Photographs of Rolls-Royce and Bentley Cars with Associated Individuals

Bentley Motors was established in 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley in Cricklewood, North London. W.O. Bentley, as he was known, had successfully manufactured aircraft engines during the First World War.

The company's reputation for high-performance, fast cars was spread by a group of wealthy British automobile aficionados known as the "Bentley Boys." Bentley had great success on the racetrack at Le Mans in particular, winning four back-to-back victories between 1927 and 1930.

The Great Depression drastically reduced demand for luxury cars, and Bentley Motors found itself in receivership in 1931. The firm became Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. at this point, and was sold to Rolls-Royce. Production moved to Derby.

In the war years, Rolls-Royce began producing its famous Merlin aircraft engines in Crewe, and in 1946 Bentley Motors was moved here to benefit from a concentration of engineering talent and skilled mechanics. It was here that one of the most successful models in the firm's history was produced: the Bentley Mark VI.

Financial difficulties at Rolls-Royce prompted the separation of its aircraft and motor businesses in 1970, with the formation of Rolls-Royce Motors (of which Bentley was a subsidiary) in 1971. This became a public company, Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd, in 1973.

The business was sold to Vickers in 1980, where production and sales enjoyed a considerable increase throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1998 Vickers sold Rolls-Royce Motors and its subsidiaries to Volkswagen AG for £430 million. Bentley cars continued to be manufactured in Crewe after the change in ownership.

Rolls-Royce Limited was established by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce in 1904. The company designed and built luxury cars and with the help of Henry Royce’s previous experience in building cranes, it soon gained widespread reputation for engineering excellence.

During the First World War Rolls-Royce added building aero engines to its skills. This enabled them to later become involved in the development of jet engines. They worked engines for both the civilian and military market. However, a costly over-run in designing and building the RB211 civilian aircraft engine brought the company to financial ruin. Even though the RB211 proved a great success in 1971 the owners of the company entered voluntary liquidation.

The government of the day bought the productive parts of the company which became known as Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited. Portions of the company were sold to British Aircraft Corporation and transferred the profitable car division to Rolls-Royce Motors Holdings Limited. In 1987 Rolls-Royce Ltd was privatised and subsequently became Rolls-Royce plc. The Rolls-Royce Motors brand was bought by BMW in 1998.