A Century-Old Bentley Shatters 100 mph, Proving the Supercar Experience Was Born Long Ago
Ars Technica’s Jonathan M. Gitlin rides Smoky, a 1926 Bentley Super Sports, around Laguna Seca during Monterey Car Week, illustrating that the supercar experience predates modern era: a tuned 3.0 L engine with upgraded internals could exceed 100 mph while the standard car struggled at 40 mph, with a visceral, gear-driven ride and minimal safety gear that echoes today’s performance cars. Smoky’s racing pedigree—built 1925–27 as one of 18—highlights how early aerodynamics and engineering aimed at speed, not just comfort.