Engine: All alloy 90deg V8, 6750cc
Fuel system: Bosch MK-Motronic fuel injection with Garrett AiResearch turbocharger type TO4B
Power output: 385bhp @ 4500rpm
Max speed: 145mph
Acceleration 0-60 mph: 6.2 sec
Weight: 2390 Kg

Bentley was founded by Walter Owen (WO) Bentley, a born engineer. In 1905, aged 16, he started work at the Great Northern Railway Locomotive works in Doncaster. In 1913 W.O. noticed an aluminium paperweight - and had the inspired idea of using the lightweight metal instead of cast iron to make engine pistons. The first such Bentley pistons went into service in aero engines for the Sopwith Camel during the Great War. After the war, W.O. decided to build a car: Experimental Bentley No 1. "I wanted to make a fast car, a good car: the best in its class..." And he did. In the '20s, with the 3-litre, 85bhp engine providing speeds of 80 mph and more, Bentley Motors set numerous speed and endurance records, competed successfully at Indianapolis, the Isle of Man TT, and Brooklands , and became inextricably linked with the history of the famous 24 hour race at Le Mans.

The “Bentley Boys” Bentleys achieved Le Mans victories in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930, taking the first four places in 1929. However, after the great financial catastrophe of the late twenties, in 1931, the money ran out, Bentley Motors Ltd went into receivership, and the assets were bought by the British Equitable Trust acting on behalf of Rolls-Royce. W.O. worked for Rolls-Royce from 1931 to 1935. After this, Bentleys eventually became little more than badge-engineered RR’s. In the sixties and seventies, Rolls outsold Bentley 3:1, and the marque looked doomed.

However when the T Series Bentley and Roll-Royce Silver Shadow were replaced in 1980 by a new pair of cars with bodies designed by Austrian Fritz Feller, Rolls decided to take Bentley back to its sporting heritage. The Bentley was named after the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans where the Bentley Boys had put the marque on the map more than 50 years earlier. A turbocharged Mulsanne Turbo came out in 1982, further improved with the Turbo R in 1985 - it was this car that reversed Bentley’s fortunes as they started to outsell Rolls for the first time in many years. Described as the world’s quickest drawing room, this has to be the fastest, most luxurious way to transport 4 people from Gleneagles to the Cap d’Antibes.

Weekday points: 7; Weekend day points: 14.