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What comes to mind when you think of a Bentley Automobile? What images does it invoke? The Bentley has become the status symbol of the wealthy and well-to-do. On the same level as a Rolls Royce, and in some minds possibly even a bit more refined than it's competitors.The Bentley automobile is a great example of how an image can get better over time.

Begun in 1919 with what was referred to as experminental engine No.1, W.O. Bentley entered the ever growing group of people who were fascinated by the new form of transportation. He had been a railroad engineering apprentice, and as a hobby, had gotten into racing on the motorcycle circuit.

Always the engineer, he constantly sought ways to make engines perform better and go faster. For a time, he was even involved in aviation engineering. At the end of World War I he had decided to create his own automotive manufacturing company. He started with very little money, which would continue to be the case for most of his career, but he had the knowledge and drive to continue on, despite all the obstacles.

That knowledge of engines and passion for his company would help Bentley to produce automobiles that would win the LeMans Race in Europe four times between 1923 and 1931. In 1931, Bentley decided that in order to stay in business he would have to change his focus. He would have to switch from making sports cars which had a limited market, to a design built more for the working and upper class society. There would be more demand for his cars if he built for the common man.

From the start, his London based company created rolling chassis with elaborate coachwork for his wealthier customers. In no tme, Bentley Automobiles were competing with Rolls Royce and other high end luxury automobiles. It was Bentleys misfortune however that this grand beginning came at the start of a great depression in Europe, and he was broke. In an attempt to save his company, he would unfortunately lose it to his rival Rolls-Royce, and for a time would even become an employee of Rolls.

The Bentley line of Rolls-Royce would be commonly known as the "Hot-Rod" of the Rolls Company. After World War II, Rolls Royce discovered that the sporty Bentley models were in great demand. Soon it became one of the main brands of the Rolls empire. However in the 1960's economic changes had occured and Rolls Royce found itself taken over by the Vickers Group. It would later be sold to BMW and the Bentley brand would be sold out to Volkswagen.

Volkswagen has taken the image of Bentley and restored it to the sporty image of its past Lemans glory days. Today, Bentleys are highly prized and their owners are recognized as very discrimating car enthusiasts.

Learn more about this author, C. A. Pruit.
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