Bentley’s older cars trace a clear timeline of British automotive design and engineering, from pace-setting racers to refined grand tourers. Browsing through those models highlights changes in coachbuilding, performance priorities and styling across decades.
There are 37 Bentley Old Models, ranging from Bentley 3 Litre to Bentley Turbo RT. For each model you’ll find below the Production years, Body style and Engine to make quick comparisons and spot key differences you’ll find below.
Which Bentley Old Models are most sought after by collectors?
Collectors typically prize early pre‑war racers and limited-production coachbuilt examples because of rarity and historical significance; models with documented race history or unique coachwork often command higher interest and value. Condition, provenance and originality usually matter more than model name alone.
How can I use the Production years, Body style and Engine columns to identify a model?
Use the Production years to narrow the era, then match Body style and Engine details to distinguish similar models—engine size/type and coachbuilder notes are especially useful—and confirm with chassis/VIN records or marque registries for certainty.
Bentley Old Models
| Model | Production years | Body style | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley 3 Litre | 1921–1929 | Tourer, saloon, roadster | 3.0 L inline-4 |
| Bentley 6½ Litre | 1926–1930 | Tourer, saloon, limousine | 6.6 L inline-6 |
| Bentley 4½ Litre | 1927–1931 | Tourer, saloon, roadster | 4.4 L inline-4 |
| Bentley Speed Six | 1928–1930 | Tourer, saloon, coupe | 6.6 L inline-6 |
| Bentley 4½ Litre Blower | 1929–1931 | Tourer, roadster | 4.4 L supercharged inline-4 |
| Bentley 8 Litre | 1930–1931 | Saloon, tourer, limousine | 7.9 L inline-6 |
| Bentley 4 Litre | 1931 | Saloon, tourer | 4.0 L inline-6 |
| Bentley 3½ Litre | 1933–1936 | Saloon, coupe, convertible | 3.7 L inline-6 |
| Bentley 4¼ Litre | 1936–1939 | Saloon, coupe, drophead coupe | 4.3 L inline-6 |
| Bentley Mark V | 1939–1941 | Saloon, drophead coupe | 4.3 L inline-6 |
| Bentley Mark VI | 1946–1952 | 4-door saloon | 4.3 L / 4.6 L inline-6 |
| Bentley R Type | 1952–1955 | 4-door saloon | 4.6 L inline-6 |
| Bentley R Type Continental | 1952–1955 | 2-door fastback coupe | 4.6 L / 4.9 L inline-6 |
| Bentley S1 | 1955–1959 | 4-door saloon | 4.9 L inline-6 |
| Bentley S1 Continental | 1955–1959 | Coupe, drophead coupe | 4.9 L inline-6 |
| Bentley S2 | 1959–1962 | 4-door saloon | 6.25 L V8 |
| Bentley S2 Continental | 1959–1962 | Coupe, drophead coupe, flying spur saloon | 6.25 L V8 |
| Bentley S3 | 1962–1965 | 4-door saloon | 6.25 L V8 |
| Bentley S3 Continental | 1962–1965 | Coupe, drophead coupe, flying spur saloon | 6.25 L V8 |
| Bentley T1 | 1965–1977 | 4-door saloon, 2-door saloon, convertible | 6.25 L V8 |
| Bentley Corniche | 1971–1984 | 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible | 6.75 L V8 |
| Bentley T2 | 1977–1980 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L V8 |
| Bentley Mulsanne | 1980–1992 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L V8 |
| Bentley Mulsanne Turbo | 1982–1985 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Eight | 1984–1992 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L V8 |
| Bentley Turbo R | 1985–1999 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Continental | 1984–1995 | 2-door convertible | 6.75 L V8 |
| Bentley Continental R | 1991–2003 | 2-door coupe | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Brooklands | 1992–1998 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L V8 |
| Bentley Azure | 1995–2003 | 2-door convertible | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Continental T | 1996–2002 | 2-door coupe | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Turbo RT | 1997–1998 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Arnage Green Label | 1998–2000 | 4-door saloon | 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 |
| Bentley Arnage Red Label | 1999–2002 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L turbocharged V8 |
| Bentley Arnage T | 2002–2009 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L twin-turbo V8 |
| Bentley Arnage R | 2002–2009 | 4-door saloon | 6.75 L twin-turbo V8 |
| Bentley Continental GT | 2003–2011 | 2-door coupe | 6.0 L twin-turbo W12 |
Images and Descriptions
Bentley 3 Litre
The very first production Bentley. Famed for its engineering and durability, it established the brand’s reputation for performance and quality by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and 1927. It remains a cornerstone of any classic Bentley collection.
