W.O. Bentley's dream is coming alive.

Today Bentley released the following press release and photograph.

"Crewe: Wednesday 8 July. Bentley Motors today celebrates its 90th anniversary and confirms that its all-new Bentley will be revealed - and named - in August at the Pebble Beach Concours D’ Elegance in Monterey, California where the company is a featured marque.



Founded by W.O. Bentley in 1919, the company’s first production car, the 3-litre was delivered in September 1921. Over the next ten years, Bentley went on to produce an array of iconic motor cars. At the same time, the exploits of the immortal Bentley Boys – a select group of businessmen, sportsmen and bons vivants – forged the company’s proud sporting pedigree both on and off the racetracks of Europe. The Bentley Boys made the legendary Le Mans endurance race their own, winning five times between 1924 and 1930.

The all-new grand Bentley captures the 1920s ‘grand touring’ spirit of the Bentley Boys, delivering the effortless driving, exclusivity and adventure desired by the real motoring enthusiast. A unique fusion of elegant design, hand craftsmanship and technological innovation, the new model embodies the potent yet luxuriously refined driving experience that is ‘pure Bentley’. These have been the hallmarks of a Bentley since that first test drive in 1920.



It is fitting that the 90th anniversary of the Company will be marked by an all-new car. Such events are rare milestones in the Company’s history. Designed, engineered and built in Crewe, which has been home to Bentley Motors for over 60 years, it has been a ‘once in a career experience’ for many involved. The car and its name, which will be revealed at Pebble Beach on 16 August, signal a new era in British luxury motoring."

And also Bentley released another video is the 'grand new Bentley' series:

"W.O. Bentley's dream is coming alive."

Five more videos to go.

the grand new Bentley S1 or S2

The cheeky people at Car Magazine have pulled off a major scoop and have published these pictures of the new grand Bentley!





First impressions after Wow! - is that is looks like a reinterpreted Bentley S1 or S2!! Don't you think?

The major single headlight and a lower outer smaller headlight. It fits the bill for the new grand Bentley.



Here are the headlights up close. They are very modern as expected using LED technology.



This is the only official released photograph so far.



And now the Car Magazine side photo of the new car. It certainly is the same.



These unauthorised photos have been taken inside Crewe, and that black blob above is actually a person in the photo. Lets lighten it up to see more.



Back of the head only. And the date stamp on the camera it obviously wrong. But I do think that this gentleman will be spoken to at Crewe on Monday.

This is the final photo that has been released so far by Car Magazine. There is more to come on Monday.

It does look a little weird, as I do not see any roof on the car! Is it actually an Azure? I'm not sure.



The car in the background of this photo also looks like a a convertible. All will be relieved shortly I'm sure.



The front grill is as expected.



The under bumper grill certainly does remind me of the Zagato Bentley.



There is talk that the car will be called the Bentley Grand, but no one really knows so far. More on Project Kimberley on Monday.

Romero Britto's Art Car Bentley

Romero Britto is a famous Brasillian artist that lives and works in Florida whose work could be described as neo-pop.

Britto is currently holding an exhibition called "Come to my World" in Berlin.



And yes it features his work on a Bentley Continental GT.



According to Britto, "It (the Bentley Continental GT) is the most beautiful and elegant car in the world. The lines of the new design are perfect to paint as a clean canvas. What a way to start a fascinating and colorful journey."



It will be auctioned off after the exhibition for charity. It is one for the art collectors.

Supersports at Nurburgring

Take a look at this video of the new Bentley Continental Supersports on the Nurburgring.

It is the fastest Bentley ever. Nice.

Tired Corniche in Japan

Andy, a resident of Japan who keeps an eye on the Japanese Bentley and Rolls Royce used car sales market sent in this interested car currently for sale.



Yep it's a little tired, but hey it's a Corniche Fixed Head Coupe!



It is definitely showing its weathered age!



It does come with the grill if you are interested.



The car is currently for sale at a Yahoo.jp auction here. I hope you read Japanese.

Barter for a Roller

I do like a bit of cheek.

David Irvine, an avid Rolls Royce and Bentley spotter, and if I dare say the ultimate source of '70s and 80's Rolls Royce and Bentley photos, bumped into John Cox a couple of weeks ago, and had a yarn about an ad he did for his car dealership in the 80's. It caused a bit of a stir.

So David looked through his famous scrap book of Rolls Royce and Bentley articles and photographs and found the ad and sent it in.

Here it is! Click the image to enlarge the advertisement.



That's right! You can barter for a new Corniche with John Cox!

It certainly got people talking in Toronto!

Here is a follow up article that appeared in the press. Click to read.



And another. Skateboards kids!



From around the same time as the advert, here a photo of John Cox's dealership Grand Touring Automobiles.



And a peek inside of how it looked in the 80's.





Well John Cox has actually sold Grand Touring Automobiles of Toronto, but the dealership under a new owner is still operating today.

