3. 1949 Bentley Speed Six, the Blue Train
We have been admiring this Bentley for some time, but we missed a proper opportunity to photograph it inside out, despite a big anniversary a few years ago (and before Brexit and COVID, British car brands could afford a lavish presence at classic car events).
The Blue Train Speed Six is a legendary Bentley, literally. It is tied to a story of a dare made by one of the most iconic Bentley Boys, Woolf Barnato. He was heir to a vast fortune from South African diamond mines that allowed him a lavish lifestyle, including purchasing several Bentleys. Ha wasn’t just a regular customer but also the lead race driver of the team, winning all three Le Mans races he entered. Just a typical fella you would meet at Gatsby’s party if he was living in London. The Blue Train story is about a bet he made.
According to the journals, he took a bet to take on the famous Blue Train challenge. In those days, people took on much tougher challenges than licking an ice bucket from the inside… One could say, it was a typical challenge in those days, as a few manufacturers already beat the train. So he took his Bentley from St Raphael to Calais, beating the Blue Train’s time. In fact, despite some unforeseen trouble (bad weather, rain, fog and punctures), he reached Calais so far ahead of the train that he decided to continue to London.
In fact, after crossing the Channel in a steamer and pressing hard for almost 700 miles, Woolf Barnato parked his Speed Six some four minutes later than the Blue Train arrived at the station in Calais.
The only thing is, this car is a newer model, the Bentley Speed Six streamlined fastback Sportsman Coupe by Gurney Nutting Barnato took delivery two months later, and not the H. J. Mulliner-bodied saloon he actually drove.
