Bentley’s Mulliner division will resurrect the Pace Six as its second continuation venture. Introduced on the sidelines of the 2022 Goodwood Competition of Pace, the born-again traditional might be practically similar to the vehicles that received the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930.
Continuation vehicles stay a major supply of controversy amongst fans; Ralph Lauren is among the high-profile collectors who wrote an offended letter to Bentley after the agency introduced plans to make 12 replicas of the 4 1929 Group Blower fashions. The criticism did not dent the mannequin’s reputation; all 12 items have been spoken for in file time, and this success inspired Bentley to convey the Pace Six again to life.
Why the Pace Six? It is some of the essential fashions in Bentley’s historical past, based on the corporate’s archives division, largely because of its success at Le Mans. It was an evolution of the 6½-Litre mannequin whose 6.5-liter straight-six engine was tuned to develop about 180 horsepower, an enormous quantity within the Twenties. It was provided with three completely different wheelbases, and 182 examples have been made between 1928 and 1930. Solely a small handful of these have been modified for racing; they have been constructed on a 132-inch wheelbase and fitted with a 200-horsepower six.
Bentley began the continuation venture by sourcing two of the unique vehicles. One is the third of three items that raced at Le Mans in 1930, and it has been nicknamed Outdated Quantity Three. It is in non-public fingers. The second is a 1929 mannequin that is a part of the carmaker’s assortment and that has beforehand acquired a full restoration. Mulliner has accomplished a 3D CAD mannequin of the Pace Six utilizing these vehicles and interval paperwork.
Pricing for the Pace Six continuation automotive begins at £1.5 million, a sum that represents about $1.8 million on the present conversion charge. Manufacturing is restricted to 12 items, and collectors scooped up the whole batch earlier than the venture was introduced to the general public.
Bentley will start constructing the primary automotive, which isn’t a part of the 12 and which might be used as a testing and engineering mule, within the second half of 2022.
