Bentley car books - history and models

Bentley - Fifty Years of the Marque

First published in 1969, "Bentley: Fifty Years of the Marque" by Johnnie Green has been an essential book for Bentley enthusiasts. Due to high demand, it has been reprinted multiple times.

Since its original release, much more information has been discovered about the featured cars. In response, Dalton Watson commissioned three Bentley experts to rewrite the captions and extensively revise the index.

This new edition retains Dalton Watson's renowned high standards in picture reproduction, printing, and binding. With hundreds of updates since the last edition, it offers a fresh perspective on this classic work.

Product details

Author:	Johnnie Green, Peter Hageman, Bernard L. King, Martin Bennett
Details:	321 pages, 25 x 19 x 2.6 cm / 9.8 x 7.5 x 1.02 in, hardback
Illustrations:	600 illustrations
Publisher:	Dalton Watson Fine Books (USA, 2002)
ISBN:	9781854431356

100 Years of Bentley (reissue)

"100 Years of Bentley", created in partnership with the Bentley Drivers Club and the W.O. Bentley Memorial Foundation, celebrates one of the most recognized and respected car brands in history. It traces Bentley's journey from its earliest models to the modern-day cars.

A six-time winner of the Le Mans 24-hour race, Bentley is known for iconic cars like the 4 ½-Litre 'Blower, ' the R-type Continental, and modern classics such as the Continental GT and Mulsanne.

The book includes over 200 pictures, many from the club's archives and some never seen before. It covers the entire history of Bentley, starting with W.O. Bentley's early days as a railway engineer and his first work modifying French DFP cars. It also highlights the company's early racing success, including its victories at Le Mans.

The book explores Bentley's revival in the 1980s, its acquisition by the Volkswagen Group, and its progress toward a new era of electrification, bringing the story up to the present with the new Bentleys designed for the 21st century.

Product details

Author:	Andrew Noakes
Details:	240 pages, 30.5 x 25 cm / 12 x 9.8 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200+ b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Ivy Press (USA, 2021)
ISBN:	9780711273795

Bentley Cars 1933 to 2020 - A Pictorial History

NEW

This illustrated book provides a complete history of all Bentley cars produced between 1933 and 2020. It is arranged as a model-by-model guide, covering each car's design development, specifications, colour options, and styling details.

Each model is described with clear information and supported by original photographs showing both the exterior and interior. The book includes every major Bentley model across the decades and highlights changes over time in design and engineering.

This is a useful reference for identifying or comparing Bentley models and offers insights into the evolution of this prestigious brand. It is aimed at enthusiasts, collectors, restorers, and anyone with an interest in Bentley's automotive heritage.

Product details

Author:	James Taylor
Details:	112 pages, 20.5 x 14 x 0.6 cm / 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.24 in, paperback
Illustrations:	203 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2025)
ISBN:	9781836440055

Bentley Motors 1945-1964 (Nostalgia Road)

This illustrated book details Bentley's history, emphasizing its tradition of luxury and performance. The famous winged 'B' emblem has been linked to the powerful cars that excelled at Brooklands and Le Mans in the 1920s and 1930s.

The book covers Bentley's progress in the late 1930s and early 1940s, leading to the launch of the Mark VI in 1946. This model blended the elegance and craftsmanship of earlier Bentleys with modern engineering, setting new standards in automotive excellence.

Richly illustrated, the book offers a thorough look at Bentley's evolution, featuring rare images and insightful commentary.

Product details

Author:	Malcolm Bobbitt
Details:	52 pages, 20 x 21 x 0.6 cm / 7.9 x 8.25 x 0.24 in, paperback
Illustrations:	93 b&w and 11 colour photos
Publisher:	Crecy Publishing (GB, 2005)
Series:	Nostalgia Road
ISBN:	9781903016602

The Bentley Story

Walter Owen Bentley's powerful race cars dominated motorsport for years. Revered and feared, these cars were driven in the 1920s by the Bentley Boys, a group of young men known for their fast driving and partying.
The cars triumphed in the Le Mans 24-hour race, winning five times in six years, and established Brooklands as the heart of British motor racing. Bentley became known for creating the world's most admired sporting cars.

After facing financial trouble, Bentley was purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1931. For nearly fifty years, the brand faded into the background as Rolls-Royce focused on its own line of cars.
However, in the 1990s, when Rolls-Royce faced its own financial issues, Bentley made a comeback with powerful turbocharged luxury cars, saving the company from collapse. The brand restored its identity as a symbol of performance and luxury.

This book covers the full history of Bentley, from its racing dominance to its revival in the modern era.

Product details

Author:	Reg Abbiss
Details:	128 pages, 13.5 x 19 x 1.3 cm / 5.3 x 7.5 x 0.51 in, hardback
Illustrations:	numerous b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	The History Press Ltd (GB, 2014)
ISBN:	9780750954624

Bentley Motors - On the Road Magazines

This book presents a beautifully reproduced collection of rare "On the Road" magazines, published by Bentley Motors (1931) Limited in the late 1930s. These 13 issues were created for current and potential Bentley owners, featuring Derby Bentley models in elegant settings. Richly illustrated, the magazines showcased these cars in fashionable locations.

Derby Bentley specialist Bernard King has conducted extensive research to identify most of the featured cars. Original copies of the magazine are extremely rare, and complete sets are even harder to find. In comparison, the Rolls-Royce "Bulletin" from the same era, though also rare, remains more accessible.

This book is a valuable resource for collectors and Bentley enthusiasts, especially with its detailed car identifications, tables, and indexes.

The set consists of two hardcover volumes with a dust jacket and slipcase:
- Volume I: 416 pages
- Volume II: 142 pages

Product details

Author:	Bernard L. King
Details:	560 pages, 29 x 22.5 x 5 cm / 11.4 x 8.9 x 1.97 in, hardback
Illustrations:	667 illustrations
Publisher:	Dalton Watson Fine Books (USA, 2003)
ISBN:	9781854431363

Bentley - L'avenir pour défi

Although Bentley had saved Rolls-Royce's automobile division from bankruptcy several times, the brand was neglected by its new owner. Since being acquired by the Volkswagen Group, Bentley has been revitalized with five new models and a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003, asserting itself independently of Rolls-Royce.

The author explores this captivating story filled with technical, artistic, and financial challenges, as well as power struggles.
Over fifty years, Bentley has gone from near obscurity to global recognition, now offering the world's fastest luxury lineup. The brand was also chosen to provide a state car for Her Majesty the Queen, produced in two units.

The book is richly illustrated with many previously unpublished documents, obtained with the support of the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation and Bentley Motors.

Product details

Author:	Dominique Franque de Luxembourg
Details:	192 pages, 31 x 23.5 cm / 12.2 x 9.25 in, hardback
Illustrations:	260 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2014)
ISBN:	9782726897867

Bentley - Luxus, Leidenschaft und Tradition seit 1919

Bentley, one of the most respected car brands in the world, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2019. The brand is known for legendary cars and modern classics.

The book highlights the beginnings of founder W.O. Bentley as a railway engineer and his early attempts to modify French DFP cars, as well as his early successes in racing.
It traces the brand's history from financial difficulties and rescue by Rolls-Royce to its resurgence under Volkswagen since 1998.
The Bentleys of the 21st century and developments in the era of electrification are also covered.

Author Andrew Noakes tells the complete story of Bentley in this richly illustrated work, offering a detailed look at the development of the brand and its vehicles.

Product details

Author:	Andrew Noakes
Details:	224 pages, 30.5 x 25 cm / 12 x 9.8 in, hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and colour photos
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2019)
ISBN:	9783613041981