EXP 2: A Witness to Bentley's 100-Year History

Bentley was founded in 1919 with the simple yet ambitious goal set by Walter Owen (W.O.) Bentley: "a fast car, a good car, the best car in its class." This year marks the marque's 100th anniversary, and to celebrate, the 1919 "EXP 2," considered the oldest high-performance racing car in existence, and the latest model,Continental GT Convertiblewere showcased at Retromobile.

EXP 2, an abbreviation for "EXPerimental No.2," was the second prototype built by W.O. Bentley after establishing the company in 1919. Unveiled at that year's Olympia Motor Show, it stands as a significant milestone in Bentley's history.


In 1921, Frank Clement, a Bentley engineer and racing driver, piloted the EXP 2 to victory in the Junior Sprint Handicap race at Brooklands. This marked Bentley's first recorded race win.

Throughout this centenary year, Bentley is celebrating with a series of events and car exhibitions not only in the UK but also in the United States and Italy. Bentley vehicles are also scheduled to appear at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in America this August.