---
title: Bentley Speed Six · HICONIUM
description: "The Speed Six turned Bentley's 6½ Litre into the works car that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Road cars ranged from formal saloons to open tourers. Original coachwork and numbered-component history matter more than team-car resemblance."
canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/speed-six
image: https://hiconium.dev/og/vehicle/bentley/speed-six.png
---

> HICONIUM · Index: https://hiconium.dev/llms.txt · Every page: append `.md` or send `Accept: text/markdown`.
> Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [Vehicles](https://hiconium.dev/models) › [Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/bentley) › Speed Six
> On this page: [The price and the proof](#the-price-and-the-proof) · [Model readouts](#model-readouts) · [Documented sales](#documented-sales) · [The large-engine answer to Birkin's supercharger.](#overview-heading) · [Technical specifications](#technical-specifications) · [Powertrain](#powertrain) · [Chassis](#chassis) · [Speed Six register](#speed-six-register) · [The people behind the car](#the-people-behind-the-car) · [W.O. Bentley](#wo-bentley) · [Woolf Barnato](#woolf-barnato) · [Member instruments](#member-instruments)

![A green Bentley Speed Six, front three-quarter view on a racing-green field with a warm arc](https://hiconium.dev/images/cars/bentley-speed-six/hero-wide-2560.jpg)

# Speed Six

Capacity won the long race

The Speed Six turned Bentley's 6½ Litre into the works car that won Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Road cars ranged from formal saloons to open tourers. Original coachwork and numbered-component history matter more than team-car resemblance.

1928 to 1930 · 182 built · Cricklewood

## The price and the proof

Indicative road-car band $1.5M–$3.5M · typical $2.2M · 15 documented road sales · 15 recorded sales on file. Modeled values are not observed sales. Nothing here is investment advice.

Confidence: medium. Four documented USD sales cover original-bodied saloon, coupé, drophead and open-tourer configurations. Works competition cars and later Le Mans conversions remain too chassis-specific for this road-car band.

USD; original Speed Six road chassis with documented coachwork. Works racers sit outside the band.

Recent road-car sales sit near $2'100'000; the 2013 original Grafton coupé reached $2'860'000.

Valuation method and source rules: [HICONIUM standards](https://hiconium.dev/standards). Observed auction results across the wider market: [Market terminal](https://hiconium.dev/market).

### Model readouts

15 documented anchors. model v1 · seed bentley-speed-six. Compound annual growth is modeled price CAGR; S&P 500 is a price index without dividends. Forecast quantiles are not investment advice.

| Window | This car* | S&P 500 | Gold |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1Y | +0.3% | +18.8% | +21.9% |
| 5Y | +28.5% | +11.4% | +17.6% |
| 10Y | +17.4% | +13.3% | +11.8% |

| Series | Deepest drawdown | Window |
| --- | --- | --- |
| This car* | -91.9% | Aug 2013 → Mar 2016 · recovered Jul 2017 |
| S&P 500 | -50.8% | Oct 2007 → Mar 2009 · recovered Mar 2013 |
| Gold | -39.3% | Sep 2011 → Dec 2015 · recovered Jul 2020 |

| Horizon | P10 | P50 | P90 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| +6M | $1'841'235 | $2'233'646 | $2'709'690 |
| +12M | $1'736'414 | $2'267'807 | $2'961'823 |
| +24M | $1'604'981 | $2'337'704 | $3'404'938 |

### Documented sales

15 recorded. Every public sale on this file, newest first. Amounts keep the recorded currency. Source links appear only when the catalog stores a public auction-lot URL.

