Bentley 1929 Speed Six

1929→1930 Bentley Speed 6

Following the 6½ Litre released in 1926, Bentley thoroughly updated the design with a more powerful engine. This flagship model was bodied by the best British coachbuilders and also raced with great success alongside the 4½ Litre. It was Walter Owen Bentley's favorite model and became the firms most successful car on the track.

Bentley gained much respect after proving their endurance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and winning many English races including the Tourist Trophy and Brooklands Double 12. In fact, Bentley was at the very first 24 Hours held in 1923, and won the event in 1924, 27, 28, 29 and 30. These later victories were achieved with specially fitted Speed Sixes which was one of Walter Owen Bentley's favorite cars.

The basis for all of Bentley's cars was an engine which in many respects was ahead of its time. Drawing upon experience gained from working at the Great Northern Railway and designing airplane engines, Walter Owen Bentley included such characteristics as aluminum pistons, dry-sump lubrication, twin spark ignition and an advanced valve train in his engines. Early models featured four cylinders and after 1925, Bentley released a straight six which would become his highlight work, and provide necessary power for heavy coachwork and grand touring. Exapnding on the ½ Litre, the main upgrade for a Speed 6 was a square-section intake manifold that increased power from 147 to 160 bhp and later 180 bhp with a slight redesign using a single port.

All Speed Sixes are identified by their parallel-sided radiator and green enamelled badges unlike the standard blue label for the 6½ Litre.

1928 Bentley Speed 6 Gallery

See full 1928 Bentley Speed 6 Gallery here

In Detail


type	Series Production Car
production years	1929 – 1930
released at	1928 Olympia Show
built at	England
engineers	Walter Owen Bentley
engine	Inline-6 w/Twin Spark Ignition
position	Front Longitudinal
aspiration	Natural
block material	Cast Iron
valvetrain	SOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl
fuel feed	Carburetors
displacement	6597 cc / 402.57 in³
bore	100 mm / 3.9 in
stroke	140 mm / 5.5 in
compression	5.3:1
power	134.2 kw / 180 bhp
specific output	27.29 bhp per litre
body / frame	Steel Chassis
driven wheels	RWD
front brakes	Drums
rear brakes	Drums
f suspension	Solid Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Friction Dampers
r suspension	Live Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Friction Dampers
transmission	4-Speed Manual

Auction Sales History

1929 Bentley Speed Six Grafton Coupe FR2630 – sold for $2,860,000 A Matching-Numbers, Original-Bodied Speed Six. One of Only Five Surviving Examples. Considered by Experts to be the Finest Bentley Chassis Ever Built. A Handsome and Sporting Coupe with Numerous Unique Features. An Exceptionally Pure Car Boasting Its Beautiful Original Interior. A Rare Opportunity and an Exceptional Vintage Bentley. Documented by a Clare Hay Report.
Auction Source: Gooding & Company's 10th Anniversary 2013 Pebble Beach Auction

1930 Bentley Speed 6 Corsica Le Mans Tourer SB2775 – sold for €736,710 The car presented here, n° SB 2775, was made in July 1930 with limousine bodywork by Lancefield on this chassis with a 12′ 6" (3.82m) wheelbase; the body was reworked by Corsica as a Le Mans Tourer in 1938. It was acquired by its current owner from the British dealer and Vintage Bentley specialist Stanley Mann in 2002, and has since been regularly driven and maintained. It is a formidable machine, and ready for the road.
Auction Source: 2010 Artcurial Sport & GTs au Mans Classic

1929 Bentley Speed Six Cadogan Dual Cowl Tourer – sold for $1,815,000 The only cadogen bodied speed six dual cowl tourer in existence and delivered new to Forrest Lycett, founding member of the Bentley Drivers Club. Coachwork by Cadogan. carefully restored and prepared by marque specialists, retains its original Cadogan four-seat tourer coachwork.
Auction Source: 2006 Monterey Preview

Bentley 1929 Speed Six

Source: https://www.supercars.net/blog/1929-bentley-speed-6/

Bentley 1929 Speed Six