Bentley 6 ½ Litre and Bentley Speed Six
(1926 – 1930)
Bentley 6 1/2 Litre, 1927, #DH2206, Markham (of Reading) 2-Seater. There was plenty of life left when the first body showed signs of serious wear hence in the 30ies this new body substituted the old one and the car is still going strong.
W.O. Bentley’s answer to the demand for a car of bigger dimensions especially capable to carry heavy coachwork without significant loss of acceleration and top speed was unveiled in 1926 in the form of the Bentley 6 1/2 Litre. Its six cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder was so powerful that it met diversity of requirements. No longer suffered cars with formal heavy coachwork from lack of performance whereas lighter cars with open tourer bodies were employed on race courses with outstanding success. Introduction in October 1928 of the Bentley Speed Six was logical step to provide customers with a contender for motor sport events.
Technical Data:
6 cylinder in-line engine, iron cylinder block and cylinder head cast in one piece; bore stroke 100 x 140 mm, capacity 6,597 cc, 4 valves per cylinder, crankcase aluminium alloy, dual ignition by 2 synchronised magnetos (from 1927 dual ignition with magneto and separate coil); single dry plate type clutch; 4-speed gearbox spiral bevel final drive; suspension by semi-elliptic springs front and rear; 4-wheel brakes, wheelbase 3,352.8 mm (132 in) – abandoned after a short time, 3,657.6 mm (144 in) or 3,810 mm (150 in), later series 3,695.6 mm or 3,848 mm (from 1928 Bentley Speed Six wheelbase 3,505.2 mm (138 in), later series 3,568.7 mm (140 1/2 in) or 3,873.5 mm (152 1/2 in); tyre size 6.25 x 33 (Bentley Speed Six tyre size 6.75 x 18 or 6 x 33, last series 6.75 x 21 or 6 x 21)
Bentley 6 1/2 Litre, 1927, #KD2105, H.J. Mulliner Weymann Tourer. Woolf Barnato was chairman of the Bentley company and this car was the answer to his question for «Big Six really to go».
No. made:
363 Bentley 6 ½ Litre
182 Bentley Speed Six
545 Bentley 6 ½ Litre altogether