Bentley: From Racing Glory to Modern Grand Touring

Cultures · Published

Bentley: From Racing Glory to Modern Grand Touring · 2:06 · Intellect Plus

In short: How Bentley went from its 1919 founding and its Le Mans victories to Rolls-Royce and then Volkswagen ownership, and how it now builds hybrid grand tourers in Crewe while planning an all-electric future.

A 2:06 short film in the series “The Story Behind”, narrated by intellect_voice_01.

Sources used in this film: 24h Le Mans (Automobile Club de l'Ouest, ACO), “Bentley at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2) – 1924-1929: the original "Bentley Boys"”; Palgrave Macmillan (via SpringerLink); chapter from Ian Lloyd, Rolls-Royce (1978), “The Acquisition of Bentley Motors”; autoevolution, “1952 Bentley R-Type Continental Specs, Performance & Photos”; Los Angeles Times (report from Bloomberg News), archive article dated July 29, 1998, “VW Will Split Rolls-Royce Motor Cars With BMW”; Caerbont Automotive Instruments (manufacturers of Smiths Instruments), “24 Hours of Le Mans Bentley Domination 1924 to 1930 - Caerbont Automotive Instruments | Manufacturers of Smiths Instruments”; rolls-royceandbentley.co.uk (independent enthusiast website about Rolls-Royce and Bentley history), “Bentley History”; United Press International (UPI Archives), “Rolls-Royce name goes to BMW - UPI Archives”; Bentley Motors (the company's own undated history and heritage page, not an independent source), “Walter Owen Bentley | History and Heritage | Bentley Motors”; Bentley Motors (Bentley Newsroom press release, Crewe, 11 November 2021), “Bentley News 2021 : BENTLEY MARKS CENTENARY OF FIRST EVER CUSTOMER CAR”; Motor Sport Magazine, “Bentley's stunning 2003 Le Mans win: ‘Audi said it would never work’”; Bentley Motors (Bentley Media press release), “Bentley News 2026 : The International Club for Rolls Royce and Bentley enthusiasts celebrates 80 years of production at Crewe”; Bentley Motors (Bentley Media newsroom), “Bentley News 2024 : Bentley announces Beyond100+ strategic plan to 2035 – creates first ever Luxury Urban SUV”.

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