'It is extraordinarily difficult to explain in words or writing the exact fascination of a big, fast car of the type so ably represented by the big Bentley speed model.' The Autocar on the Bentley Speed Six, September 5th, 1930.

From the humblest of beginnings in a mews garage off Baker Street, London in 1919 the Bentley rapidly achieved fame as an exciting fast touring car, well able to compete with the best of European and American sports cars in the tough world of motor sport in the 1920s.

W O Bentley had proudly debuted the new 3-litre car bearing his name on Stand 126 at the 1919 Olympia Motor Exhibition.

Powered by a four-cylinder engine with single-overhead-camshaft, fixed 'head and four valves per cylinder, it set the pattern for the more refined six-cylinder 6½-Litre model that followed.

The latter's introduction mid-decade was prompted by the 3-Litre's waning competitiveness and the fact that too many customers had been tempted to fit unsuitably heavy coachwork to the exc...