Bentley has delivered its first Speed Six Continuation Series, marking the first new Speed Six model since 1930. The handcrafted vehicle is part of an exclusive 12-car series, each meticulously recreated using period-correct tools and techniques to honor Bentley’s storied history.
The original Speed Six, introduced in 1928, was a high-performance iteration of Bentley’s 6½ Litre, featuring a 6.5-liter inline-six engine with upgraded compression, twin SU carburetors, and a high-performance camshaft. Its production ended in 1930, after just 182 units were built, but not before achieving back-to-back wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930.
To ensure authenticity, Bentley used its own Speed Six, GU409, and the 1930 Le Mans works car Old Number 3 as templates. The W.O. Bentley Memorial Foundation provided 80% of the original design documents, while specialized coachbuilders and manufacturers recreated components to exacting 1930 standards.
One of the first completed Speed Sixes is commissioned by John Breslow, a U.S.-based collector. It is finished in Parsons Napier Green with a luxurious interior of Rust leather and carpeting, chosen from authentic period colors verified at England’s National Motor Museum. The build process required over 600 new parts, including a custom engine block casting for the race-spec inline-six, which produces 205 bhp, perfectly mirroring its original performance capabilities.
The Speed Six Continuation Series is a painstaking eight-month process for each car, combining Bentley’s Mulliner Classic team’s expertise with precision craftsmanship. While this first car has been delivered, the remaining 11 vehicles, already sold, are still in production.
Bentley’s revival of the Speed Six pays homage to its racing legacy and craftsmanship while providing a rare glimpse into the golden age of motoring for modern collectors.
Shawn Henry