Bentley Speed Six Corsica Coupe - 1930
Following the 6½ Litre released in 1926, Bentley thoroughly updated the design with a more powerful engine. This flagship model was bodied by the best British coachbuilders and also raced with great success alongside the 4½ Litre. It was Walter Owen Bentley's favorite model and became the firms most successful car on the track.
Bentley gained much respect after proving their endurance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and winning many English races including the Tourist Trophy and Brooklands Double 12. In fact, Bentley was at the very first 24 Hours held in 1923, and won the event in 1924, 27, 28, 29 and 30. These later victories were achieved with specially fitted Speed Sixes which was one of Walter Owen Bentley's favorite cars.
The basis for all of Bentley's cars was an engine which in many respects was ahead of its time. Drawing upon experience gained from working at the Great Northern Railway and designing airplane engines, Walter Owen Bentley included such characteristics as aluminum pistons, dry-sump lubrication, twin spark ignition and an advanced valve train in his engines. Early models featured four cylinders and after 1925, Bentley released a straight six which would become his highlight work, and provide necessary power for heavy coachwork and grand touring. Expanding on the ½ Litre, the main upgrade for a Speed 6 was a square-section intake manifold that increased power from 147 to 160 bhp and later 180 bhp with a slight redesign using a single port.
All Speed Sixes are identified by their parallel-sided radiator and green enameled badges unlike the standard blue label for the 6½ Litre.
HM2861-1930 Corsica Coupe. Delivered new to Mr J.W. Bealey on September 30th. Participated in Bentley's 50th anniversary celebration at Le Mans in 1980 and was displayed at the 1985 Pebble Beach Concours. Fully restored in 1998, the car was offered for sale with an asking price of $1,850,000 USD at Blackhawk's 2001 Pebble Beach Sale.
Read more at:
www.supercars.net/cars/2874.html
The Corsica Company (taking their name from their address on Corsica Street in Kings Cross, London) specialised in bodies of a sporting character mounting them on such chassis as those from Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and a Rolls-Royce during the 1930's. They produced only two on Bentley chassis. One was a sports touring body for a 1931 9.0 litre on a shortened chassis, which was formerly owned by Briggs Cunningham and now is part of the Collier Collection. The other is this very imposing coupe, bordering on the sinister in appearance, which is on the 12' 8 1/2" wheelbase Speed Six chassis.
This miniland-scale lego model 1930 Bentley Speed Six Corsica Coupe has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 78th Build Challenge, - 'Places, Everyone!' - featuring vehicles that have been named after places. In this case, the Corsica Street, Kings Cross, London address of the Corsica Works body builders. Though the street was probably originally named after the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea.
Bentley Speed Six Corsica Coupe - 1930
Following the 6½ Litre released in 1926, Bentley thoroughly updated the design with a more powerful engine. This flagship model was bodied by the best British coachbuilders and also raced with great success alongside the 4½ Litre. It was Walter Owen Bentley's favorite model and became the firms most successful car on the track.
Bentley gained much respect after proving their endurance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and winning many English races including the Tourist Trophy and Brooklands Double 12. In fact, Bentley was at the very first 24 Hours held in 1923, and won the event in 1924, 27, 28, 29 and 30. These later victories were achieved with specially fitted Speed Sixes which was one of Walter Owen Bentley's favorite cars.
The basis for all of Bentley's cars was an engine which in many respects was ahead of its time. Drawing upon experience gained from working at the Great Northern Railway and designing airplane engines, Walter Owen Bentley included such characteristics as aluminum pistons, dry-sump lubrication, twin spark ignition and an advanced valve train in his engines. Early models featured four cylinders and after 1925, Bentley released a straight six which would become his highlight work, and provide necessary power for heavy coachwork and grand touring. Expanding on the ½ Litre, the main upgrade for a Speed 6 was a square-section intake manifold that increased power from 147 to 160 bhp and later 180 bhp with a slight redesign using a single port.
All Speed Sixes are identified by their parallel-sided radiator and green enameled badges unlike the standard blue label for the 6½ Litre.
HM2861-1930 Corsica Coupe. Delivered new to Mr J.W. Bealey on September 30th. Participated in Bentley's 50th anniversary celebration at Le Mans in 1980 and was displayed at the 1985 Pebble Beach Concours. Fully restored in 1998, the car was offered for sale with an asking price of $1,850,000 USD at Blackhawk's 2001 Pebble Beach Sale.
Read more at:
www.supercars.net/cars/2874.html
The Corsica Company (taking their name from their address on Corsica Street in Kings Cross, London) specialised in bodies of a sporting character mounting them on such chassis as those from Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, and a Rolls-Royce during the 1930's. They produced only two on Bentley chassis. One was a sports touring body for a 1931 9.0 litre on a shortened chassis, which was formerly owned by Briggs Cunningham and now is part of the Collier Collection. The other is this very imposing coupe, bordering on the sinister in appearance, which is on the 12' 8 1/2" wheelbase Speed Six chassis.
This miniland-scale lego model 1930 Bentley Speed Six Corsica Coupe has been created for Flickr LUGNuts' 78th Build Challenge, - 'Places, Everyone!' - featuring vehicles that have been named after places. In this case, the Corsica Street, Kings Cross, London address of the Corsica Works body builders. Though the street was probably originally named after the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea.