requests, and their bespoke service will attempt to create a package for any lifestyle or hobby.
Bentley Boys
A group of affluent Bentley enthusiasts, the Bentley Boys took the Bentley name and turned it into a motorsport’s legacy. In 2019, Lewis Hamilton was ranked by Forbes at the world’s 13th highest paid sports star, however, the Bentley Boys, which featured Capt. Woolf Barnato, J.D Benjafield, Tim Birkin, S.C.H Davis, Glen Kidston, John Duff, and Jack and Clive Dunfee, were unpaid. These men had a true passion for racing, moreover, racing Bentleys. Their relationship with the brand, which led to five Le Mans victories in eight years, was apparent. It was often the young men exhilarating attitude which helped both them, and Bentley, gain an outstanding reputation.
Celebrating with a Drink
After the Bentley Boys laid claim to their first ever win at Le Mans, they headed back to London. The boys were, of course, in a mood to celebrate. Alongside being the only British team surrounded by French and Germans, this was only the second endurance event these men had competed in. So, when they landed back in Mayfair, trophy in tow, they were irritated by the fact the bar had been left, well, dry - with the exception of Calvados and Dubonnet.
A group of affluent Bentley enthusiasts, the Bentley Boys took the Bentley name and turned it into a motorsport’s legacy. In 2019, Lewis Hamilton was ranked by Forbes at the world’s 13th highest paid sports star, however, the Bentley Boys, which featured Capt. Woolf Barnato, J.D Benjafield, Tim Birkin, S.C.H Davis, Glen Kidston, John Duff, and Jack and Clive Dunfee, were unpaid. These men had a true passion for racing, moreover, racing Bentleys. Their relationship with the brand, which led to five Le Mans victories in eight years, was apparent. It was often the young men exhilarating attitude which helped both them, and Bentley, gain an outstanding reputation.
Celebrating with a Drink
After the Bentley Boys laid claim to their first ever win at Le Mans, they headed back to London. The boys were, of course, in a mood to celebrate. Alongside being the only British team surrounded by French and Germans, this was only the second endurance event these men had competed in. So, when they landed back in Mayfair, trophy in tow, they were irritated by the fact the bar had been left, well, dry - with the exception of Calvados and Dubonnet.
The Bentley Cocktail:
- 1 and a half ounces of Calvados or Apple Brandy
- 1 and a half ounces of Dubonnet Rouge
- 1 lemon twist - garnish
In a glass, stir together the Calvados and the Dubonnet, pour over ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish and enjoy, just like a Bentley Boy!
Exceptional Quality
Cars these days certainly aren’t made like Bentley’s. The manufacturer’s overarching commitment is to quality engineering. Considering 80 per cent of all Bentleys ever built are still on the roads today, it appears they are doing a rather good job. Also, despite the fact the brand may hold connotations of heavy fuel consumption and a lack of concern for sustainability, CO2 levels across the fleet have been driven down by 30 per cent in recent times.
Huge Wins
The Works No.2 Bentley Speed Siz Tourer was sold in July 2004 for a huge £2,784,741. This car won second place at Le Mans in 1930, as well as "The Double Twelve". A press release prior to the auction noted, "no other car has accomplished so much and, most importantly No.2 remains in the same conditions since its early racing days in the 1930".
It’s undeniable that Bentley is one of the strongest luxury manufacturers to ever exist. The impact on the automobile industry has been astronomical - we’re excited to see what the next hundred years hold for Bentley.
Cars these days certainly aren’t made like Bentley’s. The manufacturer’s overarching commitment is to quality engineering. Considering 80 per cent of all Bentleys ever built are still on the roads today, it appears they are doing a rather good job. Also, despite the fact the brand may hold connotations of heavy fuel consumption and a lack of concern for sustainability, CO2 levels across the fleet have been driven down by 30 per cent in recent times.
Huge Wins
The Works No.2 Bentley Speed Siz Tourer was sold in July 2004 for a huge £2,784,741. This car won second place at Le Mans in 1930, as well as "The Double Twelve". A press release prior to the auction noted, "no other car has accomplished so much and, most importantly No.2 remains in the same conditions since its early racing days in the 1930".
It’s undeniable that Bentley is one of the strongest luxury manufacturers to ever exist. The impact on the automobile industry has been astronomical - we’re excited to see what the next hundred years hold for Bentley.