And yes they still sell Bentley and Rolls Royce cars!

Grand Touring Automobiles also trades as Bentley Toronto and Rolls Royce Motors Toronto.

And they do have some interesting stock.

This 1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph is for sale at $69,900.

I think people should see it the old ad is still valid and find out what they will barter for it!



Also a 1993 Bentley Continental R is for sale at $49,900.

I wonder how many fur coats or shares in a Alaska gold mine they will take for it!



Thanks David Irvine for sending in the great photos and articles.

Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner

Lately a Bentley with the marking of a T is becoming to be a bit of a special car.

Since the 1996 Bentley Continental T that introduced with amazing performance and torque, there has been the Bentley Arnage T and the new Bentley Azure T.

There is also another T marked car our there. That is the Bentley Turbo RT.



And my favourite is this very limited Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner version.








A seriously limited number of the Turbo RT Mulliners were made.







It is the pinnacle of the Turbo R body shape in all respects.







Each was unique and totally tailored to what the customer ordered.







The interior is just impeccable.







The rear speedo is such a good feature!







Now the badges.





The colour match wheels certainly do stand out!



If I was to spec one out in 1998 I would add just a couple more options to the white one above, to make it a bit more the the one below.



I would have ticked the side vent option.



As well as the bonnet vents.



And finally, the Hooper style rear window would have been given the green light.



I think it equates to Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner perfection in my books.

It will be a Fusion of Extremes

Here is the latest teaser video for the grand new Bentley.

It will be a fusion of extremes.

Six more videos to go.

James Young S3 and Silver Cloud III

In the 1960's prior to the introduction of the Silver Shadow and the Bentley T models, Rolls Royce and Bentley cars all were constructed using a separate chassis and body set up.

You could buy your new 'car' without the body, and then send your 'car' of chassis, engine et al, to your local carriage shop to have a coach built on the chassis to your liking. The horse power came from the engine, not the ones in your paddock.

Well I think that is how it worked anyway.

Here is what you got from Crewe in 1964 (note the number plate RR 1964) when you did not order a standard steel body from them. It is kind on missing something on top - yes the body. And the seats as well if you did not notice.








James Young could make your body for your new car. Here is one of his designs, a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III SCT100. It is affectionately known as a James Young Baby Phantom. It certainly does look like a Phantom!




Actually three Bentley S3 SCT100 were made by James Young as well. Stephen Fabman-Beker, the secretary of the RREC South Eastern Section of the UK has one, the other is in the US and the final one is in New Zealand.

Here is Stephen's on Whitehall.



Notice Parliament House in the background!



James Young also made a sporting 4 door salon body for the chassis. Here it is on a Bentley S3.



I am not sure of the design number or how many were made, but hopefully some one will sent in the information!

I'm pretty sure this is an Bentley S2 with the James Young body.



Looking forward to hearing from some people in the know about James Young!

Rolls Royce Head of State Car

This Rolls Royce Head of State car was designed by Graham Hull in 1986 and was based on the Rolls Royce Silver Spur.

Two versions were designed, one with more interior room than the other. This was achieved by raising the roof higher.

Here are the designs.




Both car designs extend the Silver Spur wheel base by 26.6" (650mm).

The design above has the door aperture raised by 2", with the overall height raised by 5.75 (146mm)".

The second design is different as visually the roof does not look as raised. This is achieved by raising the door aperture a half inch higher at 2.5", however the overall height is actually less,having only been raised by 4.75".



The car did end up getting manufactured as the Mulliner Park Ward Touring Limousine.



The higher roof design with more interior room became the end product.



It is certainly one beautiful well proportioned limousine.

We are the opposite of mass production.

So the marketing strategy for the new grand Bentley has taken shape.

First there was a teaser video called 'The all-new grand Bentley.'

Today Bentley released a new video titles 'We are the opposite of mass production.' It is a nice touch.

Here it is. It features Peter Guest the Head of Body and Trim doing the voice over, with Clive Jones stitching and cutting.

On the site New Grand Bentley the following seven videos are 'coming soon'.

It will be a fusion of extremes.
It's a rare event and a privilege.
It's never been done. Let's do it.
Colour is personal, just like a Bentley.
There was no benchmark.
The spirit of British motoring lives on.
W.O. Bentley's dream is coming alive.

And guess what. There is 7 weeks till the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance!

So a one video per week marketing strategy seems on the cards!

Production Numbers and Survival rates

Ever wondered about the production figures of Rolls Royce and Bentley cars?

Interested in mile stones like the 100000th car produced, and the 25 cars made to celebrate the 100000th Rolls Royce and 100 years of motoring?



Want to know how many Bentley 8L were made and how many survive today?

Well check this amazing document out!

It is significant that in 2002 a total of 78% of all rolls Royce and Bentley cars ever produced survive. That figure will be more today due to the recent increase in production.

Environmentalists take note.

Figures courtesy of the Rolls Royce Owners Club Australia.