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Technology · Consumer gadgets · published 2026-09-01 · via Ars Technica

A 1920s Bentley Super Sports: The Original Supercar Experience

Image via Ars Technica
Image via Ars Technica

A 1920s Bentley Super Sports, one of only 18 built, demonstrated its performance at Laguna Seca. With a shortened wheelbase and lighter body, it could exceed 100 mph when typical cars managed 40. The car's design and driving experience foreshadowed modern supercars.

Expanded Detail

EXPANDED:

The Super Sports' performance came from a combination of weight reduction and mechanical refinement. Shortening the wheelbase by nearly ten inches and fitting a more streamlined radiator reduced drag, while engine upgrades—higher compression, a lighter flywheel, and revised carburetors—boosted output. The factory's 100 mph guarantee was extraordinary for an era when most production cars struggled to reach half that speed.

Smoky's racing pedigree added to its significance. After receiving a 4.5-liter engine from the 1928 Le Mans-winning car, it achieved seven victories at Brooklands between

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
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This summary is AI-generated and original to Mobble; the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “This is what a supercar was like a century ago.” Browse more stories.