Cars in the Park, a Bentley stole the Italian automobile show for me

D50 photos:

Yes, I know a Bentley is British. I'm guessing this one made its way into the show by way of an Italian connection of some sort.


Looking from the passenger side of the car, across the hood ornament.


Looking from the driver's side of the car, across the hood ornament. Not even that woman's patterned blouse can destroy the design magnificence.

All of these parts add up to one great big, beautiful car.




Do these signs reveal the Italian connection? I found on Wikipedia that the 1000 Miglia (Mille Miglia) was an Italian open-road endurance race held between 1927 and 1957. In 1982 the Mille Miglia endurance race was revived as a road rally event. Nowadays, timing rather than speed is of the essence for the enthusiasts from around the world who race their vintage cars, dating from 1927 to 1957. This magnificent parade of classic machines has earned the Mille Miglia the reputation of being "the most beautiful road race in the world". Every May, Brescia becomes the meeting place for the rich, famous and passionate as they prepare to do battle over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of Italian roads. The event is closely followed by the press and immortalized every year by one of world's most respected photographers, Giacomo Bretzel, whose images so perfectly communicate the intensity, the emotion and the spirit of the moment. The history of the Mille Miglia is traced in all its glory, from yesteryear to the present day, at the Mille Miglia Museum, Brescia. This collection is a must for all amateurs of the automobile and its history and includes a fine collection of books and photographic works.


Here's a close-up which has the year 2007 on it, so this beauty must have made the race that year. Yes! I have found a photo of it in the gallery of the 2007 Mille Miglia at Supercars dot Net! Yes! It is labeled as a Bentley 3 Litre Speed. In the photo there is a man driving and a man in the passenger seat. I would put the link, but I don't feel comfortable with the license plate being visible, nor do I want to alter the photo taken by someone else. Sorry.






How many people do you count in this photo? Reflections included, I count 20. When the sun's out, Portlanders come out in even greater numbers. And the young lad standing beside the vehicle gives you an idea how huge it is.


Sweet car gazing.




Thank goodness I was able to get a photo that shows the true color of this wonderful car. Is that British Racing Green?


The front end of the great big beautiful car.