Speed Six Continuation Series ‘Debuts’ at Goodwood

After an absence of 93 years, the Speed Six, the most successful Bentley racing car ever, makes its return to the world at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

July 13, 2023
Regarded as one of the most important Bentleys in history, a retro Speed Six was premiered to the world at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Far more than a replica, this ‘continuation’ model is built to the same specs, using the same processes, as the original car that inspired the series. The Speed Six is the second pre-war Continuation Series by Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke and coachbuilding division, following the Blower Continuation Series, which was itself the first pre-war continuation ever produced.
Extensive research has been undertaken to ensure that the precise makeup and constitution of the Speed Six is accurate and authentic, with particular focus on the specification and setup of the original cars for the 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans. The drawings have been supplemented by original mechanic’s notes which detailed the changes between the 1929 and 1930 races.
In excess of 600 individual new parts were required for the creation of the new 6½-litre six-cylinder race spec engine. Initial dyno testing has shown the first engines to generate 205 bhp at their peak, within 5 bhp of that documented for the original race-tuned engines in 1930.
Speed Six Car Zero has been fabricated over the last 10 months by an exceptionally skilled team of Mulliner artisans and specialists. A major driver of the Speed Six programme is the development and retention of modern and traditional coachbuilding skills. Manufacture of the first customer car will start in October of this year, and the series of 12 customer cars is due to be completed by the end of 2025, with each car taking 10 months to complete.