The history of the automotive brand Bentley

Bentley is a British car manufacturer, founded January 18, 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley. Bentley was previously known for its large scale production of aircraft engines during World War I, the most famous of them - Bentley BR1. Since 1998, the company has been owned by the corporation Volkswagen Group in Germany. The history of the automotive brand Bentley will tell you many interesting facts about the existence of the company and the automotive industry. Before World War I, Owen Bentley was in partnership with his brother, JM Bentley selling French cars, but he always wanted to design and build its own range of cars with his name. In August 1919, the company Bentley Motors Ltd was registered, and the chassis with a dummy engine was shown at the London Motor Show in October of that year. This engine was built by December, and orders were taken for further deliveries starting in June 1920goda, however, development took longer than expected and the first cars were not ready until September 1921. It was on a visit to the factory in 1913, VO said aluminum papier-mache, and inspired by the idea of ??using lightweight metal instead of cast iron to make engine pistons. The first aluminum pistons Bentley became part of the aero engines during World War II. The company was at that time underfunded and Bentley had to ask for help from a millionaire Barneto Wolfe in 1925. As part of sdelkibyla well funded, she later led to his effective possession of the company, and Barneto became its chairman. Thanks to the dedication of a major races of this group, a company located in Cricklewood, north London, was known to four consecutive victories at Le Mans from 1927 to 1930. Their most serious competitor at the time was Bugatti. Original new model for Bentley was 3 liters, but because customers put heavier body chassis, big model was a 4 ?-liter. Perhaps it was the most iconic model period, with its distinctive supercharger projecting forward from the base to the lattice. Rolls-Royce acquired the company Bentley, secretly using a legal entity, but even the Bentley knew the true identity of the buyer until the deal was not completed. The new company wholly owned by Rolls-Royce, was formed as Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. Dissatisfied with his new role dependent, WO Bentley has left to join the Lagonda in 1935, when his contract was renewed. Cricklewood factory was closed and sold, and the production of Rolls-Royce moved to Derby. When a new Bentley, with a 3.5 liter engine appeared in 1933, it was a sports version of the Rolls-Royce 20/25, which is disappointing some traditional customers. After World War II, car production Rolls-Royce and Bentley have been displaced in the ex-military machine factory in Crewe, Cheshire. By the 1970th year and start selling the 1980's production was down. During this period, the parent company of Rolls-Royce hesitated, failing in 1970 after problems with the aero engine development. Car Models Bentley: 1985-1995 - create a version of the car Turbo R - version of the turbocharged 1994-1995 - a car Turbo S - limited-edition sports model 1995-1997 - creating the Turbo R - updated Turbo R 1996 - creation of a car Turbo R Sport - limited-edition sports model in 1998, Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors were purchased from Vickers Volkswagen Group for 430 million euros. They also found that the navigation of BMW was a joint venture agreement with Rolls-Royce, and that the German company was able to complete its deal to supply Rolls-Royce with a notice of 12 months, which will not be enough time for the company's Volkswagen Group, to re-design the cars. BMW and Volkswagen Group has entered into negotiations, and agreement was reached whereby the Volkswagen Group will produce cars Bentley and Rolls-Royce until the end of 2002, licensing the name from Rolls-Royce. January 1, 2003, the right to build Rolls-Royce cars took over BMW. BMW licensed the brand from Rolls-Royce, and paid 40 million euros of Volkswagen Group, but the deal did not include plants, state, or intellectual property in the current or future models. BMW has also agreed to continue the supply contract. Bentley reintroduces the venerable Rolls-Royce engine V8, initially as an additional model. In 2002, Bentley presented Queen Elisavet II official State Limousine to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. The demand was so great that the factory in Crewe was unable to meet orders, despite the installed capacity of approximately 9,500 vehicles annually. Consequently, the role of the production of a new four-door version of the Continental GT, was assigned to the factory where the luxury car Volkswagen Phaeton also collected. This arrangement was terminated in late 2006 after about 1000 cars, with all automobile production, returning to Crewe Works.