Unique Bentley-created items to be auctioned

(August 30, 2011) An array of one-off items created by artisans from the tooling, woodshop and styling teams at Bentley Motors are heading to the auction block to raise money for The Prince’s Trust, which is a youth charity that provides practical and financial support to 14 to 30-year-olds.

The artisans have turned their creative energy into crafting a range of one-off collector’s items that will be put to auction to raise funds for The Prince’s Trust. The bidding will begin on Sept. 1.

The items range from display pieces such as a chess-set with pieces tooled from aluminum set on a beautifully veneered board, to a table created from a polished V8 engine from the Bentley Mulsanne and a cutlery-set commissioned by Robert Welch and engraved with the Bentley emblem.

Around 20 different pieces have been commissioned. All of them, apart from the Robert Welch cutlery set, have been designed and created on-site at the Bentley factory in Crewe, showcasing the outstanding craftsmanship and attention to detail that typifies Bentley Motors.

Michael Straughan, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing said:
“The design brief for the auction was to create a unique and desirable item based upon the core materials, parts and processes that are used to build cars such as the Mulsanne and the Continental GT.

The results are exquisite and the auction is a rare opportunity for Bentley lovers to own a one-off handcrafted piece of Bentley memorabilia.”

The auction will be hosted online with bidding opening on Sept. 1.

The items will also be exhibited at Bentley dealerships later in the year, as well as at the Goodwood Revival Festival on Sept. 16-18. Guests at these events will be able to view the items, learn about their creation, talk to the Bentley graduates behind this project and, of course, place bids.

Editor's note: Each year the Bentley Graduates take part in The Prince’s Trust "Million-makers Challenge" in which teams from businesses across the country aim to collectively raise £1 million for the Trust.