W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation

The W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation is a United Kingdom-registered charity dedicated to preserving, researching and sharing the history and heritage of Bentley automobiles. It was established as a UK registered charity in 1998 to safeguard the remarkable collection of Bentley historical records, photographs and artefacts gathered by the Bentley Drivers Club from 1936. Since then it has become the major global resource centre for the world of Bentley, acting as custodian of what it calls Bentley heritage DNA and as the recognised authority with unrivalled knowledge covering more than a century of cars and every facet of Bentley history — past, present and future. The Foundation's mission is deliberately broad: from the latest Bentley EVs and hybrids to the earliest 3 Litre cars and aero engines, from this week's Autocar to daring pre-WW1 racing exploits and Bentley personalities, it aims to embrace every era and aspect of the Bentley story. Its work is organised around several pillars. It preserves and digitises a renowned collection of Bentley documents, records, photos and artefacts assembled over some 90 years and still growing. It acquires significant Bentley material by donation and purchase. Its Archive and Library are consulted every year by owners, enthusiasts, historians and media. It stages outstanding presentations of Bentley history at its Wroxton HQ and at external events. It publishes definitive books, its journal 1888, and articles on well known and neglected areas of the Bentley story in print and digitally. And it educates through talks, lectures, awards and events. As an independent charity, the Foundation relies on donations to continue and expand its work. It is not a car manufacturer or a commercial trading brand; rather, it is a heritage and educational institution that operates in the orbit of the Bentley marque. Its headquarters are at Wroxton, and its registered charity number is 106979. The Foundation describes itself as the home of Bentley history and heritage, inviting the public to explore its website to discover more.

The W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation was established as a UK registered charity in 1998. Its founding purpose was to safeguard the remarkable collection of Bentley historical records, photographs and artefacts that had been gathered by the Bentley Drivers Club from 1936. That collection, assembled over some 90 years and still growing, forms the core of the Foundation's archive. Since 1998 the Foundation has grown into what it describes as the major global resource centre for the world of Bentley. It positions itself as the custodian of Bentley heritage DNA and the recognised authority with unrivalled knowledge covering more than a century of cars and every facet of Bentley history — past, present and future. Its mission is to embrace every era and aspect of the Bentley story, from the latest Bentley EVs and hybrids to the earliest 3 Litre cars and aero engines, and from contemporary motoring press such as this week's Autocar to daring pre-WW1 racing exploits and Bentley personalities. The Foundation's work is structured around preserving and digitising its collection, acquiring significant Bentley material by donation and purchase, providing research access through its Archive and Library, staging displays at its Wroxton HQ and external events, publishing definitive books and its journal 1888, and educating through talks, lectures, awards and events. As an independent charity, it relies on donations to continue and expand this work. Its UK registered charity number is 106979.

• 1998

  W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation established as a UK registered charity to safeguard the collection.

• 1936

  Bentley Drivers Club begins gathering Bentley historical records, photographs and artefacts.

• Foundation becomes the major global resource centre for the world of Bentley.

Independent heritage charity and recognised global authority on Bentley history, not a commercial automaker.

• Bentley Archive and Library

  Consulted every year by owners, enthusiasts, historians and media.

• Journal 1888

  The Foundation's journal publishing articles on the Bentley story.

• Definitive books on Bentley history

  Published in print and digitally.

• Exhibitions and displays

  Staged at Wroxton HQ and external events.

1. 1Home - Bentley Foundationwobmf.org
2. 2About - Bentley Foundationwobmf.org
3. 3W. O. Bentley Memorial Foundation - Wikidatawikidata.org