Elite Traveler Summer 2023

It’s no secret that car companies keep extensive, if not exhaustive, records. Dusted o ff and digitized, those archives now serve as blueprints for what several makers have coined as ‘continuation cars’

BENTLEY SPEED SIX CONTINUATION SERIES Speed Six is the second vehicle to receive the Continuation Series treatment by Mulliner, Bentley’s coachbuilding arm. The brand is in the process of creating 12 ‘identical recreations’ of Speed Six models that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. The 6.5-liter, straight-six engine o ff ers200hp and a top speed of 125 mph. “We’ve banned the word replica,” said Ben Linde, special projects leader of Classic Continuation Series at Bentley, who also oversaw the Bentley Blower continuation. “What we’ve created is a continuation of a race car. It’s not a replica, it actually has to perform like the original car. To create the automobile, Mulliner sifted through its employees, past and present, gathering masters familiar with the original manufacturing processes and materials. “We reverse engineered history, like getting magnesium castings produced for the engine. Magnesium is quite unstable and has been replaced by aluminum, but we found a way to keep the engine magnesium. And just like the processes, there are employees that are approaching the retirement door, but we want to keep their skills alive and ignite those skills in younger employees.” In addition to building enthusiasm within the brand, Bentley also o ff ers owners an opportunity to physically construct their Speed Sixes. “Two customers have actually come in and helped build their cars. It’s a di ff erent level of engagement and enthusiasm when you’re actually working on your own car,” said Linde. The most successful Bentley racing car of its era, Speed Six was an improved version of the 1926 6.5-liter Bentley. According to Bentley history, the engine was modi fi ed to liberate more power, with twin SU carburetors, a higher compression ratio and a high-performance camshaft. The third of three Speed Sixes entered by Bentley into Le Mans in 1930, ‘Old Number 3,’ remains fully street legal and serves as source material for the continuation series. Linde and his team have added updates like hidden USB chargers, an electric fuel pump and pedal arrangement. “Feet sizes have grown a bit in 100 years,” he said. Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series from $1.8m, bentleymotors.com

LAND ROVER SERIES 1 REBORN When Land Rover fi rst announced in 2016 that the company would be scouring the globe to fi nd 25 Series 1 vehicles to factory-restore, seemingly everyone had an opinion. Skeptics, enthusiasts, Land Rover engineers, collectors — the mere announcement of the car did exactly what it was intended to do: It got people talking. “We don’t just sell cars,” said Dave Foster, head of engineering at Jaguar Land Rover Classic. “We create a family, we create experiences and, most of all, we support our customers.” The Reborn program generated the modern revitalization and continuation road map not only for Jaguar Land Rover, but for other luxury brands to delve into and renew their respective histories. Purchasing a factory-restored Series 1 “is just cool,” noted Foster. Built between 1948 and 1958 in short- and long-wheelbase forms and known as the precursor to the Defender, Series 1 was one of the brand’s original explorer vehicles. “Every car is unique because, frankly, it changed so many times. We spent a lot of time analyzing the archives, fi nding the original tools and methods and techniques, and we continue to honor them. I never thought I’d spend so much time searching for genuine brass fl oats or axles,” Foster explained. Originally o ff ered with a four-speed manual from the Rover P3, a two-speed transfer box, and a choice of three engine options (a 1.6-liter inline-4, a 2-liter inline-4 or a 2-liter diesel producing 52 hp at 4,000 rpm), each Series 1 remains true to the 1948 factory speci fi cations. Owners can choose between fi veperiod fi nishes including Light Green, Bronze Green, RAF Blue, Dove Grey and Poppy Red. “Reborn also demonstrates the business’s commitment to supporting customers with original and genuine parts for Land Rover models that have been out for production for longer than 10 years,” said Foster. Considering the popularity of historic Defenders, Land Rover unearthed a new way to connect with old customers. ”We’ve got renewed accessibility to components and existing customers reaching out to us saying ‘this is what I need next,’” he added. Land Rover Series 1 Reborn from $105,000, landrover.com

Photo Nick Dimbleby