Bentley (1921-1940): Books - History and Models

Bentley Four-cylinder Models in Detail - 3-Litre, 4 ½-Litre and 4 ½-Litre Supercharged - 1921-1930

WO Bentley launched his first model, the 3-litre, in 1921, as a sporting car for the discerning driver, intending that it should provide 80mph performance, with exceptional reliability based on the quality of its engineering and construction.
It became the favourite of wealthy young sportsmen and, to prove a point, 3-litres won at Le Mans in 1924 and 1927.

While still in production it was joined in 1927 by the 90mph 4½-litre, still a four-cylinder, which won at Le Mans in 1928. The best-known Bentley, the supercharged 4 ½, was offered in 1929 and was a genuine 110mph car at a time when most cars struggled to achieve 60mph.

The author commences with an account of the design and development of the 3-litre prototypes against the background of WO's experience as a designer, particularly his work on aero engine design in World War I.
Then comes a detailed examination and analysis of the production 3-litre - its engine, transmission, chassis and running gear - and its evolution through the "Standard" model, Speed Model and Super Sports, with extracts from contemporary reports and road tests.
This is followed by equivalent coverage of the 4 ½-litre and 4 ½-litre supercharged models.

The author gives an account of the cars' illustrious competition history, principally at Le Mans, and reviews the range of bodies offered by coachbuilders, from stark two-seaters to overweight limousines.
Ten outstanding examples of the cars have been photographed specially for this book and are featured in detail in some 150 colour shots. There are also more than 150 black-and-white photographs drawn from archive sources.

Information

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	176 pages, 27.5 x 22 x 1.9 cm / 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.75 in, hardback
Illustrations:	150 b&w and 150 colour photos
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2012)
Series:	In Detail
ISBN:	9781906133306

Bentley 4 ½ Litre Manual (1927 onwards) - An insight into the design, engineering, maintainance and ownership

The 4 ½-litre Bentley is one of the most iconic pre-war cars, and the supercharged 4 ½-litre 'Blower' Bentley is today one of the most sought-after and most valuable cars for collectors.
The 'Bentley Boys' won several high-profile races in Bentleys, and Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin won with a 4 ½-litre car in 1928. Five supercharged 'Blower' Bentleys were built to compete at Le Mans, but the car's Achilles Heel was its reliability, and it never won the 24-hour race.

This Manual provides details of the 4 ½-litre unsupercharged and 'Blower' Bentley racing cars, detailing their period racing history, anatomy and engineering, and providing an insight into owning, maintaining and running an example of this iconic car today.
Illustrated with period photographs and design and engineering material, plus photographs of restored examples in use today.

Information

Author:	Ian Wagstaff
Details:	160 pages, 27.5 x 22 x 1.4 cm / 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.55 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Haynes Publishing (GB, 2017)
Series:	Haynes Motorsport Manual
ISBN:	9781785210709

Bentley 3-1/2 & 4-1/4 Litre in Detail 1933-40

During the 1930s, Bentleys produced by Rolls-Royce, following their unexpected acquisition of Bentley Motors, proved to be a remarkable success. This achievement stemmed from the cars' performance, engineering excellence, attractive coachwork, and association with the prestigious Rolls-Royce brand.

The 1933 3 ½ Litre Bentley, dubbed "The Silent Sports Car," epitomized this success, outselling its competitors despite its higher price. It appealed to both discerning sports drivers and those seeking stylish urban transport. The Bentley chassis was also favored by coachbuilders, with more exhibiting their work on Bentley models at the London Motor Show than any other marque during the mid-1930s.

The book delves into Bentley Motors' history and the Rolls-Royce takeover, followed by an in-depth analysis of key models like the 3 ½ Litre, 4¼ Litre, and Mark V. Each model is extensively covered, detailing differences, technical specifications, body options, performance, and competitive history. The narrative concludes with a review of experimental versions like the Paulin/Embiricos car and the Corniche.

For current and prospective owners, practical advice on car usage, maintenance, and parts availability is provided, rounding out the comprehensive exploration of Bentley's legacy.

Information

Author:	Nick Walker
Details:	160 pages, 27.5 x 22 x 1.8 cm / 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.71 in, hardback
Illustrations:	150 b&w and 70 colour photos
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2002)
Series:	In Detail
ISBN:	9780954106317

Bentley Six-Cylinder Models In Detail

WO Bentley introduced his first model, the 3 Litre four-cylinder, in 1921, aiming to create a sporty car known for 80mph performance and exceptional reliability, backed by a five-year guarantee. In 1925, Bentley unveiled the six-cylinder 6 ½-litre, a luxurious, high-speed car designed to compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. The Speed Six version, introduced in 1928, featured twin carburetors and higher compression for added performance. Under Woolf Barnato's leadership, Speed Sixes triumphed at Le Mans in 1929 and 1930.

The book explores the 8-litre, considered Bentley's supercar in 1931, capable of 100mph. However, financial difficulties arose. The hastily introduced 4-litre failed to address them.

The author provides historical context on Bentley's performance and challenges in the late 1920s. Detailed examinations cover the 6 ½-litre, Speed Six, 8-litre, and 4-litre models, including technical details, production changes, and competition history. It delves into the range of coachbuilt bodies, from tourers to limousines.

