This is what a supercar was like a century ago
When the average car could only do 40 mph, this Bentley could break 100.
In Monterey, California, Bentley provided flights and accommodation for Ars to drive their new Supersports and ride in a preproduction Torcal EV. The Supersports is the most driver-focused Bentley in 85 years and the lightest car made by the company in the same period. However, the first car to bear the Super Sports badge dates back even further.
Between 1925 and 1927, Bentley produced 18 Super Sports by taking their standard 3 Litre model and shortening the wheelbase by 9.5 inches. This made the car more responsive and faster, with its radiator presenting less air resistance. The car's bodywork was determined by the owner's choice of coachbuilder. The 3.0 L engine in the original Super Sports was more powerful than the one in the standard car, featuring new pistons, a lighter flywheel, and different carburetors.
The factory guaranteed that a Super Sports could exceed 100 mph, while the common Ford Model Ts struggled to reach 40 mph.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
