Bentley Speed Six continuation series announced
1929 Le Mans-winning Speed Six next in line for Bentley Mulliner’s continuation series.
Bentley has confirmed its second continuation series model, this time bringing its 1929 Le Mans-winning Speed Six back to life. Twelve new examples will be constructed by Bentley’s Mulliner coachworks division, each coming with a £1.5m price tag.
The latest continuation program follows the Bentley Blower series that started in 2020, and as with that project each model classifies as a new build, as the whole car from its chassis to its straight-six engine and its bodywork will be built from scratch using newly fabricated parts, rather than using a rare (and valuable) donor car. As with the Blower, the Speed Six will be built by Mulliner, but Bentley will also call in expert consulting from specialists from around the UK.
Original technical drawings will be referenced in designing and manufacturing the required components to build each car, with Bentley also calling on the latest process to guarantee the quality of craftsmanship expected of such cars. As with the Blower continuation cars, each new Speed Six will be modelled on precise 3D-scans of two original examples.
The same technique will be used in the construction of a dozen bespoke power units required, each accurate to the huge 6.5-litre in-line six as found in the period Speed Six. As such, they’ll all feature twin SU carburettors, a higher compression ratio and new camshafts built to its racing specification that produced somewhere around 200bhp.
Bentley chairman and chief executive Adrian Hallmark commented on the project: ‘The Speed Six is one of the most important Bentleys in our 103-year history, and the 12 cars of the Continuation Series will embody the same values as W.O. Bentley's originals, crafted by hand with the same meticulous attention both to engineering quality and to fanatical attention to detail.’
Like all continuation series cars, the new Speed Sixes eligibility to compete in historic racing events around the world will vary according to individual regulations, but as a celebration of Bentley’s motorsport heritage each will likely have no problem finding a buyer.
