Bentley has retired its iconic 6.75-liter V8 engine after more than 60 years in production, during which it has retained the same configuration and bore spacing as the first version launched in 1959.
The final power unit was handcrafted in Crewe earlier this week and will power the last of the 30-unit limited production run Mulsanne 6.75 Edition by Mulliner, where it kicks out 523 HP (530 PS / 394 kW) and 811 lb-ft (1,100 Nm) of torque.
“Our venerable 6.75-liter V8 has powered the flagship Bentley for more than six decades, and so has earned its retirement”, commented Member of the Board for Manufacturing, Peter Bosch. “That this engine stood the test of time for so long is testament to the ingenious engineers who kept making the engine ever more powerful, refined and reliable.”
Each of the 36,000 L-Series engines built by Bentley over the last 60 years was put together by hand in the workshops of its headquarters. The latest iteration of the mill takes 15 hours to be put together, and after the assembly and testing are complete, it is sent off by one of the company’s engine specialists, with a plaque that bears their signature.
Development of original Bentley V8 began in the early 1950s, when Senior Engine Designer Jack Phillips was asked to come up with a replacement for the older six-banger. The new unit needed to be roughly the same size, but deliver at least 50 percent more power and not gain any weight. The result was the 6.2-liter unit that debuted in the 1959 Bentley S2, a car that boasted air conditioning, power steering and electric windows.
The engine was then redesigned to fit into the 1965 T-Series, and in 1971, its capacity was increased to 6.75 liters. It underwent major changes that improved the emissions and passenger safety in the event of an accident when the first Mulsanne was introduced in 1980, and went through another major overhaul when the new Mulsanne broke cover in 2010.
Along with the retirement of the iconic V8, Bentley has also sent off the Mulsanne, with the Flying Spur becoming the company’s new flagship sedan.