Bentley Celebrates 100 Years of Super Sports Legacy

Bentley provided an exclusive opportunity for journalists to experience its automotive lineage, flying them to Monterey, California, for the debut of the new Supersports model. During this event, the company also presented a significant piece of its heritage: a 1925 Bentley Super Sports, offering a ride in the historic vehicle. This event highlighted the evolution of Bentley's performance-oriented "Super Sports" designation, which dates back a century. The original Bentley Super Sports models were built between 1925 and 1927. These were derived from the standard 3 Litre model but featured a shortened wheelbase, reduced by 9.5 inches (241 mm). This modification, similar in intent to modern performance variants, aimed to decrease mass and enhance the car's responsiveness and handling characteristics, making it a more engaging driver's car. Beyond the chassis modifications, the original Super Sports also incorporated an upgraded engine. The 3.0-liter engine received new pistons, a lighter flywheel, increased compression ratios, and different carburetors. These enhancements, coupled with unique gearing, allowed the factory to guarantee that a Super Sports model could achieve speeds exceeding 100 mph (160 km/h). This performance benchmark was exceptional for its era, especially when contrasted with the more common Ford Model Ts of the same period, which were limited to much lower speeds. The design of the original Super Sports also featured a more tapered radiator, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. However, the bodywork itself was not standardized by Bentley; owners would commission specific coachbuilders to create their desired body style, leading to a variety of appearances. The example driven, associated with the nickname "Smoky," featured compact, two-seat bodywork that was considered streamlined for its time. The interior of the original Super Sports also reflected the era's automotive design, with the lever for its three-speed transmission positioned externally, a feature that would not meet modern safety regulations from bodies like the FIA or NHTSA. The new Bentley Supersports, in contrast, represents the pinnacle of modern automotive engineering, stripped of its hybrid system and configured for rear-wheel drive. Bentley claims it is the most driver-focused and lightest car the company has produced in 85 years, underscoring a century-long commitment to performance and driving dynamics that began with the original Super Sports.