Bentley showcases century-old Super Sports model
Bentley brought a 1925 Super Sports to Monterey for comparison with its new model. The original car was guaranteed to exceed 100 mph.
Automaker Bentley has presented a historic Super Sports model, dating from 1925 to 1927, at Laguna Seca raceway in California. The event also featured the new, recently launched Supersports model.
Only 18 examples of the original Super Sports were built. The car was based on Bentley's 3 Litre model but featured a 9.5-inch (241 mm) shorter wheelbase. This modification aimed to make the car lighter and more responsive to the driver, mirroring the philosophy behind the current Supersports.
The original Super Sports employed a modified version of the 3.0-liter engine. It incorporated new pistons, a lighter flywheel, higher compression, and different carburetors. Coupled with unique gearing, Bentley guaranteed the Super Sports could exceed 100 mph (160 km/h), a significant speed compared to contemporary vehicles like the Ford Model T.
Bodywork for these early cars was not standardized and was a matter of owner choice, with various coachbuilders creating unique designs. The example featured, known as "Smoky," had a two-seat, compact body for its era.