Bentley's Missing Link

The Missing Link - the Mulliner section remakes the 1939 model of the legendary BENTLEY CORNICHE

The distinctive Bentley Corniche is being resurrected thanks to Mulliner's extensive recycling. Conventional craftsmanship combined with quality of original and newly manufactured spare parts
The most important model in Bentley's history is to shine again.  The original 1939 Corniche was lost during a raid on France in the war years Corn.  The fully remodeled Corniche is set to debut at Salon Privé in September, joining Bentley's historic fleet at numerous exhibitions and events around the world.
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 (Middle East, August 18, 2019) Bentley has reproduced one of its most prestigious vehicles, which has left an unforgettable imprint among the cars the company has launched throughout its long history. The 1939 Corniche was remodeled for the first time, and the reproduction of this distinctive model highlights the unique possibilities that combine the design luxury, innovative technology and extensive experience of the Mulliner department, as well as the combination of the legendary Embiricos 4¼ Liter and R Type Continental. .

Thanks to Mulliner's skills and experience, this is the only car of its kind today. The Corniche was designed as a high-performance version of the MkV saloon at the time, which was a technical breakthrough and was scheduled for launch in October 1939.

The Corniche was a bold leap from Bentley's traditional twenties of the 1920s and 1930s to provide a 'streamlined' model that helps to accelerate the car and improve its performance.This new design inspired the post-war models, starting with the R Type Continental And even the current model of Continental GT.

The original Corniche was lost in France in 1939 with the outbreak of World War II. She was badly damaged in a traffic accident while undergoing road tests in France in August 1939. She needed maintenance. The car was restored to the Bentley factory in Derby, but was later destroyed by an air strike on Debbie in 1939, and nobody saw it later. Again .... until this moment.

The project began several years ago through volunteers from the WO Bentley Memorial Foundation and Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation, but moved into operation in February 2018 under the direct supervision of Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and CEO, who demanded the project be completed in 2019. It coincides with the centennial of Bentley.

Commenting on the project, Hallmark said: “The 1939 Corniche has had a clear influence on Bentley's design language, which is evident in later models such as the legendary R Type Continental with its old and new models. The great English brand has always been at the forefront of the scene, even at that time, in terms of creating the most beautiful designs and adopting the latest technology. ” “The move taken by Mulliner and succeeded in redesigning the Corniche demonstrates our ingenuity in restoring the luxury of old-fashioned design with the addition of aesthetic touches to produce a completely new and unique Bentley,” added Hallmark.

This project was, of course, assigned to the Mulliner Division, where unique car models since the 1970s have been built for collectors and royal family members, including two State Limousine cars, which were built in 2002. Today, some models are already being modified and reintroduced. Design others to fit the exact specifications requested by customers. Like its first model, the Corniche has demonstrated Mulliner's craftsmanship and experience in redesigning and producing older models.

Experts at Mulliner, the bodywork department and Bentley scientists' requests, recycled the Corniche, using the original technical drawings and also the original mechanical components of the Corniche and MkV, and succeeded in rebuilding an entirely new structure that matches the original structure in every detail.

“It was a really great team effort,” said Stefan Silaf, Bentley Design Manager and Mulliner Director. “At Mulliner and various Bentley Motors, we have craftsmen with very special skills, and they are all proud of what they have achieved during the journey of making this car.”

The Corniche will be unveiled at its first public appearance at the Salon Privé in Blenheim in September, where it will be part of the Bentley Heritage fleet, which includes models such as Walter Owen Bentley's 8Liter. The Birkin Team's Blower will be exhibited at several exhibitions and events around the world.

Unique car reborn
Many of the parts produced by the company were kept until the early 1970s for the manufacture of more Corniche cars, but were then sold to professionals and fans of these models. In 2001, the car historian and former director of Bentley, Ken Leah, decided to try to use genuine parts as a basis for recycling the Corniche.

The project was based in Derby, where volunteers gather the information and parts needed to make the bodywork. In 2008, the project was hit by a financial crisis. Bentley provided funding to begin the construction phase

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Courtesy of Bentley Motors - Click here