Car of the Week #10: Bentley Speed Six ‘Old No. 2’

Bentley Speed Six ‘Old No 2’, chassis number HM2868, is one of the finest and most original works Bentleys in existence today. It formed part of a now-famous trio know as Old No.1, 2 and 3.

Old No. 2 was built by Bentley specifically to compete in the iconic and commercially important 1930 Le Mans race in which, driven by Bentley Boys Dick Watney and Frank Clement, it came second, behind stable mate ‘Old No 1’.

Both are Speed Six models, using an engine which in many respects was ahead of its time. Drawing upon experience gained from working at the Great Northern Railway and designing airplane engines, Walter Owen Bentley included such characteristics as aluminum pistons, dry-sump lubrication, twin spark ignition and an advanced valve-train in his engines.

Prior to entering the Le Mans race Old No. 2 had conclusively won the then famous Brooklands Double Twelve of 1930, this time driven by Bentley financier, chairman and Bentley Boy, Woolf “Babe” Barnato.In 2004 Old No. 2 was acquired by a noted collector and custodian of historic motor cars who commissioned renowned Bentley restorer Graham Moss of R C Moss to undertake a methodical, no expense spared conservation of this historic motor car. A primary of the conservation was to make it as near as possible to its 1930 specification whilst keeping it physically as original as possible.

The Bentley Speed Six ‘Old No. 2’ will be at Concours of Elegance 2016 at Windsor Castle from 2-4 September. Get your tickets to the event here: https://www.theticketfactory.com/coe/online/