CURTAIN FALLS ON THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SALON PRIVÉ EVER

CURTAIN FALLS ON THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SALON PRIVÉ EVER

Records were broken across the board at this year’s ‘Salon Privé Week’. The event, still only in its 14th year, attracted more visitors, more international concours entrants, more exhibitors and more automotive debuts than ever before. In excess of 25,000 guests attended the 4-day event which saw 80 luxury and automotive brands presenting their latest products. A total of 11 new cars were debuted, including 5 UK debuts, 5 European debuts and 1 World debut, the 1939 Bentley Corniche from Bentley Motors.

Salon Privé comprises seven individual events over five days, attracting automotive royalty from across the globe to Oxfordshire and the stunning home of the 12th Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim Palace.

Wednesday 4th September saw Tour Privé depart with 50 stunning and rare classics set off from Blenheim Palace for a 120-mile round-trip through the Cotswolds. The Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance by Chubb Insurance took place on Thursday 5th, with 57 classic car and 18 motorcycle entrants, from 16 countries, competing for the main prize, the Salon Privé Best of Show. Friday 6th saw Salon Privé Ladies’ Day by Boodles with hats of all shapes, colours and sizes arrive in the hope of winning the spectacular BeBoodles pendant offered with the Boodles Best Hat competition. Also that day, the Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance by Chubb Insurance Best in Show was announced with the sensational 1948 Talbot Lago T26 GS Fastback Coupé taking top honours. This stunning and worthy winner will now go on to compete in the elite Peninsula Classics Best of the Best, with Salon Privé being a Partner Concours.

Friday evening saw neighbouring Woodstock play host to the inaugural Salon Privé LIVE which saw 120 classic, super and hypercars parade through the streets to the rapturous applause of local residents with live music and dancing afterwards. Salon Privé LIVE is the all-new automotive street party.

Saturday 7th saw the start of two days of celebration for the most iconic of British luxury automotive brands, Bentley. On the South Lawn and with a panel of judges that included Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, Adrian Hallmark and 5 times Le Mans Winner, Derek Bell MBE, 52 sensational Bentleys came together for the Salon Privé Bentley Masters by Chubb Insurance, Pirelli and Lockton Private Clients. With a line-up that included amongst other, the oldest Bentley in existence, the 1920 EXP No.2, 1934 Barnato Hassan, 1939 Corniche (which made its Global Debut at the event) and 1952 R Type Continental No. 1, it was, by all accounts, the most prolific gathering of significant Bentleys ever. That evening the Salon Privé Bentley Masters Owners’ Choice was announced with the stunning 1930 4.5 Litre Supercharged by Gurney Nutting owned by American collector, Anne Brockinton Lee taking the top prize. Interestingly, both the 4.5 Litre and EXP 100 GT had been together just 2 weeks prior at Pebble Beach.

While Bentley was being celebrated on the lawns of Blenheim Palace, the inaugural Salon Privé GT Tour was launched with 61 super and hypercars departing Brooklands heading to Goodwood for a run up the Hill, before returning to Salon Privé at Blenheim Place on Sunday, taking pride of place in the Great Court.

Sunday 8th September saw the South Lawn open to the public for the first time ever with the newly launched Salon Privé Classic & Supercar and on the North Lawn, a major world record was broken as 1,321 Bentleys gathered in celebration of their beloved marque. 

Of the marque celebrations at Salon Privé this year, Bentley Motors Chairman & CEO, Adrian Hallmark, confirmed the world’s first continuation of a pre-war race car with the 12-strong continuation series of the iconic 1929 Team Blower. The 12 new Blowers, each identical to the original will be built – one for every race the original Team Blowers entered.

Meanwhile, 100 years of Brough Superior was celebrated In the Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance, with six models, book-ended by the 1930 SS80 De Luxe and the 1939 SS80.

Finally, Pagani celebrated 20 years of the sensational Zonda which was launched back in 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show. Models showcased were the Zonda C12, the Zonda F Roadster, the Zonda Cinque Roadster, the Zonda Tricolore and the one-off Zonda 760 ‘Oliver’.

To close ‘Salon Privé Week’ the Salon Privé Classic & Supercar public day took hold with over 17,000 guests flooding into Blenheim Palace on the Sunday alone. Bentley Drivers Club amassed a world-record 1,321 Bentleys, with five further prestigious car clubs, Aston Martin Owners’ Club, Ferrari Owners’ Club, Lamborghini Club UK, McLaren Owners Club, and Porsche Club of Great Britain, bringing over 500 classic and supercars to compete for the inaugural Lockton Club Trophy. The McLaren Senna scooped the top prize to the delight of its owner who had only just collected it weeks ago.

