Blue Train Bentley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Blue Train Bentley refers to a Bentley Motors Company automobile, a high performance 6 1/2 litre Speed Model or Speed Six. This model was produced beginning in 1928 primarily for racing (winning at Le Mans in 1928 and 1929), but was also used for everyday transportation by Bentley Motors Chairman Woolf Barnato. In 1930, at a party in Cannes, Barnato claimed that his Bentley could beat the Blue Train express from Cannes (in the south of France) to Calais (on the coast of the English Channel). To prove his point he set off the next day as the Blue Train left the station in Cannes. After a trip of some 786 miles, he arrived in London minutes before the Blue Train arrived in Calais. The Speed Six had a new name: "The Blue Train Bentley."

Over the years, the "Blue Train Bentley" name became associated with a fastback coupe model of the Speed Six, built on a coach by Gurney Nutting. Investigation of service records revealed that this vehicle was not manufactured until after the legendary race. Instead, a saloon (sedan) model built on a coach by H.J. Mulliner was the actual Blue Train Bentley.

Both cars have been restored and are currently owned by Bruce and Jolene McCaw of Medina, Washington.

[edit] References

• Special Edition: Bentley Arnage Blue Train
• Bentley mystery is revealed

v • d • e Bentley ownership and road car timeline, 1920s–present – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG)
Type	1920s		1930s		1940s		1950s		1960s		1970s		1980s		1990s				2000s
	Independent		Rolls-Royce															Volkswagen Group
Sports car	3 L	4½ L			WWII
Saloon		6½/Six	4L/3½ 4¼L/V			VI	R	S1/S2/S3		T1		T2	Mulsanne								CFS
Premium		8 L										Camargue						Arnage
Coupé											Corniche			Continental & C Turbo		Continental R/S/T				C GT
Convertible																	Azure				C GTC
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys

v • d • e Bentley automobile timeline, 1980–2003 – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG) – next »
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
Saloon					Eight
	Mulsanne								Mulsanne S					Brooklands					Arnage			Arnage RL/R
			Mulsanne Turbo				Turbo R											Turbo RT		Arnage Red Label			Arnage T
Coupé												Continental R
															Continental S		Continental T
Convertible	Corniche				Continental											Azure
colour code:	Silver Shadow-based								Mulsanne-based								Arnage-based
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys

v • d • e « previous — Bentley automobile timeline, 1998–present – a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG)
Type	1990s		2000s
	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Saloon car	Arnage							Continental Flying Spur
		Red Label			Arnage R/T
				Arnage RL
Coupé	Continental R					Continental GT
	Continental T										Brooklands Coupé
Convertible										Continental GTC
	Azure								Azure
colour code:	Mulsanne-based				Arnage-based				Continental GT-based
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys • Bentley Speed 8