| Date | Chassis / label | Class | House | Venue | Amount | Currency | Basis | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-09-20 | gooding · The Stan Lucas Collection Auction · incl. buyer's premium | Road | gooding | The Stan Lucas Collection Auction | $2'095'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1930-bentley-speed-six-sports-tourer](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1930-bentley-speed-six-sports-tourer) |
| 2025-08-15 | gooding · Pebble Beach Auctions · incl. buyer's premium | Road | gooding | Pebble Beach Auctions | $2'150'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1929-bentley-speed-six-drophead-coupe](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1929-bentley-speed-six-drophead-coupe) |
| 2023-08-18 | 2023 | Road | gooding | Pebble Beach Auctions 2023 | $1'462'500 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1930-bentley-speed-six-sports-saloon](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1930-bentley-speed-six-sports-saloon) |
| 2022-03-16 | H&H Classics · Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | H&H Classics | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK | £438'750 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/84-1929-bentley-speed-six-le-mans-style-tourer/?lot=55225](https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/84-1929-bentley-speed-six-le-mans-style-tourer/?lot=55225) |
| 2019-10-07 | bonhams · Philadelphia, Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Philadelphia, Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum | $677'250 | USD | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/25222/lot/328/1930-bentley-speed-six-sports-tourer-chassis-no-fr2639-engine-no-fr2641s/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/25222/lot/328/1930-bentley-speed-six-sports-tourer-chassis-no-fr2639-engine-no-fr2641s/) |
| 2019-08-16 | Bonhams · Quail Lodge Auction, Carmel, USA · incl. buyer's premium | Road | Bonhams | Quail Lodge Auction, Carmel, USA | $874'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.bonhams.com//auctions/25221/lot/57/?category=list&length=100000&page=1](https://www.bonhams.com//auctions/25221/lot/57/?category=list&length=100000&page=1) |
| 2017-08-19 | RM Sotheby's · Monterey, USA · incl. buyer's premium | Road | RM Sotheby's | Monterey, USA | $3'410'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/31838/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/31838/results) |
| 2016-03-20 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £182'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/23589/lot/85/c1929-bentley-612-litre-speed-six-tourer-project-chassis-no-rc-2898-engine-no-lb-2340s/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/23589/lot/85/c1929-bentley-612-litre-speed-six-tourer-project-chassis-no-rc-2898-engine-no-lb-2340s/) |
| 2013-08-18 | 2013 | Road | Gooding Christie's | Pebble Beach 2013, Pebble Beach, USA | $2'860'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/56802/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/56802/results) |
| 2013-02-07 | bonhams · Paris, The Grand Palais Historique · hammer | Road | bonhams | Paris, The Grand Palais Historique | €720'000 | EUR | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20924/lot/578/1929-bentley-612-litre-speed-six-tourer-chassis-no-ba2580-engine-no-ba2584/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20924/lot/578/1929-bentley-612-litre-speed-six-tourer-chassis-no-ba2580-engine-no-ba2584/) |
| 2008-08-15 | bonhams · Carmel, Quail Lodge & Golf Club · hammer | Road | bonhams | Carmel, Quail Lodge & Golf Club | $510'000 | USD | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/16133/lot/354/1927-bentley-speed-six-two-seater-and-dickey-chassis-no-dh2206-engine-no-nh2732/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/16133/lot/354/1927-bentley-speed-six-two-seater-and-dickey-chassis-no-dh2206-engine-no-nh2732/) |
| 2006-04-24 | bonhams · Hendon, RAF Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Hendon, RAF Museum | £135'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/14256/lot/625/1928-bentley-speed-six-sports-two-seater-chassis-no-br-2359-engine-no-br-2356/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/14256/lot/625/1928-bentley-speed-six-sports-two-seater-chassis-no-br-2359-engine-no-br-2356/) |
| 2005-04-30 | bonhams · San Francisco · hammer | Road | bonhams | San Francisco | $300'000 | USD | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/13092/lot/638/1927-bentley-speed-six-two-seater-and-dickey-chassis-no-dh2206-engine-no-nh2732/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/13092/lot/638/1927-bentley-speed-six-two-seater-and-dickey-chassis-no-dh2206-engine-no-nh2732/) |
| 2004-09-03 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £280'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11095/lot/152/1929-bentley-speed-six-boat-tail-two-seater-chassis-no-kf2400-engine-no-wb2556-originally-kf2400/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11095/lot/152/1929-bentley-speed-six-boat-tail-two-seater-chassis-no-kf2400-engine-no-wb2556-originally-kf2400/) |
| 2003-05-17 | bonhams · Beaulieu, National Motor Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Beaulieu, National Motor Museum | £217'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/10403/lot/164/1929-bentley-speed-six-6-12-litre-le-mans-style-tourer-chassis-no-kr-2677-engine-no-kr-2683/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/10403/lot/164/1929-bentley-speed-six-6-12-litre-le-mans-style-tourer-chassis-no-kr-2677-engine-no-kr-2683/) |

Published sold totals are recorded without currency conversion. Coachwork, engine identity and period use must be read with every observation.

