January 18, 1919 – Bentley is founded
1931 Bentley during the 2019 Peking to Paris race
While touring the French DFP automobile factory, Walter Owens Bentley noticed an aluminum paperweight and had the idea of using the same material to produce lighter cylinders. W.O., as he was known, took the idea home to his factory in North London and began producing that product for the Sopwith Camel airplane during the Great War. His success in manufacturing led to the founding of Bentley Motors Limited on this day in 1919.
W.O. Bentley
The first of his vehicles would be delivered in September of 1921 and featured an innovative 4-valve per cylinder engine designed by Clive Gallop. Bentleys were soon tearing up the tracks in hill climbs and races at Brooklands. In some of the brands first major competitions, a Bentley plac...
