Bentley’s Mulliner division will resurrect the Pace Six as its second continuation mission. Introduced on the sidelines of the 2022 Goodwood Competition of Pace, the born-again basic might be almost equivalent to the vehicles that received the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930.
Continuation vehicles stay a big supply of controversy amongst fanatics; Ralph Lauren is without doubt one of the high-profile collectors who wrote an indignant letter to Bentley after the agency introduced plans to make 12 replicas of the 4 1929 Crew Blower fashions. The criticism did not dent the mannequin’s reputation; all 12 models have been spoken for in document time, and this success inspired Bentley to carry the Pace Six again to life.
Why the Pace Six? It is one of the crucial vital fashions in Bentley’s historical past, in keeping with the corporate’s archives division, largely on account of its success at Le Mans. It was an evolution of the 6½-Litre mannequin whose 6.5-liter straight-six engine was tuned to develop about 180 horsepower, an enormous quantity within the Twenties. It was supplied with three totally different wheelbases, and 182 examples have been made between 1928 and 1930. Solely a small handful of these have been modified for racing; they have been constructed on a 132-inch wheelbase and fitted with a 200-horsepower six.
Bentley began the continuation mission by sourcing two of the unique vehicles. One is the third of three models that raced at Le Mans in 1930, and it has been nicknamed Outdated Quantity Three. It is in non-public fingers. The second is a 1929 mannequin that is a part of the carmaker’s assortment and that has beforehand acquired a full restoration. Mulliner has accomplished a 3D CAD mannequin of the Pace Six utilizing these vehicles and interval paperwork.
Pricing for the Pace Six continuation automobile begins at £1.5 million, a sum that represents about $1.8 million on the present conversion fee. Manufacturing is proscribed to 12 models, and collectors scooped up the complete batch earlier than the mission was introduced to the general public.
Bentley will start constructing the primary automobile, which isn’t a part of the 12 and which might be used as a testing and engineering mule, within the second half of 2022.
