The original Bentley “Blue Train” is one of the most celebrated vehicle in the company’s illustrious history. Delivered new to Woolf Barnoto, a well-known playboy, heir to a South African diamond and gold mine, Barnato had achieved fame in the motoring world as one of the original “Bentley Boys”, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1928 and 1929, and was also the chairman of Bentley Motors. The legend of the Blue Train came from the famous French express train, which Barnato had succeeded in beating from Cannes to London in an earlier Speed Six. Not the feat, but the beauty made the Blue Train immortal; its streamlined fastback styling, carried out by J. Gurney Nutting to Barnato’s suggestions, gave it powerful proportions, and made it arguably the most beautiful Speed Six ever built. The original “Blue Train” exists today, but is part one of the world’s finest collections, and is most definitely not available for sale, leaving enthusiasts to ponder alternatives.

Having established a name for themselves restoring and building Bentley specials in the U.K. for over thirty years, Racing Green Engineering launched a limited edition of blue train recreations in celebration of Barnato’s famous victory. Utilizing a Mark VI chassis and running gear fitted with coachwork constructed from a mixture of ash timber framing and hand shaped aluminium panels, several different engine options were made available, with the most desirable being the eight-cylinder Bentley engines built to power tanks and other military vehicles in the late 1940’s.

This Blue Train Recreation was completed in 2018 and has only been driven sparingly since. The interior is finished with the finest polished walnut and tobacco Connolly leather trim while the exterior is attractively finished in a menacing black livery. It was fitted with the powerful Bentley inline eight-cylinder engine also used in the Centurion ARV tank. The interior even has “cubbies” that conceal glassware, true to the spirit of the original car and its rather colorful owner!

Truly an incredible automobile, embodying the spirit and stunning design of the original yet utilizing modern production techniques, it is truly a thrill to drive and enjoy.