Brothers and Founders, Andrew and David Bagley were justifiably thrilled with the final outcome, commenting, “This year’s event surpassed even our highest expectations. The sheer diversity of classic cars, modern supercars and luxury brands on the lawn now is simply without equal and just keeps on getting better and better with every edition. This year, we’ve welcomed more international owners and brands than ever before and it’s so gratifying to see the event extend its reach across the world making many new friends along the way.”

GRAND TOURERS TO GATHER FROM FAR AND WIDE FOR BENTLEY’S MOST EXTENSIVE SALON PRIVÉ EVER

GRAND TOURERS TO GATHER FROM FAR AND WIDE FOR BENTLEY’S MOST EXTENSIVE SALON PRIVÉ EVER

Restored 1938 Bentley Corniche to make global debut

Bentley’s centenary celebrations are set to continue next week at the prestigious Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance at Blenheim Palace, with a series of debuts, events and announcements that make Bentley the stand-out marque at this year’s event.

The 1939 Bentley Corniche – once thought lost to time but recently completely restored from ruins by Bentley Mulliner – will make its global debut on the first day of Salon Privé on Thursday 5th September. The Corniche is a truly special Bentley – one of one, and the missing link in Bentley’s design DNA between the famous Bentley Embiricos of 1935 and the R-Type Continental of 1952 – cars which still inspire the modern-day Continental GT. The finished car will make its debut as the highlight of the Thursday morning press conference at Salon Privé, before joining the Concours field.

Making its UK public debut on Thursday will be the EXP 100 GT – Bentley’s vision of the future in concept car form, looking forward 15 years to the Bentley of 2035. Combining extraordinary technology, breath-taking sculptural design and a selection of sustainable materials, the EXP 100 GT is an embodiment of the future of luxury mobility. It will appear on a dedicated stage on the South Lawn from Thursday to Saturday.

Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark, will spend Saturday as part of a team of adjudicators judging more than 50 Bentleys from across history in the Salon Privé Bentley Masters. Bentley’s own EXP2 – the oldest Bentley in the world – will feature alongside an array of pre- and post-war Bentleys. That evening the Bentley Drivers Club will hold a Gala Dinner in Blenheim Palace itself, hosting Bentley’s Member of the Board for Sales & Marketing, Chris Craft.

Sunday is the climax of the event, with the Bentley Drivers Club holding their Annual Rally on-site by special permission of the Salon Privé organisers. More than 1,000 Bentleys will travel to Blenheim Palace from across the country, and in so doing will set a new World Record for the largest gathering of Bentleys in history. From the earliest 3 Litre models to the very latest third-generation Continental GT Convertible, the gathering will be a stunning visual representation of the development of Bentley over the last century. 

EXP 100 GT will then make its across the South Lawn of the event, where it will join the 1929 4½ litre Team Blower, the Corniche and nine other key Bentleys from across the last 100 years to form ‘The Magnificent Dozen’ – the final feature celebrating the brand’s centenary. 

Throughout the event, a Bentley retailer stand will also showcase the very latest Bentley models, including the all-new Flying Spur, Bentayga Hybrid and new Continental GT V8. Other iconic cars travelling from the Crewe factory to appear on the North and South lawns include the #8 2003 Speed 8 that completed the 1-2 at Le Mans that year with its #7 sister car, W.O. Bentley’s own 8-Litre and the Pikes Peak Bentayga.

THE MISSING LINK - MULLINER COMPLETELY RE-CREATES PIVOTAL 1939 BENTLEY CORNICHE

THE MISSING LINK - MULLINER COMPLETELY RE-CREATES PIVOTAL 1939 BENTLEY CORNICHE

 Bentley has re-created a long-lost car from its illustrious past that provides a crucial link in the history of its most important models. The ground-up rebuild of the only 1939 Corniche ever made highlights the marque’s pedigree of design and technological innovation, the breadth of skills within Mulliner’s bespoking division, and connects the fabled Embiricos 4¼ Litre and R Type Continental. 

The only car of its type now in existence thanks to the skills of Mulliner, the Corniche was conceived to be a high-performance version of the new MkV saloon, itself a technological advance that was due to be launched in October 1939.

The styling of the Corniche was a radical step forward from the traditional Bentleys of the 1920s and ‘30s, introducing ‘Streamlining’ to help deliver greater speed and performance, and heavily influenced post-war models from the R Type Continental right through to the current Continental GT.

The original Corniche was lost in France in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II. It was extensively damaged in a traffic accident whilst undergoing road tests in France in August 1939. Sent for repairs, the chassis made it home to the Bentley plant in Derby, but the bodywork was destroyed in a bombing raid on Dieppe later in 1939 and was never seen again.

Until now.

