Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Speed

Starting point

A Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Speed came to the workshop for a hand wash and leather care. On a car from this era everything is open and full of nooks and crannies: wire-spoke wheels, leaf springs wrapped in leather at the bottom, many leather straps and a passenger tonneau cover that can be opened as needed. The paint carries a light patina, which was to be preserved.

Work

The hand wash was far more involved than on a modern car; the spoke wheels alone demanded a great deal of handwork. Then followed the intensive leather care: all the leather straps were treated several times inside and out with our in-house leather cleaner and leather care lotion. The leaf springs, wrapped in leather at the bottom, were given special care too. The passenger compartment received a waterproofing treatment so that water beads off better on a drive in the rain. The entire interior was cleaned and treated with intensive leather care. The passenger tonneau cover was cleaned and waterproofed with a product made specifically for fabrics. Nothing on the paint itself was polished; it was merely preserved with a spray gloss.

Result

After the work, the Bentley was clean, with well cared-for leather on the straps, leaf springs and in the interior, and a waterproofed passenger compartment and tonneau cover. The light patina of the paint was preserved; in the workshop’s view it suits the car very well.

Workshop archive, original report. Product details reflect the state at the time.