Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of automobiles founded on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley known as W.O. Bentley or just "W O". Bentley had been previously known for his range of rotary

Rotary engine

The rotary engine was an early type of internal-combustion engine, usually designed with an odd number of cylinders per row in a radial configuration, in which the crankshaft remained stationary and the entire cylinder block rotated around it...

 aero-engine

Aircraft engine

An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...

s in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, the most famous being the Bentley BR1

Bentley BR1

-See also:...

 as used in later versions of the Sopwith Camel

Sopwith Camel

The Sopwith Camel was a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter introduced on the Western Front in 1917. Manufactured by Sopwith Aviation Company, it had a short-coupled fuselage, heavy, powerful rotary engine, and concentrated fire from twin synchronized machine guns. Though difficult...

. After the war W. O. Bentley designed and made production cars that won the 24 hours of Le Mans

24 Hours of Le Mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...

 in 1924

1924 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1924 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 2nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 14 and 15 1924.-Official results:-Not Classified:-Did Not Finish:-Statistics:* Fastest Lap - #3 André Lagache/René Léonard - 9:19* Distance - 2077.34 km...

 and following models which repeated those successes each June 1927

1927 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1927 24 Hours of Le Mans was a motor race which took place at Circuit de la Sarthe on 18 and 19 June 1927. It was the fifth 24 Hours of Le Mans Grand Prix of Endurance. The race is commonly remembered due to the infamous White House crash, which involved all three of the widely-tipped Bentley...

, 1928

1928 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1928 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 6th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 16 and 17 1928.-Official results:-Did Not Finish:-Statistics:* Fastest Lap - #3 Bentley Motors Ltd...

, 1929

1929 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1929 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 7th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 15 and 16 1929.Prior to the event, the ACO modified the course near the actual town of Le Mans so that it did not enter as far into the suburbs...

 and 1930

1930 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 8th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 21 and 22 June 1930. The pairing of Odette Siko and Marguerite Mareuse would go in history as the first women to compete and finish in the race.-Official results:...

.

Purchased by Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Limited

Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....

 in 1931, when production was moved from London to Derby and later to Crewe, this business has been owned by the Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....

 of Germany since 1998.