The project was originally started several years ago by volunteers from the WO Bentley Memorial Foundation and the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation but was brought in-house in February 2018 under the watchful eye of Chairman and Chief Executive Adrian Hallmark, who asked for it to be completed in 2019 to celebrate Bentley’s centenary.

“The 1939 Corniche was a clear step in Bentley’s design language which is evident when set aside the later and now iconic R Type Continental. It is a pivotal car in the history of Bentley, demonstrating that even then, this great British marque was at the cutting edge of design and technology,” comments Hallmark. “Mulliner’s stunning recreation of the Corniche clearly demonstrates our skill in restoring the greats from Bentley’s back catalogue as well as making beautiful personalised modern Bentleys.”

The project naturally fell to the Mulliner division, where since the 1970s one-off cars have been built for discerning collectors and Royalty, including two State Limousines manufactured in 2002. Today production models are adapted and built to particular customers’ exacting personal specifications.

As Mulliner’s first historic car project, the Corniche has demonstrated the full breadth of the division’s coachbuilding and restoration skills and capabilities.

Using only the original technical drawings and the skills of the men and women of Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke and coachbuilding division, this unique Corniche has been rebuilt in Crewe using original Corniche and MkV mechanical components and a completely re-made body, identical in every detail to the original.

“It’s been a fantastic team effort,” said Stefan Sielaff, Design Director at Bentley and Director of Mulliner. “We have highly skilled craftsmen within Mulliner and around the rest of Bentley Motors, and they all have massive pride in what they’ve achieved with this car.”

The Corniche will make its first public appearance at Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace in September and will join Bentley’s Heritage fleet, which already includes WO Bentley’s 8 Litre and the Birkin Team Blower, to be used and exhibited at events around the world. 

Resurrecting an icon

Many of the parts that had been produced to make further Corniche models were kept until the early 1970s before being sold off to specialists and enthusiasts. Then, in 2001, automotive historian and former Bentley director Ken Lea decided to try to use original parts as the basis for a recreation of the Corniche.

The project was based in Derby, with volunteers gathering information and parts to assemble the chassis. In 2008, with the project out of money, Bentley Motors provided an injection of funds, and work started on the ash frame and aluminium bodywork with coachbuilders Ashley & James in Lymington, Hampshire. The body was created from the outline drawings given to the project by the family of the car’s original designer, George Paulin.

The project continued to make slow progress until it was brought in-house to Mulliner at Bentley Motors at the request of new Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark.

The project to re-create the Corniche was overseen by a team of four: Ken Lea; Robin Peel, Head of Heritage; Ian Broomhall, Mulliner Operations Manager and Glyn Davies, Mulliner Special Projects leader.

Many team members from Mulliner and across the wider Bentley Motors business dedicated their personal time to work on the Corniche, and staff from other divisions joined in.

The Mulsanne body-in-white team, where panels are still hand-formed, helped with final detailed finessing of panels; the paint laboratory spent many hours producing colour samples of the main body colour of Imperial Maroon and the side flash of Heather Grey from the limited descriptions available; Head of Interior Design Darren Day and his team produced CAD designs for the seats and door trims derived from detailed historical research; and the Mulliner trim team worked from the designs to create a period-appropriate interior in typical Vanvooren style, using the correct Connolly Vaumol hide, West of England cloth and the carpet from a roll discovered stored away on site.

In the Mulliner workshop, Mulliner Master Carpenter Gary Bedson devised a steam booth to allow him to bend sections of wood for the interior window surrounds, often spending over an hour wreathed in steam just to attain a few degrees more curvature. Other team members worked hard to re-create the front grille, using CAD to analyse airflow and design each individual slat, which were then hand-formed by skilled metalworkers over a period of three months.

Six Mulliner apprentices, one of whom even created an authentic tool tray for the boot of the Corniche, were also involved throughout the car’s time with Mulliner.

Every aspect of the project received Mulliner attention. From the special paint mixes – named Imperial Maroon and Heather Grey – to the unique interior trim, the accessories such as the tool tray and even the Mulliner tread plates on the door shuts were created from scratch.

The original 1939 Corniche

In the late-1930s, Greek racer André Embiricos commissioned a sporting Bentley, based on the old 4¼ Litre chassis. It was styled by talented designer Georges Paulin, and built by French coachbuilder Pourtout. Although privately commissioned, it was much-admired and secretly encouraged among Bentley engineers and management, who were convinced that the factory should produce a more sporting version of the forthcoming MkV saloon.

It was agreed that the Corniche should be built to investigate the idea. It would have a lightweight chassis, built from thinner-than-standard gauge steel, fitted with a tuned version of the MkV engine matched to an overdrive gearbox created to suit. The Corniche was built as a collaboration between Bentley and third parties such as Georges Paulin, the French car designer who designed the bodywork and Carrosserie Vanvooren in Paris who made the bodywork.