The book showcases six cars with 175 color photographs and includes over 115 black-and-white archival images, offering an in-depth study of these iconic Bentleys, honoring their legacy.

Information

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	176 pages, 28 x 21.5 x 2.5 cm / 11 x 8.5 x 0.98 in, hardback
Illustrations:	115 b&w and 175 colour photos
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2013)
ISBN:	9781906133429

Coachwork on Vintage Bentleys: 3 Litre, 4 ½ Litre, 6 ½ Litre, Speed Six & 8 Litre (1921-1931)

Car enthusiasts often have a specific image of vintage Bentleys in mind: a Vanden Plas four-seater tourer, painted green. However, Bentleys of the past encompassed various body types beyond this stereotype. From saloons to limousines, fixed-head coupés to cabriolets, the range was diverse. Sadly, many of these bodies were scrapped early on, despite their chassis often being preserved.

W.O. Bentley originally designed his cars for sporting motorists, but demand shifted towards heavier, luxury styles. To meet this, Bentley extended wheelbases and developed more powerful models like the 6 ½ Litre and the Eight Litre, attracting British society with bespoke bodywork.

This book, illustrated with over 200 contemporary black-and-white images and 60 color photographs, explores Bentley coachwork from the 1920s to 1931. It traces the evolution of saloons, limousines, drophead coupés, and tourers, highlighting major developments like the Weymann system and cellulose paint.
The book also includes histories of major coachbuilders and excerpts from period motoring journals. In an era where vintage Bentleys are often seen as platforms for Le Mans replicas, this book reminds us of the rich diversity that once graced Britain's most renowned car manufacturer.

Information

Author:	Nick Walker, Rowan Isaac
Details:	160 pages, 27.5 x 22 x 1.1 cm / 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.43 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and 60 colour photos
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2006)
ISBN:	9780954998110

Coachwork on Derby Bentleys - 3 ½-litre, 4 ¼-litre & Mark V (1933-1940)

In the 1930s, Bentley's Derby factory supplied only chassis, without bodies, and customers for these refined, fast and enormously desirable cars would then select and turn to one of the many coachbuilders to design and construct a body for them to meet their tastes and requirements.

This book covers both British and overseas coachbuilders, and reviews the bodies they built on the 3 ½-litre, 4 ¼-litre and Mk V Bentley chassis.

Coachbuilders are dealt with in alphabetical order, with details of the different types of body they supplied - saloon, coupe, drophead, sports, sedanca, etc - and photographs showing the wide variety of their creations.

Bentley aficionados will particularly appreciate the inclusion of chassis numbers for all the cars bodied by all the coachbuilders, which makes this a truly definitive work.

Information

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	192 pages, 28 x 23 x 2.1 cm / 11 x 9.1 x 0.83 in, hardback
Illustrations:	250 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Herridge & Sons Ltd (GB, 2017)
ISBN:	9781906133757

Park Ward - The Innovative Coachbuilders 1919-1939

Dalton Watson Fine Books is pleased to announce a major three-volume work on the pre-war history and cars of the great British coachbuilder, Park Ward.
The company was the most prolific coachbuilder on Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis, ultimately completing over 4,300 cars.

Volume I and II is the story of Park Ward & Co Ltd. - the men who worked there and the company's growing relationship with Rolls-Royce Ltd. A photographic record of all the Rolls-Royce models from Silver Ghost to the Wraith that carried Park Ward coachwork is included, along with chapters on the W. O. Bentley cars, and the Rolls-Royce and Bentley experimental cars with Park Ward coachwork.
The Derby-built Bentleys follow, supported by chapters on the London Motor Show cars, coachwork on marques other than Rolls-Royce and Bentley, and examples of Park Ward advertising literature and catalogues.
An appendix contains a series of articles written by 'Bill' Ward, the company founder's son, entitled 'The Art and Evolution of Coachbuilding'.

Volume III contains extensive tables detailing each of over 3,000 pre-war Park Ward-bodied Rolls-Royce and Bentley, as well as a listing of over 1,000 Park Ward bodies on other marques. In addition, and rarely seen before, there are over 700 sales order pages extracted from Park Ward's Finishing books.

Author Malcolm Tucker is a past-Chairman of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club, and is an established Rolls-Royce and Bentley historian and writer.

Topics covered include:
- Park Ward and his company
- The Cars of W.O. Bentley
- Rolls-Royce and Derby Bentley Experimental Cars
- Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
- Rolls-Royce 20 HP
- Rolls-Royce Phantom I
- Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP
- Rolls-Royce Phantom II
- Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP
- Rolls-Royce Phantom III
- Rolls-Royce Wraith
- Derby Bentleys
- Motor Show Cars and more!

Information

Author:	Malcolm Tucker
Details:	1240 pages, 25.5 x 31.5 x 10.9 cm / 10 x 12.4 x 4.29 in, hardback
Illustrations:	1593 b&w and colour photos, drawings
Publisher:	Dalton Watson Fine Books (USA, 2019)
ISBN:	9781854433015