A History of Bentley Motors

Following on from our announcement of this month’s spotlight brand as Bentley Motors, we would like to tell you a little more about the impressive history of the brand, so when you are looking to purchase a modern Bentley vehicle, you can be assured of its impeccable motoring lineage.

Spanning over a century, Bentley Motors was founded in 1919 by the youngest of 9 children W.O Bentley. A gifted engineer, Bentley started as an apprentice on the Great Northern Railway, graduating after five years and then turning his attention from trains to motorcars.

In 1912 he went into business with his brother, importing French cars made by Doriot, Flandrin & Parant and became fascinated with the idea of creating a new lighter blend of metals to manufacture pistons, giving them the edge in strength, power and reliability.

At the outbreak of the First World War and now a RAF pilot, Bentley used his new aluminium formula to manufacture fighter craft engines and created the Bentley Rotary engine which became the most successful British fighter aircraft of the war.

After surviving an attack from Manfred von Richtofen, otherwise known as the Red Baron, by jumping in a canal, and after more rounds of manufacturing developments, later in 1919 in recognition for his vital contributions to the war effort, Bentley received an MBE and most crucially £8,000 from the Commission of Awards to Inventors, which gave him the capital he needed to fulfil his dream and start his own car company.

And so, on 10 July 1919, Bentley Motors was born with a simple policy:

 “To make a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.”  - W.O Bentley

We currently have a limited number of Bentleys available. Please find more information on our in-stock 
Bentley Bentayga.

For our location, opening hours and contact details, click here.