The car was completed by May 1939 and tried out at Brooklands race circuit, where it achieved well over 100mph – a significant improvement on the standard MkV. Streamlining had only just started to be adopted on production cars of the period, so the smooth lines of the Corniche were ahead of their time. It had at least been recognised that the huge upright radiator of a traditional Bentley adversely affected the top speed, and the smoothed nose of the Corniche was a direct reaction to that understanding.

The pillarless body, with front and rear-hinged doors was also extremely innovative for the period, and the complicated curves of the front wings and the long sweeps of the rears were a long way from the typical designs of the period. In staid 1930s Britain, this was pure fantasy-made-real.

After Brooklands, the Corniche went to France for road testing, but in July 1939 it was damaged by a bus and returned to Vanvooren for repairs and body improvements. When completed, on August 8, it was collected by a Bentley test driver, who headed straight for the Bentley depot at Chateauroux where the testing was based. It was as he neared the HQ that a car pulled in front of the Corniche, causing the Bentley test driver to swerve and hit a tree. The car rolled onto its side, causing extensive damage.

The Corniche was due to be displayed at the Earls Court and Paris motor shows later that year, so there was no time to lose. The body was removed from the chassis, and the chassis returned to Crewe, while the body went to a local repair shop in France.

The Corniche body was eventually completed in France, and transported to Dieppe to be shipped home. However, an administration error at the docks caused a delay, and while the Corniche body was stored waiting to be shipped it was destroyed when Dieppe was heavily bombed during WWII.

Centenary Celebrations

July 10, 2019 marked Bentley’s 100th year - an extraordinary milestone achieved by only a few companies. A year-long series of special activities have been taking place, with celebrations at events around the world.

They showcase Bentley’s motoring evolution over the last 100 years, highlighting its global success today and the exciting future of innovation ahead.

ROLLS-ROYCE & BENTLEY SPECIALIST, P & A WOOD CELEBRATE BENTLEY’S CENTENARY IN STYLE AT SALON PRIVÉ 29 July 2019 Established more than 50 years ago in the Essex Village of Moreton, P & A Wood are one of the world’s leading Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists restoring, servicing and selling cars across both marques from 1904 to the present day. Operating from their beautiful, traditionally-styled premises in Great Easton, P&A Wood were appointed in 2001 as ‘The Official Rolls-Royce and Bentley Heritage Dealers’ in recognition of their knowledge and expertise. As Salon Privé is set to host the UK’s most spectacular centenary celebration for Bentley this year, it is fitting that P & A Wood will be supporting the event with their own display of exceptional motorcars, which it is hoped will include the following examples: Bentley 3½ Litre 2-door Coupé by Hooper This car features exceptionally attractive coachwork and is finished in Brewster Green and Black with Tan hide upholstery. It is in excellent condition and has an impressive history of major concours awards. Bentley Continental S Convertible LHD This is a unique example and considered as the most desirable of all the Continental Convertible models. Converted to Bentley specification by P & A Wood, the engine was modified with a Zetec engine management system for enhanced performance and also features the latest braking system. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London to Edinburgh – Chassis No. 1701 Known as the Sluggard, this is the actual original car that completed the London to Edinburgh top gear trial in 1911.  Fitted with rare underslung rear suspension, it is one of the most famous Rolls-Royce’s in the world. Rolls-Royce Phantom V LHD (PV23) by James Young One of very few made with the Hooper rear quarter windows, exceptionally elegant coachwork. Commenting on their attendance, Managing Director Georgina Wood said ‘We at P & A Wood are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Salon Privé as an exhibitor, particularly due to the Bentley Centenary celebrations. We have attended the event with various customers and their cars over the years and are very much looking forward to a closer working relationship with the team at Salon Privé’. Co-founder & Sales Director of Salon Privé, David Bagley commented, “It’s been a while since P & A Wood last exhibited at Salon Privé and so we’re very pleased to see them back with us and with such a spectacular display of Rolls-Royce and Bentley models. We’re grateful too for the support they have shown us in curating the amazing collection of 50 + Bentley's for the centenary celebrations.”

SPEED 8 DEBUT ICES BENTLEY BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE CLASSIC

SPEED 8 DEBUT ICES BENTLEY BIRTHDAY CAKE AT THE CLASSIC

Bentley Speed 8 to race at the 2019 Silverstone Classic

For the first time in history, one of Bentley’s stunning 24 Hours of Le Mans winning Speed 8 prototypes will race on home UK soil when it debuts on track at this month’s magical Silverstone Classic (26-28 July).

It is now more than 16 years since Bentley made a dramatic return to the scene of its ethos-defining early victories and scored an evocative sixth success at Le Mans in 2003 to add to its five original wins racked up between 1924 and 1930.

