The Bentley name needs no introduction in the automobile world. For more than a century, the prestigious brand has been making luxury vehicles. With time, the Bentley logo has become a symbol of quality high-end vehicles. Speaking of symbols, the Bentley logo has also gone through some major changes over the years.
The flying ‘B’ on Bentley vehicles holds great significance in the luxury auto brand’s history. That said, we will go through the Bentley logo’s history, its meaning and evolution over the years.
Bentley Logo History
Founded in 1919, Bentley has introduced some industry icons over the years. The brands’ vehicles have made rounds among customers and on the racing circuit as well. Additionally, Bentley’s history shows the brand’s adherence to modern standards and requirements.
However, it’s not just the vehicles that have evolved. The Bentley logo has had its fair share of changes. Let’s now go through the Bentley car logo history and see how the iconic symbol has evolved.
1920 – THE FLYING B
During the 1920s, almost all major companies used a bonnet mascot to represent their brand. In addition to representing the company, these mascots were a way to announce the brand’s entry in style. Much like the other meaningful car logos, Bentley needed its symbol.
Frederick Gordon Crosby, a British illustrator, was tasked with creating the company’s logo. The reputed artist came up with the iconic Bentley winged badge. Additionally, he designed the Icarus mascot for the bonnet.
The mascot was available in some of the earlier Bentley models. However, copyright infringement prevented it from going into production. Consequently, the earlier models came with the approved winged logo. The horizontal B featured brass wings on both sides.
Crosby used different numbers of feathers on each wing to make the logo unique. Moreover, this step prevented all sorts of fraudulent imitations.
1930 – SYKE’S DESIGN
As the brand continued to grow, different car engine layouts were used in the vehicles. Moreover, Bentley vehicles became sleeker and lower with Derby-built silent sports cars. The Bentley logo history saw a major turn and Charles Sykes was appointed to design the new symbol.
Charles Robinson Sykes, an English sculptor, was known for designing the Rolls-Royce spirit of ecstasy. Sykes went with a single-wing forward-leaning B. The art deco style B was visible when viewed from either side.
However, the single-wing design did not please the masses. Bentley had to revert to the dual-wing design for its vehicles. During the same time, the MR and MX series were available with the B symbol leaning rearwards.
With this design, vehicle owners had to rotate the mascot sideways before unlocking the bonnet. Failure to do so puts the vehicle’s body at a denting risk.
THE FLYING B RETURNS
The post-war era saw the entrance of a smaller version of the iconic B mascot. This was several years before Bentley became one of the Volkswagen-owned brands. This Bentley logo evolution was available on Crew-built Bentleys up until the 1970s.
However, Bentley had to withdraw the ornament because of the new legislation. The pedestrian safety legislation prohibited the use of prominent solid ornaments on vehicles.
The ornament, however, made a remarkable return in 2006. The new design made the ornament fully retractable. The new design was available on Brooklands, Arnage and Azure. Bentley’s Mulliner division offers the iconic logo with several variations. For instance, some limited models came with gold flying B and a dark tint version of the ornament.
THE 1990s – THE LOGO REVISED
One of the interesting Bentley facts is the brand building two vehicles for the Queen. With greater recognition, Bentley also made some changes to its logo. The new logo got the asymmetry back. The B in the middle became the centre of attraction.
2002 – THE DEFINITIVE CORPORATE IDENTITY
Volkswagen acquired the brand in 1998. After a few years, in 2002, Bentley made a definitive change in its logo. This was a major point in the Bentley logo history as the symbol is to date used on the brand’s vehicles.
The letter B was still the only alphabet in the logo. The popular design pays homage to the brand’s origins. Moreover, the logo emphasises Bentley’s dedication to sticking to its core values.
THE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
Bentley introduced an exclusive version of the Flying B to celebrate 100 years of the brand. Modern models come equipped with new car tech and advanced features. However, with the centenary celebrations, Bentley kept the exclusive logo for models built in the cemetery years.
The oval in the logo got a special metallic finish outline named Centenary Gold. Moreover, the years 1919 to 2009 were added to both sides – a befitting tribute to Crosby marking 100 years of his design.
Bentley Logo Meaning
The Bentley symbol history showcases the logo’s advancements over the years. However, even with all the changes, the logo holds a common meaning. The B in the oval implies the brand’s name. The wings signify the founder’s desire to reach unprecedented heights with quality vehicles.
Additionally, the wings also reflect the brand’s beginnings as Bentley started as an aviation company. Another explanation of the Bentley logo wings is the brand’s high standards that have reached sky heights – far away from competitors’ reach.
FAQs
What is the Bentley logo?
The Bentley logo consists of a B inside an oval. Additionally, the logo has wings on both sides implying the brand’s rise to unprecedented heights. The logo also signifies Bentley’s aim to produce vehicles of the highest quality.
Why is the Bentley Logo Asymmetrical?
Asymmetrical wings are considered a sign of good luck – a rather common practice in sports cars. Bentley uses the number of wings to better determine the types of cars.
This brings us to the end of Bentley logo history. The luxury car brand has made a name for itself with quality high-end vehicles. The Bentley logo signifies the brand’s interest towards advancements and reaching unprecedented heights.
Several discontinued Bentley models have been replaced by new and advanced ones. If you are a Bentley fan check out Bentley showrooms in the UAE to get the luxury vehicles.
Moreover, there are pre-owned versions of the luxury brand available for sale. Browse through these used Bentleys for sale in the UAE and select the high-end model best suited to your needs.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s auto blog for information about leading brands’ logo histories and more.
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