Walter Bentley | |||||||||||||||
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| Born | 16 September 1888 Hampstead, England | ||||||||||||||
| Died | 13 August 1971 (aged 82) Woking, England | ||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | King's College London | ||||||||||||||
| Known for | Founder of Bentley | ||||||||||||||
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Walter Owen Bentley, MBE (16 September 1888 – 13 August 1971) was an English engineer who founded Bentley in London. He was a motorcycle and car racer as a young man. After making a name for himself as a designer of aircraft and automobile engines, Bentley established his own firm in 1919. He built the firm into one of the world's premier luxury and performance auto manufacturers, and led the marque to multiple victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After selling his namesake company to Rolls-Royce in 1931, he was employed as a designer for Lagonda, Aston Martin and Armstrong Siddeley.