Bentley, father of British sports cars, is born

The path to success in the early days of the auto industry was often engineering breakthroughs, as well as deep pockets and timing. Just ask Henry Ford. He struck out with his first two auto companies but hit gold with his third attempt.

Walter Owen Bentley, a passionate sportsman, mastered engineering as an apprentice on the railroads.

His aluminum pistons helped propel many British airplanes during World War I.

When he established Bentley Motors Ltd. in Cricklewood, North London, on Jan. 18, 1919, the new engine he envisioned was modern by 21st century standards — a four-cylinder with four valves per cylinder, overhead camshaft and twin spark ignition.

He was obsessed with making "a fast car, a good car: the best in its class."

The first production Bentley left the factory in September 1921 and was delivered to its owner, Noel van Raalte. The car featured lightweight aluminum coachwork and brass trimmings and fittings, and carried Bentley's hallmark radiator casing and flying "B" insignia.

The company quickly became celebrated for speed and precision. With their sturdy construction, Bentley's 4.5- and 6.5-liter Speed Six models became legends, making them ideal for the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans. In a span of seven years, Bentley won the race five times: in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

But the 1930s brought many challenges. Despite the racing accolades and public acclaim, Bentley Motors was beset by financial difficulty and filed for bankruptcy protection in June 1931. Rolls-Royce stepped in to buy Bentley's assets.

The acquisition of Bentley by Volkswagen Group in 1998 added resources, advanced technology and momentum to Bentley's renaissance.