In the world of racing, automotive brands, more often than not, become flag bearers of national pride and heritage. In Italy, it is Ferrari; in Germany, Porsche; in France, Bugatti. And in the U.S.—most commonly—it is Ford. In the U.K., while there are certainly many brands to choose from, one brand seems to consistently rise to the fore as the one most enshrouded with a sense of national pride—Bentley.
So it is perhaps not surprising that a couple of years ago, when it was announced that Bentley would be acquired by the Volkswagen group, British enthusiasts were deeply concerned. In fact, one British friend recently told me that when the acquisition was first announced to enthusiasts in the U.K. Bentley Drivers Club, there was nearly a rebellion. “How can a German manufacturer understand a British institution like Bentley?” it was said. Others felt convinced that this heralded the final deathblow to a quintessentially British brand which had survived—though sometimes precariously—for more than 75 years.
