Born in Hampstead, London, on 16 September 1888, Walter Owen Bentley was the youngest of nine children. His father, Alfred Bentley, was a retired businessman, and his mother, Emily (née Waterhouse), was born in Adelaide, Australia. He received a private education at Clifton College in Bristol from 1902 until 1905, leaving at age 16 to begin a five-year apprenticeship as an engineer with the Great Northern Railway at Doncaster Works.
Bentley’s apprenticeship with the Great Northern Railway cost his father £75 and provided practical experience in the design, manufacture, and construction of complex railway machinery. He recalled being profoundly moved by the sight of Patrick Stirling’s eight-foot single locomotives. He gained experience as a second fireman on main-line expresses, completing a 400-mile run from London to Leeds and back, shovelling seven tons of coal. He decided the railways did not offer enough scope for a satisfying career after completing his apprenticeship in the summer of 1910.
In 1909 and 1910, Bentley raced Quadrant, Rex, and Indian motorcycles, competing in two Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races. He raced a Rex in 1909 and an Indian in 1910, but did not finish either event; his Indian’s rear tyre burst on the second lap in 1910.
In 1912, Bentley joined his brother, Horace Millner Bentley, in a company called "Bentley and Bentley," which sold French Doriot, Flandrin & Parant cars. Dissatisfied with the DFPs’ performance, he had pistons made for the engine in aluminium alloy, inspired by a paperweight. Fitted with these pistons and a modified camshaft, a DFP set several records at Brooklands in 1913 and 1914.
At the outbreak of World War I, Bentley recognised the benefit of using aluminium alloy pistons in military applications, improving power output and reducing engine temperature. He shared this knowledge with the Navy, leading to the design of the Rolls-Royce Eagle engine with aluminium pistons. He also worked with Sunbeam and Gwynnes, and eventually designed his own aero engine, the BR1, at the Humber factory in Coventry. The BR2 followed in 1918. He was awarded the MBE in recognition of his work, and later received £8,000 from the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors.
After the war, in early 1919, Bentley founded Bentley in London with Frank Burgess and Harry Varley. Clive Gallop joined as an engine designer, and the first 3-litre engine ran in New Street Mews, Baker Street. The first production Bentley 3 Litre was delivered in September 1921, earning acclaim for its durability. Bentley’s motto was "To build a good car, a fast car, the best in class." A 3 Litre entered by the company finished thirteenth at the 1922 Indianapolis 500, averaging 74.95 mph. The same year, Bentley entered a team in the Tourist Trophy, receiving the Team Award.
Bentley’s cars achieved success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with "Bentley Boy" Woolf Barnato winning the race three times. A Bentley 3 Litre won at Le Mans in 1924. Ettore Bugatti commented that Bentley made "the fastest lorries in the world."
Despite the racing success, Bentley Motors Ltd. faced financial difficulties. Barney Barnato’s heir, Woolf Barnato, purchased the business’s assets and became chairman. Bentley continued his design work as Barnato’s employee. The six-cylinder Speed Six proved to be the most successful Bentley in competition, winning Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. In 1929, against Bentley’s wishes, Barnato approved the development of a supercharged "Blower" version of the 4½ Litre, designed by Tim Birkin. The car proved unreliable.
By July 1931, Barnato’s financial support had dwindled, and Bentley Motors went into voluntary liquidation, having accumulated losses of £136,220. Rolls-Royce acquired the company, topping a bid from Napier & Son, to prevent Bentley from continuing as a competitor. The acquisition was announced on 20 November 1931.
Bentley joined Rolls-Royce under contract from 1 May 1932 to the end of April 1935. He was isolated from the design of the new Bentley cars, but was involved in testing and provided feedback. He admired the new Derby 3+1⁄2-litre, announced in October 1933.
After leaving Rolls-Royce in April 1935, Bentley joined Lagonda as Technical Director. He again went racing and brought Stewart Tresilian into his engineering staff. Tresilian designed the V12 engine, launched in 1937, which produced 180 bhp. The V12 was exhibited at the 1939 New York Motor Show. During the war, Bentley worked on armaments at Lagonda.
Following the purchase of Lagonda by David Brown & Sons in 1947, Bentley’s 2.6-litre straight-6 engine was installed in the Aston Martin DB2. This engine continued in Lagondas and Aston Martins until 1959.
Bentley moved to Armstrong Siddeley, where he designed another twin-overhead-cam 3-litre engine before retiring.
Bentley married three times but had no children. He married Leonie Gore in 1914, but she died in the Spanish flu epidemic in 1919. He married Poppy (Audrey Hutchinson) in 1920 and divorced her after the business was sold in 1931. In 1934, he married Margaret Roberts Hutton, who survived him.
Bentley died on Friday, 13 August 1971, shortly before his 83rd birthday, in Woking, Surrey. He was patron of The Bentley Drivers' Club from 1947 until his death. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1995. The Times published a lengthy obituary on 16 August 1971, followed by two further contributions the following week, praising his modesty and engineering talent.
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