In the latest chapter in its history, Bentley was taken over by the Volkswagen Group in 1998 and the new German guardians were understandably keen to re-establish the brand’s sporting credentials.

To recreate those glory days, the new owners invested in a prototype motor sport programme and in 2003 briefly switched its Le Mans attack from Audi to Bentley.

British racing green livered Speed 8 coupés were designed and produced at the team’s UK base in Crewe – albeit with some technical support plus 600bhp twin-turbo V8 engines from serial LM24 winners Audi – and the programme culminated in Bentley’s first Le Mans win in 73 years. With mission accomplished, the fastest cars ever to wear the hallowed Flying B badge were immediately mothballed and VW’s endurance racing efforts switched back to more mainstream Audi ‘Silver Arrows’.

One of those stunning 215mph speedsters from 2003, though, is now in the private hands of experienced sportscar racing enthusiast Shaun Lynn and he will be contesting both showdowns for the Aston Martin Trophy for Masters Endurance Legends at the 2019 Classic – incredibly it will be the first time one of these magnificent Speed 8s has ever raced in the UK.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Shaun is joining us at the Classic to race his Speed 8,” enthused a delighted Ron Maydon, President of Masters Historic Racing. “This will be another iconic addition to our already impressive grid and is sure to be a massive crowd-pleaser. The Speed 8’s debut in a Masters’ race is all the more pertinent, of course, as Bentley is celebrating its centenary at the Classic and its Le Mans victories are very much a highlight of the brand’s incredible heritage.”

Bentley turned 100 earlier this month (W.O. Bentley was founded his eponymous company on 10 July 1919) and that milestone will be honoured with special displays, parades and races at the Classic.

Indeed Saturday’s packed programme concludes late in the evening with an evocative ‘Twilight Tribute to Le Mans’. Three spectacular sportscar races set at dusk will cover almost a century of round-the-clock racing and feature 150 great cars ranging from the Bentleys of 1920s right up to the superfast sports prototypes such as the Speed 8, Lola Aston Martin and a pair of striking Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs – another Le Mans winner. It’s not to be missed!   

“We must thank Shaun massively for bringing the Speed 8 to Silverstone – it’s an incredible car and will be the icing on Bentley’s centenary birthday cake as we celebrate the company’s milestone 100th anniversary at the Classic,” said Nick Wigley, CEO of the Silverstone Classic. “Our special Saturday evening Twilight Tribute to Le Mans is now complete: it will kick off with a wonderful array of vintage Bentleys competing in the Pre-War Sportscar race and conclude at dusk with the Speed 8 racing into the sunset. Just perfect!”

This summer’s unrivalled roster of retro races also includes special anniversary celebrations for Capris, Minis and Abarths plus evocative showdowns for classic era Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 single-seaters, all together on the same Classic race-card for the very first time.

Providing great value, all tickets – which must be purchased in advance – also give access to a wealth of great family entertainment including period funfair rides, driving experiences, interactive games, massive car club displays plus live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evening which this summer pay homage to the seminal Woodstock festival of 1969. Along with access to both racing paddocks and open trackside grandstands, all of those fun-fuelled attractions are included absolutely free in the ticket price!

Adult tickets cost from just £45 and a wide range of child, young adult and family tickets are also available along with camping and hospitality options. Full details of all ticket prices are detailed on the silverstoneclassic.com website.

THREE SENSATIONAL WOOLF BARNATO CARS TO STAR IN SALON PRIVÉ BENTLEY MASTERS

1930 Bentley 4.5-litre Supercharged by Gurney Nutting

 Born in 1895, Joel Woolf Barnato was a British financier and racing driver and one of the famous ‘Bentley Boys’ who all favoured the cars of W.O. Bentley. Barnato acquired his first Bentley (a 3-litre) in 1925 and won numerous Brooklands races in the car and then, having been inspired by the 1924 Le Mans win of John Duff and Frank Clement, he went on, 12 months later, to acquire the business itself.

Sadly, with the arrival of the Great Depression in 1931, Bentley Motors Limited went into receivership only to be purchased the same year by Rolls-Royce. Having previously purchased a share in Rolls-Royce, Barnato was able to return to the Board of Bentley in 1934. 

Passion and position enabled Barnato to pursue his love of the Bentley brand and he owned a number of very special examples over the years. Three such models will feature in this year’s Salon Privé Bentley Masters at Blenheim Palace on Saturday 7th September. With more than 50 of the greatest Bentleys ever built displayed on Blenheim’s lawns, it will be a unique, one-off spectacular showcase, with Barnato’s cars sure to shine.

