Is Bentley Entirely Handmade?
3 Answers
Bentley is not entirely handmade; in fact, there are no completely handmade cars in the world. Automobiles consist of numerous components, some of which, like tiny gears, cannot be crafted by hand and require machinery for production. Generally, handmade manufacturing refers to the final assembly of the car being done entirely by hand. Taking Rolls-Royce as an example, components such as the engine, steering wheel, transmission, and starlight headliner are all assembled by hand. Bentley is a luxury car manufacturer headquartered in Crewe, UK, with its main models including the Mulsanne, Flying Spur, and Continental. Taking the Flying Spur as an example, its body dimensions are 5316mm in length, 1978mm in width, and 1484mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3065mm. In terms of exterior design, the Bentley Flying Spur draws inspiration from the Continental GT's design philosophy while retaining the classic design elements of Bentley's flagship model, the Mulsanne. Additionally, it features LED daytime running lights in the front headlight assembly and a redesigned bumper.
As someone who frequently studies luxury cars, I'd like to share with you about Bentley's manufacturing process. Bentley isn't entirely handcrafted—it combines machinery and handwork, but the manual elements account for a significant proportion. For instance, the body frame and engine assembly are done with automated equipment to ensure precision and efficiency; however, the interior components, such as the stitching of leather seats and the polishing of wood veneer panels, are entirely completed by skilled craftsmen. These artisans are highly experienced, with each car requiring hundreds of hours of meticulous handcrafting. A friend of mine visited the Bentley factory and witnessed craftsmen carefully carving wood trims or stitching leather, which felt exceptionally precious. In comparison, older models might have been more purely handcrafted, but modern production demands have necessitated some machine assistance to keep up with the pace. So, if you're looking to customize a Bentley—choosing a unique color or having your name engraved on the seats—you can still experience that one-of-a-kind handmade feel, though it's not 100% handcrafted, as times have changed. Ultimately, its value lies in the craftsmanship spirit, making it worthy of admiration by car enthusiasts.
From a manufacturing process perspective, Bentley cars are not entirely handcrafted. I've studied their production line. Core structural components like chassis welding and stamping are machine-operated to ensure safety and consistency. However, the decoration and assembly stages rely on manual craftsmanship—tasks such as leather upholstery and wood trim are entirely handled by highly skilled artisans. This approach is similar to other top-tier brands like Rolls-Royce, though Bentley places greater emphasis on its artisan team's tradition—every interior stitch must be precisely executed, a process that takes considerable time. Meanwhile, automation is employed in testing phases, such as engine performance checks, to enhance reliability. Thus, it's not purely handcrafted but rather a balanced hybrid approach that maintains efficiency without compromising luxury. If you focus on the details, Bentley's handcrafted elements are where the true value lies.
