Crewe-based Bentley Motors celebrates centenary of sales

Bentley Motors is celebrating a centenary of sales to extraordinary customers, with 100 years since the brand’s first.

A 3-Litre model registered in 1921 as KS 1661 was purchased by wealthy Londoner Noel van Raalte, who enjoyed a passion for racing exceptional motor cars and whose family owned Brownsea Island, near Poole Harbour.

Originally bought for £1,150, the first production Bentley ordered was manufactured in Cricklewood, North London, and featured lightweight aluminium coachwork and brass brightwork.

Introduced by company founder, W.O. Bentley, the 3-Litre became an immensely popular motor car, exhibiting the build quality and engineering prowess that has been a hallmark of the company ever since.

In Bentley’s 102-year history, more than 200,000 cars have been handcrafted, 97% of which have rolled off the Crewe production line since the company moved in 1946.

While van Raalte was the first customer to order a Bentley, somewhat strangely he wasn’t the first to take delivery.

That honour belongs to Ivor Llewellyn, who in August 1921 took delivery of the first of three 3-Litres that he bought.

This was the third production chassis, and still exists today as the oldest surviving production (non-Experimental) Bentley in the world.

This history of Bentley craftsmanship helped ensure a 3-Litre went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and 1927.

It was the start of an epic run of five Bentley victories in eight years at the event, with the legendary Bentley Boys dominating the circuit.

Mark Tisshaw, Editor of Autocar, said: “Dating back to 1895, Autocar archive encompasses the entire history of Bentley.

“Indeed, we were already 26 years old when this significant milestone in Bentley’s rich history occurred.

“Opening up access to our archive for the first time with the digital launch of the Motoring Archive allows amazing stories like the origins of this very special Bentley to be more easily rediscovered and shared once more.”

Despite a global pandemic, Bentley recorded its highest ever sales figures in 2020 and also revealed its ground-breaking Beyond100 strategy.

Sustainable mobility leadership will effectively reinvent every aspect of the business.

The target is to be end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030, with the entire Bentley range powered only by battery.