1930 Bentley 4 ½-litre; one of the legendary ‘Blower’ Bentleys. Now part of a private American collection, the ‘Blower’ came about following the urging of fellow ‘Bentley Boy’ Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin. Captain Woolf Barnato, then Chairman of Bentley Motors Limited, enlisted the support of noted engineer Amherst Villiers to design a supercharger for the 4 ½-litre 4-cylinder, 16 valve, overhead camshaft, Bentley engine. The Villiers Roots-Type Supercharger created approximately l0lbs of boost at 4000rpm, resulting in a top speed in excess of 105mph. In all, approximately 55 ‘Blowers’ were produced for the purpose of homologation with perhaps only 40 examples still in existence today. This beautiful one-of-a-kind race car, fitted with its elegant Gurney Nutting coachwork, was delivered to Captain Woolf Barnato in July 1930.

1934 Bentley Barnato Hassan

The 1934 Barnato Hassan Special. This sensational single seater was commissioned by Captain Woolf Barnato a special project for one purpose only – racing. Powered initially by a 6 ½-litre Bentley engine with two S.U. carburettors, on a short (11 foot) chassis, the car was long, narrow and very fast. In 1935, the car was fitted with a newly designed body and a new 6 cylinder 8-litre Bentley engine with 3 S.U. carburettors, the combination of which enabled driver, Oliver Bertram, to break the Brooklands lap speed record with an average speed of 142.60 mph. Incredibly, this was achieved with an automotive engine under the bonnet – it took an aero-engined car, the Napier Railton, to beat it.

The 1936 4 ¼-litre drophead coupe. This model, with coachwork by H. J. Mulliner, was delivered to Barnato’s Mayfair home on 6th July 1936. The unique streamlined body with concealed hood, the body no. 4226 was transferred from B2DG, a 3 ½-litre car, which was registered to Mrs Woolf Barnato on March 15th 1935. Prior to this transaction, the body was repainted in silver blue and the interior retrimmed in dark blue leather. A chromed dashboard with white-faced dials was also fitted. It is an all matching numbers car that whilst having been restored, has remained as original as possible.

Salon Privé Bentley Masters forms part of a weekend-long celebration which also includes the Bentley Drivers Club Annual Concours and attempts at the world’s largest gathering of Bentleys. Set to be the largest Centenary celebration in the UK this year, it is a ‘must’ for all Bentley enthusiasts.

David Bagley, Salon Privé Co-Founder & Sales Director commented: “What better way to celebrate the Centenary of one of the greatest-ever British automotive marques than at Britain’s Greatest Palace, Blenheim Palace. With such global admiration for the marque, we’ve received entry forms from around the world but as is customary with Salon Privé, we always go for the very best and most influential models. Other than W.O. Bentley himself, no other person was more influential in Bentley’s history than Captain Woolf Barnato and so we are thrilled to have these 3 wonderfully unique examples of his participating in the event.”

1936 Bentley 4.25-litre Streamline DHC

A CENTENARY CELEBRATION FOR BENTLEY AT GOODWOOD

A CENTENARY CELEBRATION FOR BENTLEY AT GOODWOOD

Bentley Motors will continue the year-long celebrations of its centenary at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, through a programme of displays and dynamic cars that will bring 100 years of extraordinary history to life.

The centrepiece of Bentley’s presence will be the Centenary Concours, a 30-strong display of the most iconic models from the marque’s past and present which include one of the rarest and most valuable Bentleys in the world - the 4¼-litre 'Embiricos' Special – alongside Bentley’s recently unveiled an all-new Flying Spur. Other rare highlights include a Gurney Nutting Speed Six, a 1948 Pininfarina Mark VI, a Continental GT Zagato and W.O. Bentley’s own 8-Litre from 1930.

Meanwhile, the Cartier Style et Luxe Lawn will feature at least six R-Type Continentals as the centrepiece of this year’s Concours d'Elegance. Only 208 R-Type Continentals were built, and they now exist as one of the most desirable models from Bentley’s past. The three lines that define the R-Type Continental – the power line, rear haunch and sloping fastback roof – remain the inspiration behind the styling of today’s Continental GT.

The Goodwood Hillclimb will feature more Bentleys than ever before. Four cars that define the chapters of Bentley’s motorsport history will underpin the Bentley Racing Class – a selection of cars curated by Goodwood to tell the history of the marque in a dynamic way. Travelling from Crewe will be:

• EXP2 – the second experimental prototype built by W.O. Bentley and the oldest surviving Bentley in the world. EXP2 was the first Bentley to go racing, throughout 1921 and 1922 and will make its Goodwood dynamic debut this year.
• The 1929 Birkin Blower, one of four Team race cars built for Tim Birkin’s racing career and raced at Le Mans in 1930. “No.2” is one of the most campaigned and valuable Bentleys in the world, now insured for £25m. It will be driven up the Hillclimb by Katarina Kyvalova, the founder of the Bentley Belles – a group of talented female drivers that race historic Bentleys around the world.
• 2003 Speed 8 #7 – the very car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003. The culmination of a three-year campaign, the Speed 8 scored a historic 1-2 finish to claim Bentley’s sixth Le Mans title and it’s first since 1930. Returning for driving duty will be Bentley Boy Guy Smith, who took the chequered flag.
• The 2018 Continental GT3 – the second generation of GT3 racer, now built from the current Continental GT road car. Racing around the world, the Continental GT3 visits the Festival fresh from winning the 1000km Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Race at Paul Ricard in the hands of Steven Kane, who will also take the wheel at Goodwood.

