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Bentley's Speed Six Continuation Series Shines At Goodwood Test Finale
The Goodwood Festival of Speed this year featured the global dynamic debut of Mulliner’s Speed Six Continuation Series. The Bedford Grey 205 bhp ‘Factory Works’ car, the second development vehicle, completed eight runs up the famous hill climb without any issues. This marked the final significant shakedown for Mulliner’s latest creation.
Car Zero, the main engineering test prototype, has undergone extensive testing on both dyno and racetrack. It successfully passed all tests, paving the way for work to begin on twelve customer cars. Each will be customised with period-correct finishes and materials as per owner specifications.
Following an initial 1,000-kilometre shakedown near Mulliner’s base in Crewe, Car Zero faced a rigorous 8,000 km test at Millbrook Proving Ground. The schedule included Belgian pavé, Alpine courses, multiple top-speed runs, and unmetalled roads similar to those Bentley drivers encountered in the 1920s. By the end of this programme, Car Zero had covered 11,700 km of intensive test mileage.
After completing mileage accumulation, Car Zero was handed over to professional drivers for further testing at Goodwood Motor Circuit. It covered 500 km and 130 laps in one session, equivalent to six consecutive Vintage races at the Goodwood Revival. Throughout this session, Car Zero performed flawlessly.
The Speed Six's 6,597cc straight-six engine was designed by W.O. Bentley and powered Bentley’s most successful race car of the Cricklewood era (1921-31). The Mulliner team meticulously followed original specifications to create a new engine from over 600 components. Using state-of-the-art dynamometers in Crewe, they devised a continuous 20-hour dyno test programme covering various engine speeds and loads.
Even after two cycles and 40 hours of running time, the new engine met all power and torque targets reliably. This rigorous testing ensures that each Speed Six Continuation Series car will perform as expected under demanding conditions.
Work Underway on Customer Cars
Work on the first customer cars in the Speed Six Continuation Series is now underway at Mulliner Classic. The first deliveries are scheduled for autumn. These cars remain faithful to the original design but benefit from modern machine tools and lubricants. According to Mulliner Special Project Leader Ben Linde: "Today’s machine tools are more accurate than what Cricklewood could achieve."
Linde also noted that oil consumption was negligible even at race speeds during tests. All Speed Six Continuation cars will run smoothly on standard unleaded fuel and feature new tyres with period-correct tread patterns that are readily available.
Historical Significance
On June 22, 1930, Bentley Chairman Woolf Barnato won Le Mans driving a Team Bentley Speed Six with co-driver Glen Kidston. They covered a record 2,930 km at an average speed of 122.111 km/h. Ben Linde believes each of the twelve Speed Six Continuation Series cars can emulate this feat: "The Speed Six was the pinnacle of Bentley race engineering in the 1920s."
Linde added that these cars capture the spirit of their predecessors faithfully using tools, techniques, and engineering drawings from that era: "You could drive it to Le Mans, race for 24 hours then drive home with the winner’s trophy on the back seat."
The successful completion of these tests marks a significant milestone for Mulliner’s Speed Six Continuation Series. With work now underway on customer cars, enthusiasts can look forward to owning a piece of automotive history that combines vintage charm with modern reliability.
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