Among the array of vintage Bentley models, the Speed Six is held in the highest regard, with W.O. Bentley himself describing it as “the most successful sporting car we made.” Speed Six lore is legendary, from its October 1928 introduction at the Olympia Motor Show, to Woolf Barnato and the Blue Train saga, to the back-to-back Le Mans victories in 1929 and 1930. But absolute speed was only half of the Speed Six equation, as the manner in which its raw power was delivered instilled a level of driver confidence unmatched by competitors. Period Bentley advertising promised speed, comfort, and reliability, and all of these elements are present in the example offered here, a handsome Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner, equipped with its original chassis, engine, and coachwork that have been authentically restored to concours-level standards.

The Speed Six was the natural evolution of the 6.5-litre model, benefiting from a higher compression ratio and twin carburetors. Mechanical upgrades for cars built in 1930 included a revised intake manifold and Bosch magneto with horsepower now reaching 180. Visually, Speed Six differences were minimal and included a parallel-sided radiator replacing the angled version of the 6.5-litre model, and green enamel badging. Just 182 Speed Six models were built during its two-year production run, with three chassis lengths offered in order to accommodate stunning coachwork ranging from Le Mans tourers to formal saloons.

Chassis LR2778, with engine no. NH2748, was not built to a customer’s order but was instead built for Bentley stock, fitted with a fixed head coupe design crafted by H.J. Mulliner. The body itself employs Weymann body construction patents with its framework designed to flex, thereby eliminating body creaks and absorbing vibrations encountered on rough road surfaces. W.O. favored Weymann designs, writing in his biography that the “Weymann body gave complete silence without any sort of resonance.” The lower body of this car is skinned in aluminum while the roof section above the waistline is covered in fabric.

The car was delivered to London dealer Jack Barclay and sold by Duff Morgan Ltd. in October 1930, destined for India and its first owner, Sawai Man Singh II, Maharaja of Jaipur, India. The Maharaja originally fitted the car with a Lalique glass cockerel mascot – the Coq Nain. The radiator mascot’s base included a blue electric light which illuminated the mascot to announce the Maharaja’s presence wherever he traveled.

In 1937, the Speed Six returned to the UK and was assigned registration number DUU618 when acquired by Dennis Becker of London. When the Maharaja sold the car to Mr. Becker, he retained the original mascot, so a new dolphin mascot was fitted to the car by Mr. Becker. Early service in 1938 addressed a damaged front axle, which was replaced with a new old stock (NOS) unit. Becker family photographs document many travels with the Bentley, including a 1950 European tour through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France.

In 1951, the Bentley passed to Mr. Becker’s son Simon, who continued to enjoy the car as evidenced by additional photographs illustrating two memorable excursions in 1954. The car is pictured at Silverstone with Simon at the wheel during a Bentley Drivers Club event and then appeared in Saint Margaret’s Bay during a visit to the home of James Bond author Ian Fleming, who remarked, “What a majestic motorcar!”

Chassis LR2778 remained with the Becker family until 1974, when Ian Finlator acquired the car. He entrusted its restoration to Tony Townshend with work completed to standards of the time. Mr. Finlator enjoyed the car for nearly 30 years, participating in such varied events as the 1985 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique and the 1994 opening of the English Channel Tunnel, with the Bentley serving as the British automotive representative. In 2002, William Ainscough of Wrightington, UK, acquired the Speed Six, adding it to his collection of noteworthy automobiles.

The current owner acquired the Bentley in 2010 and embarked on an exhaustive, cost-no-object restoration, beginning with extensive documentation provided by Bentley expert Dr. Clare Hay. Period images of the car were scrutinized, as were similar H.J. Mulliner designs to ensure the car was returned to as-new configuration.

The exhaustive restoration was entrusted to Vintage Bentley specialist Graham Moss of R.C. Moss, who corrected earlier modifications to the roofline, windshield, cowl, running boards, and trunk, returning LR2778 to its original design. Trim pieces including exterior door handles and interior hardware were also restored to their original state. During restoration, mechanical components, including the engine, gearbox, rear axle, and clutch assembly, were documented as original to the car, with only the front axle identified as a 1938 Bentley replacement.

The car made its post-restoration debut at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, and was selected to participate in a featured class honoring cars of the maharajas. Chassis LR2778 was honored with three awards, including a Second in Class win, the Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy for the most significant British car on the field, and, perhaps most noteworthy, the J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car award. One month later, it returned to the UK for the inaugural Windsor Castle Concours of Elegance. In 2019, it received Best in Class honors at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

The handsome H.J. Mulliner design makes the most of the lengthy, 140 1/2"wheelbase chassis, pairing the long hood with a low roofline, resulting in elegant proportions. The rear-mounted spare tire affords an uninterrupted side profile with the hood and cowl stretching to nearly half the length of the car – a subtle nod to the engine hidden from view. From any angle, the car has a decidedly no-nonsense appearance, perhaps best described as confident and purposeful.

Exquisite details include the grille guard topped by a Lalique Coq Nain radiator mascot, just as it wore under original ownership. At the rear, the upright trunk features a lid that opens to reveal a complete set of tools. The interior is upholstered in rich, oxblood leather with the interior wood trim beautifully restored to a brilliant luster. The rear-interior roof quarters house his-and-hers vanity cabinets fitted with smoking and cosmetic accessories, and a sunroof provides the option of open-air motoring. Accompanying the Bentley is extensive documentation covering the car’s history as well as the meticulous restoration process, including more than 100 pages of research conducted by Dr. Hay.

This worldly Bentley has enjoyed use in India, the UK, Europe, and the US, garnering accolades and admiring glances for more than 90 years. Marque historians and artisans collaborated throughout the restoration process, as evidenced by its authentic and flawless condition today. Simply put, it is a historically significant Vintage Bentley with known history from new, still retaining its original engine, chassis, and distinctive coachwork. As period Bentley advertising copy justifiably boasted, “It is indeed a car for the connoisseur” – indeed, an accurate description, then and now.