Bentley Mulliner said today it will bring the Speed Six back to life with a new batch of 12 cars. Each will be mechanically and aesthetically authentic to the Bentley racers that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Mulliner, the oldest coach-builder extant in the world, has pre-sold all of them starting at £1.5m each.
The buyers will get “identical” cars with a 6.5-liter straight-six engine, rated at 200 bhp, with a 125-mph top speed. The components are said to not only physically identical but in many cases are crafted using the same techniques used in the 1920s.
The most successful Bentley racing car of its era, the Speed Six is arguably one of the most important Bentleys in history, not only further demonstrating the marque’s world-beating performance credentials ,but also proving the concept of what is still known as the Grand Tourer – a fast car that remained comfortable and luxurious, and capable of covering huge distances with ease.
The 12-car series has been designed, and will be developed and built, by the same team of Mulliner specialists that have created the Blower Continuation Series, likely the first pre-war auto continuation project in the world. That batch of 12 new 4.5-liter ‘Blower’ Bentleys was based on the company’s own 1929 Team Car #2, which raced alongside the Speed Six in 1930 – and sold out instantly.
The Speed Six Continuation Series was announced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark, who said ““After incredible levels of skill were acquired by the Mulliner team through the development of the Blower Continuation Series, and with the success of the cars with their customers, a chance to honor the Speed Six… one of the most important Bentleys in our 103-year history.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Bentley Mulliner to Build 12 New 1929-30 Le Mans Winners
The buyers will get “identical” cars with a 6.5-liter straight-six engine, rated at 200 bhp, with a 125-mph top speed. The components are said to not only physically identical but in many cases are crafted using the same techniques used in the 1920s.
The 12-car series has been designed, and will be developed and built, by the same team of Mulliner specialists that have created the Blower Continuation Series, likely the first pre-war auto continuation project in the world. That batch of 12 new 4.5-liter ‘Blower’ Bentleys was based on the company’s own 1929 Team Car #2, which raced alongside the Speed Six in 1930 – and sold out instantly.
The Speed Six Continuation Series was announced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark, who said ““After incredible levels of skill were acquired by the Mulliner team through the development of the Blower Continuation Series, and with the success of the cars with their customers, a chance to honor the Speed Six… one of the most important Bentleys in our 103-year history.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.