Walter Owen Bentley
The Cars in My Life, first published in 1963, was authored by car manufacturer Walter Owen ('W. O.') Bentley (1888-1971). Considered by many to be Britain’s most distinguished car designer, he founded Bentley Motors in 1919, and led the marque to multiple victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After selling his namesake company to Rolls-Royce Limited in 1931, he was employed as a designer for Lagonda, Aston Martin, and Armstrong Siddeley. Bentley was especially noted for his designs of high performance motors, such as the 3 liter Bentley and V12 Lagonda. As Bentley writes: 'The Cars in My Life is a book of theories and opinions, a hotch-potch of ideas on motor cars, motoring and the motor industry. I also say something about the cars I have known, some of the cars for which I have been responsible, and even some of the cars which never came to anything. Stirred into the stew as spice, are a few theories on the principle of motor car design and something about the people I have known in the world of motoring.'
