Newly-Restyled Flying B Adorns Flying Spur in Bentley’s Centenary Year

Flying B – A Symbol Of Excellence
The original Flying B, the latest incarnation of which is making its debut on a Flying Spur for the first time in modern memory, was designed by Charles Sykes, who created a ‘B’ with wings that looked the same from both sides of the car. It eventually became standard fitment on most models, although many Bentleys also featured unique mascots created by their owners.

The upright, Flying B first appeared in the early 1930s on an 8 Litre model but only as an option, for an additional five guineas. Emblems were not popular and at one stage, Bentley even considered scrapping their now-iconic mascot for good.

In 1935, a competition was held inviting readers of The Autocar magazine to suggest their own designs for a replacement. The prize was a not insubstantial £50 but none of the ideas submitted proved suitable. Many did not even allow for the hood of a Bentley to be opened!

Two consolation prizes of £25 each were awarded to a pair of readers and, thankfully, the upright Flying B badge that now adorns many of the world’s finest motor cars survived.

Flat Winged B – A Badge of Distinction
Remarkably, very early Bentley motor cars had no mascot on the hood at all. The flat, winged Bentley badge was designed for company founder W.O. Bentley just after the First World War by English artist, F. Gordon Crosby.

Although the badge appears symmetrical, the two wings feature a different number of feathers on each side. This simple difference was intended to fool those who tried to copy the marque’s logo.

Crosby worked for The Autocar magazine most of his life. A self-taught illustrator, he had a unique style that was captured best in his remarkable watercolours of road and track racing. A flamboyant character, he was probably Britain’s foremost motoring artist of the era.

The flat winged badge has appeared in several colours over the last 100 years, originally red, then green, blue and black. Today the flat winged B remains a renowned hallmark of excellence.

Bentley Motors – Where and how?

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