## The large-engine answer to Birkin's supercharger.

Bentley introduced the Speed Six in 1928 as the sporting derivative of its 6½ Litre. W.O. Bentley increased breathing, compression and camshaft performance rather than adding forced induction.

The works team won Le Mans with the model in 1929 and 1930. In 1929 the winning car covered 2'844 km and Bentley occupied the first four places; the 1930 victory completed the Cricklewood company's run of five wins in eight editions.

Bentley built 182 Speed Six chassis in three road wheelbases. The bodies were commissioned separately, and many cars were later rebodied or converted toward Le Mans specification, so a convincing-looking open tourer is not evidence of a team-car identity.

| Highlight | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| A faster 6½ Litre | Twin SU carburettors, higher compression and a different camshaft raised road output to 180 bhp. The short team chassis used 6.1:1 compression and 200 bhp. |
| First through fourth | Barnato and Birkin's Speed Six led the 1929 Le Mans race from the first lap to the finish. Three 4½ Litres followed it home; Birkin also cut 46 seconds from the lap record. |
| The Blue Train correction | Barnato raced the Blue Train in March 1930 using an H.J. Mulliner-bodied Speed Six saloon. The Gurney Nutting coupé long associated with the run was delivered in May, after the race. |

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Built | 182 |
| Engine | 6.6L inline-six |
| Induction | Twin SU carburettors |
| Road wheelbases | 3 lengths |
| Factory | Cricklewood |

## Technical specifications

### Powertrain

| Label | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engine | 6'597 cc inline-six | cast-iron monobloc; 100 mm bore, 140 mm stroke |
| Valvetrain | Single overhead camshaft, 24 valves | four valves per cylinder and twin magnetos |
| Induction | Twin SU carburettors | one of the changes from the standard 6½ Litre |
| Road output | 180 bhp at 3'500 rpm | Bentley factory figure |
| Race output | 200 bhp | factory figure for 6.1:1 team-car specification |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual | non-synchromesh D-type on Bentley's Heritage example |

### Chassis

| Label | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Road wheelbases | 138 · 140.5 · 152.5 in | 3'505 · 3'569 · 3'874 mm |
| Team wheelbase | 132 in | 3'353 mm |
| Suspension | Solid axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs |  |
| Brakes | Four-wheel mechanical drums |  |
| Coachwork | Independent coachbuilders | open tourers, coupés and formal saloons all survive |

### Speed Six register

1 documented · public records only. Private, unpublished and member-only chassis files are omitted.

| Year | Chassis | Colour | Provenance | Last public sale | File |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 0 | SB 2754 |  | Published auction record from Bonhams, 2019-08-16. | $874'000 · Bonhams · 2019-08 | [Chassis file](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/speed-six?file=SB%202754) |

## The people behind the car

### [W.O. Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/people/wo-bentley)

Founder and chief engineer · Bentley Motors

![Portrait of W.O. Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/images/cars/bentley-speed-six/people/wo-bentley.jpg)

Developed the Speed Six from the 6½ Litre around increased capacity, breathing and durability rather than supercharging.

### [Woolf Barnato](https://hiconium.dev/people/woolf-barnato)

Chairman and works driver · Bentley Motors

![Portrait of Woolf Barnato](https://hiconium.dev/images/cars/bentley-speed-six/people/woolf-barnato.jpg)

Shared the winning Speed Six in 1929 and 1930 and gave the model its Blue Train association.

## Member instruments

A HICON Bid is a confidential expression of buying interest on this file. It is not a binding purchase, and HICONIUM holds no funds. [Sign in](https://hiconium.dev/sign-in) to place one. Garage files for an owned chassis are member records and are not listed here. [How membership works](https://hiconium.dev/membership).