W.O. Bentley’s aim was this: “To build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class”, and in 1919 his company Bentley Motors started to do just that. Luxury and performance describe Bentley’s cars perfectly, and they are amongst the most desirable and opulent in the world, something to attain to and reach, a status-symbol, even.
I’ve tried to include a well-rounded selection of Bentley videos here because their heritage and cars across the eras are simply incredible. Enjoy, possibly with a cup of tea and cream and jam scone.
1. Bentley Continental GT3-R
People wonder why Bentley created this stickered-up, very fast GT3-R, but what many seem to forget is W.O. Bentley’s aim; “To build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.” Since the earliest days of the company, they’ve been making racing cars, so this kind of makes sense, regardless of the fact some believe they should stick to what they do best, but as their trophy cabinet proves, Bentley can make fast race cars with the very best of ’em. The question is, does it work well? Chris Harris finds out.
2. Jay Leno’s 1930 27-litre Bentley
Jay Leno’s garage is incredibly extensive and varied – a petrolhead’s paradise, and thankfully he gets given some amazing cars to review and show us too. In this episode, there’s a 1930 27-liter Merlin-engined Bentley. Yes, you read that correctly. Twenty. Seven. Liters. Oh, and by the way, that’s the engine they used in fighter planes during World War II. And there are you thinking your V10 8.4 liter Dodge Viper engine was big. Pah! In the usual style, Jay takes us through the details of the Bentley 27-litre and even takes it on a test drive. What an experience!
3. Bentley’s Past, Present and Future racing at Le Mans
There’s no denying the rich racing history Bentley has, and in that time, they have developed, built, and raced some of the most fantastic-looking cars on the grid. The Le Mans 24hr is a special race for Bentley, and this interesting video explores it from the earliest days in the 1920s until now. Let’s face it; if Bentley’s beautiful cars didn’t line up on the grid, they would be sorely missed.
4. Bentley Bentayga. The world’s most luxurious SUV
Who would have thought a few years ago that Bentley, maker of prestigious, hand-crafted cars, would make their foray into the world of SUVs? While the old money – and some new – protested and said it was simply a money-making operation, the Bentley Bentayga staggers all that enter its elegant and lavish cabin, because while it has all the benefits of a Bentley car, the Bentayga will also cut it really quite well over the rough stuff.
5. Bentley factory: the paint process
If you charge a lot for the car you sell and are one of the most luxurious car manufacturers in the world, then you expect the paint finish to live up to those standards too. In this fascinating video, we’re taken around the process of how Bentley goes about painting and perfecting the final result of their paintwork.
6. How Bentley chose and made their wood trim
For most carmakers now, the entire process of the car being built is automated. Not so with Bentley. Wood is a standout feature of luxury cars, and the process Bentley uses – from physically choosing the wood to hand-crafting it into the final product – is an amazing thing to behold. In yet another absorbing video, we’re taken through Bentley’s wood-crafting operation.
7. How Bentley’s hand-built 6.75-liter engine is made
At just one plant (and they have many), Toyota builds around 450 engines per day. Bentley makes just five or so of their 6.75 liters twin-turbo V8 engine in that same time. Incredibly, this engine has been used since 1959 by Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and it is still used in the Mulsanne. If you’re into your engineering, this is one fascinating film.
8. A comprehensive tour & test of the new Bentley Bentayga SUV
There are many videos of the Bentley Bentayga in action, both on and off-road. Still, there aren’t any showing you all the interior and exterior features that are of great interest if you’re a petrolhead. This is possibly the most comprehensive tour of the Bentayga and one of those videos that’ll show you whatever single button and switch does on the car. Grab a drink, and enjoy.