Bentley 6½ Litre
Designed as a larger, more refined touring car to carry heavy coachbuilt bodies. It offered smooth, effortless performance and luxury, appealing to wealthy clients who desired comfort over the raw sporting nature of the 3 Litre model.
Bentley 4½ Litre
An icon of the vintage era, this model combined the 3 Litre’s chassis with a more powerful engine. Its famous victory at Le Mans in 1928 cemented its legendary status, making it one of the most desirable pre-war sports cars.
Bentley Speed Six
The high-performance version of the 6½ Litre, the Speed Six was a racing powerhouse, winning Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. W.O. Bentley himself considered it the best car he ever made, representing the peak of his engineering achievements.
Bentley 4½ Litre Blower
Perhaps the most famous Bentley of all time, the “Blower” was a supercharged racing special. While not as successful in racing as the Speed Six, its immense power and dramatic appearance made it an enduring automotive legend and a collector’s dream.
Bentley 8 Litre
W.O. Bentley’s final masterpiece, designed to be a 100-mph luxury car regardless of its heavy coachwork. Produced in very small numbers due to the Great Depression, it is considered one of the finest grand tourers of its era and is exceptionally rare.
Bentley 4 Litre
An attempt to create a more economical model during the Great Depression, using the 8-Litre chassis with a smaller engine. It was underpowered and commercially unsuccessful, with only 50 produced, making it a rare but less celebrated model.
Bentley 3½ Litre
The first model produced under Rolls-Royce ownership, known as the “Derby Bentley.” It was marketed as “the silent sports car,” blending traditional Bentley performance with newfound Rolls-Royce refinement and quality, saving the brand from extinction.
Bentley 4¼ Litre
An evolution of the 3½ Litre, this Derby Bentley featured a more powerful engine to cope with increasingly luxurious and heavy coachwork. It continued the “silent sports car” legacy with enhanced performance, becoming a highly regarded pre-war tourer.
Bentley Mark V
A technologically advanced model featuring independent front suspension, its production was cut short by WWII. Only a handful of chassis were completed, making it one of the rarest of all production Bentleys and a fascinating link between pre-war and post-war designs.
Bentley Mark VI
The first post-war Bentley and the first to be offered with a standard factory-built steel body, though coachbuilt versions were also available. This model made Bentley ownership more accessible and set the pattern for the company’s post-war production.
Bentley R Type
An evolution of the Mark VI, the R Type is best known for its larger boot, which improved its practicality as a touring saloon. It was the last Bentley to be offered with a manual gearbox before automatics became standard on most models.
Bentley R Type Continental
A true landmark model, this lightweight, high-performance coupe was the fastest four-seat production car in the world at its launch. Its stunning design by H.J. Mulliner is considered one of the most beautiful of all time, making it a blue-chip collectible.
Bentley S1
Featuring all-new, sleeker styling and a standard automatic transmission, the S1 offered improved comfort and space. It was a luxurious and elegant saloon for its time, though it was the last Bentley to use the venerable inline-six engine.
Bentley S1 Continental
The coachbuilt two-door version of the S1, offering exclusive, custom bodywork from coachbuilders like Park Ward and H.J. Mulliner. These cars combined the S1’s refined chassis with more sporting and elegant designs for the discerning owner-driver.
Bentley S2
The S2 marked a major step forward with the introduction of the legendary L-Series V8 engine, which provided a significant boost in power and smoothness. This new engine transformed the car’s performance and would power Bentleys for decades.
Bentley S2 Continental
Pairing the new V8 engine with exclusive coachbuilt bodies, the S2 Continental was a fast and supremely elegant grand tourer. The four-door “Flying Spur” by H.J. Mulliner is particularly sought after for its blend of performance and practicality.
Bentley S3
The final evolution of the S-series, the S3 is most easily identified by its distinctive quad headlamps. It offered slightly more power and a more luxurious interior than the S2, representing the end of a classic era of Bentley design.