The racing Bentleys will be joined on the Hillclimb by four powerful Grand Tourers from the current model range. The Continental GT and new Continental GT Convertible will appear in the Supercar class, with the latter being piloted by rising British female racing driver Abbie Eaton. The very latest additions to Bentley’s range – the Bentayga Speed and all-new Flying Spur – will make their UK dynamic debuts as part of the First Glance class.

Ahead of this year’s Festival, and to highlight Bentley’s long-standing partnership with the event, Goodwood and Bentley have produced a joint film featuring some of Bentley’s most important cars from the last century being used across the Goodwood Estate. With a cameo from His Grace The Duke of Richmond and starring his personal butler, Monty, the film is a celebration of the first 100 extraordinary years of Bentley. The film can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/H5ocacOc41g.

HISTORIC BENTLEYS TO GATHER AT GOODWOOD MEMBERS’ MEETING TO CELEBRATE CENTENARY

Bentley Le Mans 2003

HISTORIC BENTLEYS TO GATHER AT GOODWOOD MEMBERS’ MEETING TO CELEBRATE CENTENARY

Bentley will continue its centenary celebrations at the 77thGoodwood Members’ Meeting this weekend with a number of iconic cars on the starting grid set to bring the sights and sounds of the company’s illustrious motor racing past to life.

Headlining the sell-out weekend of motorsport is the Speed 8 – Bentley’s Le Mans car that won the most gruelling endurance race on the planet. The Speed 8 will run alongside other Le Mans prototypes for the first time since 2003, with two of the original Bentley drivers, Guy Smith and Tom Kristensen, set to make an emotional return to the driver’s seat.

Bentley’s 100 extraordinary years will also be remembered in the John Duff Trophy race. Duff was the original Bentley Boy, and the man that initiated the marque’s now synonamous relationship with Le Mans. He was the first driver to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Bentley, claiming the title in 1924. The new event is for pre-1930 vintage racing cars and promises to be a major spectacle, as Bentley enjoys its biggest ever presence at the popular Members’ Meeting.

Speed 8 – A Famous Victory

Bentley returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2001 for a three-year campaign following a lengthy absence, and intentions were signalled with a podium finish on an all-new Bentley prototype’s competitive debut. Just two years later, against the toughest of competition, the #7 Bentley Speed 8 led a 1-2 finish after dominating the race, sparking great celebrations amongst the thousands of British fans at the event and countless more around the world.

That hard-fought victory in 2003 rekindled the spirit of the original Bentley Boys and their Le Mans successes of the 1920s. It was Bentley’s sixth outright victory at the 24-hour race and came through great attention to detail and innovation, qualities still at the heart of the company today.

Among the six men who drove the winning Speed 8 were Tom Kristensen and Guy Smith, and the pair will be reunited with the car once again at the 77th Goodwood Members’ Meeting – Kristensen for the first time since that landmark 2003 race.

The drivers will take part in two 15-minute Le Mans Prototype demonstration runs, one on Saturday evening at dusk with Smith behind the wheel, the other on Sunday afternoon with Kristensen driving.

The Bentley Speed 8 will start on ‘pole’ as part of a 16-car field of Le Mans cars. Each will be flagged off one at a time for non-competitive fast laps in for what promises to be one of the most memorable moments at the event.

John Duff – An Original Bentley Boy

The John Duff Trophy is a new addition to the Members’ Meeting at Goodwood, inspired by one of the all-time great racing drivers and Bentley’s centenary year. Duff was a founder member of the Bentley Boys and Girls, a group of wealthy young men and women who loved to race W.O. Bentley’s fast and dependable cars.

Duff was the first to drive a Bentley at Le Mans and win, taking on the challenge with factory driver Frank Clement. After a fourth place in 1923, they returned a year later and won outright, ten minutes ahead of the competition.

The John Duff Trophy race is for pre-1930 vintage racing cars and has attracted an impressive collection of 30 historic cars from the era, with a third of the grid being Bentleys, including the 3-Litre ‘Number Nine’ built for Tommy Thistlethwayte in 1926, and a Speed Six driven by legendary Bentley Boy Woolf Barnato.

