In this episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Jay is visited by automotive royalty: The 1930 Bentley Speed Six “Blue Train” Special. This is widely considered the most beautiful W.O. Bentley ever produced.
The Story: Legend has it that Woolf Barnato, the chairman of Bentley Motors and a Le Mans winner, made a bet that he could beat the famous “Blue Train” from Cannes to Calais. He didn’t just beat it; he arrived in London four minutes before the train even reached the coast.
The Car: Jay and Mike Sayer from the Bentley Heritage Collection dive deep into this “1 of 1” Gurney Nutting coupe. Unlike the standard Bentleys of the time, this car features a rakish design with no running boards , a “sideways” rear seat , and a massive 6.5L straight-six engine.
The Controversy: Is this the actual car that raced the train, or was it the saloon? Jay discusses the “romantic story” versus the “cold boring facts” and why this specific car has become the icon of the legend.