Bentley S3 Continental
Considered by many to be the most desirable of the S-series Continentals, the S3 combined classic styling with the well-developed V8 chassis. These final coachbuilt masterpieces are highly prized for their beauty, rarity, and performance.
Bentley T1
A revolutionary car for Bentley, the T1 featured monocoque construction, independent suspension, and disc brakes, offering far more modern driving dynamics. It was Bentley’s version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, aimed at the owner-driver.
Bentley Corniche
The two-door version of the T1, offering a more personal and stylish driving experience. Hand-built by Mulliner Park Ward, the Corniche convertible, in particular, became a symbol of opulent, open-top motoring for the ultra-wealthy.
Bentley T2
An updated version of the T1, the T2 featured improvements such as rack-and-pinion steering, improved air conditioning, and impact-absorbing bumpers. These changes made the car easier and more pleasant to drive, though it retained its classic looks.
Bentley Mulsanne
Named after the famous Le Mans straight, the Mulsanne succeeded the T2 and formed the basis for Bentley’s revival as a performance brand. It was a large, luxurious saloon that returned to a more traditional, squared-off Bentley design.
Bentley Mulsanne Turbo
This was the model that put the “charge” back into Bentley. By adding a turbocharger to the Mulsanne, Bentley created a luxury saloon with supercar-like acceleration, shocking the automotive world and reviving the brand’s sporting heritage.
Bentley Eight
Introduced as a lower-priced “entry-level” model to attract new buyers to the brand. It featured a distinctive wire-mesh grille and slightly firmer suspension, offering a more driver-focused experience than the contemporary Mulsanne.
Bentley Turbo R
A legend of its time, the Turbo R took the Mulsanne Turbo’s power and added a completely revised suspension (“R” for “Roadholding”). This transformed the car into a true high-performance sports saloon, defining Bentley for a generation.
Bentley Continental
Essentially a renamed Corniche, this model continued as Bentley’s flagship open-top tourer. It offered stately, hand-built luxury and effortless V8 performance, representing the pinnacle of convertible motoring during its era.
Bentley Continental R
A monumental car for Bentley, the Continental R was the first model since 1965 to have a body not shared with a Rolls-Royce. Its muscular styling and immense performance created a sensation and re-established Bentley as a standalone performance-luxury marque.
Bentley Brooklands
Named after the historic British racetrack, the Brooklands replaced the Mulsanne S and Eight. It served as the brand’s standard luxury saloon, also offered with a light-pressure turbo, bridging the gap below the high-performance Turbo R.
Bentley Azure
Based on the Continental R platform, the Azure was a spectacular and hugely expensive four-seat convertible. Its stunning lines, designed and partly built by Pininfarina, and powerful performance made it the ultimate open-top grand tourer of the 1990s.
Bentley Continental T
A short-wheelbase, hardcore version of the Continental R. With even more power and a more aggressive, muscular stance, the Continental T was a “statement” car, prized for its brutal performance and athletic looks. It is highly sought-after by collectors.
Bentley Turbo RT
The final and most powerful iteration of the Turbo R platform. The RT used the Continental T’s potent 400+ hp engine, making it the ultimate expression of the classic Bentley performance saloon and a very rare, collectible model.
Bentley Arnage Green Label
The first all-new Bentley saloon in nearly two decades, launched under BMW’s influence with a modern Cosworth-tuned BMW V8. It offered advanced technology and handling but was soon overshadowed by the return of Bentley’s traditional engine.
Bentley Arnage Red Label
Following Volkswagen’s acquisition, Bentley re-engineered the Arnage to accept its own classic 6.75 L V8. The “Red Label” was celebrated for its immense torque and traditional Bentley character, quickly outselling its Green Label sibling.
Bentley Arnage T
Launched as the world’s fastest production saloon, the Arnage T featured a revised, twin-turbocharged V8 producing 450 hp. It was the definitive performance version of the Arnage, combining opulent luxury with breathtaking speed and acceleration.
Bentley Arnage R
Positioned as the grand touring model in the Arnage lineup, the R offered the same powerful twin-turbo V8 as the T but with a softer suspension setup. It focused on providing a supremely comfortable, refined, and fast long-distance cruiser.
Bentley Continental GT
The first all-new car under VW’s full ownership, the Continental GT was a landmark model. Its all-wheel-drive system, W12 engine, and modern design brought Bentley to a new, wider audience and defined the brand for the 21st century.