Bentley’s 100 Years Of Extraordinary

From Le Mans victories, through to the incredibly powerful road cars of the modern era, all of Bentley’s extraordinary vehicles have innovation hand-built into them.

July 10, 2019 marks Bentley’s 100th birthday - an extraordinary milestone achieved by only a handful of automotive companies. The Goodwood Members’ Meeting is just one of a year-long series of special activities that have been planned, with celebrations at events around the world to highlight Bentley’s motoring evolution over the last 100 years, its global success today and the exciting future ahead.

FINAL COUNTDOWN FOR EARLY BIRD TICKET BUYERS

FINAL COUNTDOWN FOR EARLY BIRD TICKET BUYERS

Show-goers have just a few days remaining to take advantage of Early Bird tickets for this summer’s spectacular Silverstone Classic, a heady mix of no-holds-barred racing, dazzling nostalgia and fun-fuelled family entertainment.  

All tickets must be purchased in advance and the Early Bird offer – open to all those buying before the end of March – presents significant savings of up to 17 per cent on standard prices. A wide range of tickets is available including adult, young adult, child, family, day, and weekend, as well as car club display packages for club members and hospitality options.

Those snapping up their tickets now can look ahead to what already promises to be the biggest and best Classic yet with a packed programme of evocative races, record numbers of car club displays and more off-track activities, amusements and attractions than ever before.

With just 10 days to go, here are 10 great countdown reasons to book Early Bird tickets before the offer ends at midnight on Sunday 31 March:

1. The sublime three-day Silverstone Classic is the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival recreating all the halcyon eras of motorsport. This year’s epic 21-race programme features the full spectrum of motorsport history including for the very first time showdowns for Formula One, Formula Two and Formula Three.
2. The action-packed 2019 racecard features special anniversary races to celebrate Bentley’s centenary, 60 years of the iconic Mini and 50 years of the Ford Capri, ‘the car you always promised yourself’. Not only that but there is also a special celebration package available to all Mini and Capri owners wanting to join the festivities offering a pair of adult tickets, dedicated display parking plus a memorable track parade.
3. Legendary brand Aston Martin will be out in force at the Classic. An exciting new three-year partnership with the locally-based, world famous luxury automotive group embraces a raft of rousing on- and off-track activities including the very first round of Aston Martin’s newly announced Aston Martin Heritage Racing Festival Series. The mouth-watering maiden grid is expected to be packed with stunning DB9s, Vantages and Vulcans.
4. Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart will be among the fast and famous at this summer’s Classic. The two-time World Champion will be celebrating the 50thanniversary of his first F1 title in 1969 and his two unforgettable British Grand Prix wins which came at Silverstone in 1969 and 1971. Sir Jackie will also be raising awareness and funds for the Race Against Dementia Fellowship scheme that he founded, in collaboration with the event’s Official Charity Partner, Alzheimer’s Research UK.
5. An unprecedented number of 130+ car clubs have already registered for glittering in-field parking displays making this year’s Classic another record-breaker four months before the gates have even opened! In total, more than 10,000 privately-owned and cherished classics will be on show over the three days.
6. Offering exceptional value for money, all tickets give access to both racing paddocks, open trackside grandstands, the majority of the funfair rides, a host of great entertainment for all ages on the festival’s very own Village Green plus a multitude of eye-catching displays, stunt shows and interactive activities providing visitors with lots of flat-out fun for all the family all for FREE.
7. What’s more, the upbeat live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings are also included in the ticket price. This summer there’s a special homage to the seminal Woodstock festival with the music of original performers Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Ten Years After and The Who.
8. While the cars are always the stars at the Classic, the bustling infield is packed with attractions to captivate and amuse all ages and tastes. As a taster, there are panoramic rides on a 40m big wheel, chuckles on a crazy golf course, dastardly dodgem dogfights, persuasive retail opportunities and even the chance for budding young footballers to perfect their soccer talents in the Yokohama Chelsea Skills Zone.
9. The much-loved TV personality and renowned motoring mastermind Mike Brewer returns with his hugely-popular Car Clinics. In the breaks between the racing, show-goers can join Mike as he casts his expert eye over a great line-up of stand-out classic cars.
10. Successfully introduced in 2018, Drive Live offers visitors a wonderful opportunity to take a test drive in some of the latest models from the showrooms of participating manufacturers including Aston Martin. For those with a preference for two-wheels, a similar Ride Live initiative will be launched in July. What’s more, with lots of great cars coming under the Silverstone Auction hammer over the weekend, there’s even the chance to drive home in your dream classic at the end of the show!

Best of all: Early Bird tickets booked now save £s and £s. Full details of all Early Bird tickets – as well as weekend festival camping and upgrade options including VIP hospitality and the RetroRun experience (which this year incorporates a tour of the newly opened Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works) – can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.