
Loved as they are today, the 'Derby' Bentleys were viewed with the deepest suspicion by the hardcore owners of the 'WO'-era cars. If you valued the rugged, Edwardian appeal of the Cricklewood Bentleys, then you likely had no truck with the concepts of smoothness and ease of driving that characterised these silky, whispering machines. They were the products of new thinking, but also commercial expediency, by a regime that was looking to bring much needed volume to its business by building a car that would appeal to younger buyers. When Rolls-Royce outbid Napier for the bankrupt Bentley firm in 1931, the Wall Street Crash was still a very fresh memory in a world gripped by the Depression. With military aero-engine contracts slowing down, the pressure was on to bring more chassis production into Derby as sales of the Phantom II and 20/25 stalled.
The deal proved an astute move on several levels. As well as the satisfaction of having denied its closest rival in the aero-engine business, Napier, the chance to reassert itself in car manufacture, Rolls-Royce gained the physical assets and goodwill associated with Bentley's Le Mans-winning reputation - and for a bargain price. It was the perfect opportunity to expand the model range in the direction of a smaller, lighter car based on an 18hp entry-level Rolls-Royce already under development. Launched at Olympia in 1933, after two years of dithering over final specification, the new 3½-litre could have emerged as a supercharged model, or a cheaper car in the Alvis/Lagonda idiom, had some factions had their way.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2024 من Classic & Sports Car.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2024 من Classic & Sports Car.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول

HIRED MUSCLE
Vauxhall's rebadging of an Australian V8 coupé was an ingenious corporate coup that also inspired its fiery VXR performance sub-brand

'The mighty motor punches this legendary car through the air'
This magnificent Bentley 8 Litre spent much of its life being honed for speed-record success, and its performance is still remarkable today.

MADE TO MAKE YOUR MOUTH WATER
An 'Opal Fruit green' Ford Capri II sparked a Liverpudlian schoolboy's fantasy that would one day become reality

NEW BLOOD TO LIGHT UP HISTORICS
Recent tweaks to the structure of international historic competition are good news for fans of variety

Charge of the light brigade
The Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport's 'less is more' philosophy resulted in a line of revered CS models, led by the 968 and 993

ANGLES OF DESTINY
The wedge-shaped ADO71 could have restored British Leyland's fortunes, but bad timing and an image problem conspired against it

So you want to be a RALLY DRIVER?
If so, the Historic Rally Car Register's Clubmans events are a great place to start. C&SC has partnered with the series for 2025, so let's meet the runners and riders

GRAN DEUR OUT OF A CRISIS
The Mercury Monarch and its Ford Granada twin were products of postFuel Crisis austerity, with compact luxury designed to rival Europe's best

Warts and all
This ex-John Surtees Ferrari 330GT's highly original patina has remained through various owners, and its current custodian plans to keep it that way.

SOME LIKE IT HOT
The United Arab Emirates has been hosting a Middle Eastern take on an Italian classic since 2022, and the event is developing a character all of its own