1927-1930 The First Le Mans Era: Bentley

The first real era at Le Mans was with Bentley. Bentley became multiple winners in 1927 as they already had a single victory earlier in 1924, the year after Lorraine-Dietrich won their second race

The victory in 1924 was with a model called the 3 Litre Sport. Then from 1927 to 1930 Bentley won four times in succession. The first of the four-in-a-row wins was with a 3L Super Sport model, then a 4 1/2 Litre Sport in '28 and then twice in '29 & '30 with the Bentley Speed Six model. 

In the first eight years of the 24 hours of Le Mans being in existence Bentley racked up five victories with four in succession. It truly was the Bentley era and the image created went on for decades even though Bentley didn't enter Le Mans again until 2001 and didn't win again until 2003. And then it must be noted that by then, after decades of being owned by Rolls-Royce, Bentley had been acquired by Volkswagen. And the Le Mans racing effort was supported by a team from and an engine by Audi, which is also owned by Volkswagen.

The founder of the company W.O. Bentley is credited with his cars success at Le Mans thanks to not only their speed but their rugged and reliable, albeit heavy, construction. Some say that this was due to Bentley's earlier years spent engineering railroad running stock.The Bentley's speed, size and weight supposedly prompted Ettore Bugatti, (whose creations were famous for being light weight), to state that Bentleys were, "the world's fastest lorries". 

W.O. Bentley is also credited with being the first to use aluminum for manufacturing pistons. In addition to the rugged construction of the Bentley chassis his engines were powerful and reliable as well.

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1924 Le Mans 
1st Bentley Victory

Winning 1924 3 Litre Sport Number 8

1925 Le Mans 

Two cars were entered in '25. No.9 & No.10 both were 3 Litre models similar to this one. Both were DNF. No.10 after 19 laps and No.9 after 64

1926 Le Mans 

No.7  3 Litre Speed Model in 1926. Unfortunately a DNF after 138 laps.

No.9  3 Litre Super Sport raced in 1926.

 Unfortunately also a DNF after 105 laps.

Car #8 3 Litre Sport was a DNF after 72 Laps

1927 Le Mans 
2nd Bentley Victory

From the Bentley Drivers Club Web Site:

At the end of the first lap the 4 1/2 Litre Bentley came fast through White House corner and hit a French Theophile Schneider. It was immediately followed into the ditch by the two 3 litre Bentleys and another French car.

Against all odds, the Davis/Benjafield car survived and managed to limp back to the pits, wheel buckled, frame bent, headlamp, wing and running board smashed. Lashing the car together with wire and string, it eventually restarted and gradually started gaining on the leading Aries. 

With less than an hour to go the Aires engine blew, and after many hours of epic driving the Bentley took the flag to win the 1927 Le Mans.

1927 Winner Car #3 known as "Old Number 7"

1928 Le Mans
3rd Victory 2nd Consecutive Win

Replica of 4 1/2 Litre "Old Mother Gun" Winner in 1928

Woolf Barnato's Winning Car #4

Woolf Barnato's Winning Car #4

Woolf Barnato's Winning Car #4

Interesting Lighting Arrangement On The 1928 Winner

Woolf Barnato in Winning Car #4

1929 Le Mans
4th Victory 3rd Consecutive Win 

"Old Number One" LM Winner 1929 &1930

Designated Car #1 in '29 & Car #4 in '30

1929 Birkin & Barnato at Le Mans With "Old Number One

1929 Le Mans 4th Place #8  4.4L Car of Frank Clement & Jean Chassagne

1929 Le Mans 3rd Place #10  4.4L Car of Dr. Dudley Benjafield & Andre d'Erianger

Same car as above. Everything seems to match except the wind screen.

How can the exact same car as the one above look so much lower in this shot?

The 1929 2nd Place 4.5 Litre Car of Jack Dunfee & Glen Kidston

Could this be the 4.5 Litre No.11 car that was a DNF in 1929?

1930 Le Mans
5th Victory 4th Consecutive Win

Headlight configuration matches car below
but can't make out car number in either photo.
Fenders indicate a Speed Six most likely car No.3 shown 17th as a DNF.

End of the Mulsanne Straight
The sand bank on the right was famous for trapping cars. Finding correct braking point was difficult  at the end of such a long straight. It only got worse as cars got faster. 
Sandbank is gone now and two chicanes added onto straight to slow cars down. 

The No.9 car 4.4L Supercharged "Blower Bentley"  of Sir Henry Birkin and Jean Chassagne.
Placed 11th but not running after 138 laps.

That left rear tire is absolutely shredded.

Non Le Mans car but good side view of a "Speed Six"

Woolf Barnato & Glen Kidston's Winner #4 6.6L Bentley Speed Six Leading #9 The 4.4L Supercharged of Sir Henry Birkin and Jean Chassagne Which Finished 11th

Cars 8 and 9 were Bentley Blower Cs that were 4.4Litre supercharged.
You can just make out the supercharges on the front of the cars.
They were 10th and 11th but not running after 144 & 138 laps.

The Bentleys are in tandem on the right. That's a Bugatti on the left.

Glen Kidston on the left Woolf Barnato right