Bentley’s most recent apprentice class included 36 students, 19 in manufacturing and 17 in other business areas such as engineering, sales and marketing, purchasing and human resources. Photos courtesy of Bentley Motors.
With most automakers, a manufacturing apprenticeship program involves learning the skills necessary to produce the latest products as quickly and efficiently as possible. For 19 lucky manufacturing apprentices at Bentley Motors, their path to the future begins in the past, specifically with the restoration of a 1965 Bentley T-Series saloon, a car which will join the automaker’s heritage fleet upon completion.
Under the guidance of Bentley Master Trainer Colin Jackson, the students will work on all aspects of the car’s restoration, from the rebuilding of its engine to the refinishing of its exterior to the reupholstery and re-trimming of its interior. Ensuring that the group is equally well versed in new vehicle production, additional curriculum includes subjects like production maintenance and future production technologies, too.
Of the program, unique to this class of apprentices, Jackson said,
This is something everyone involved in can feel very proud of. Having the opportunity to bring back to life such an iconic Bentley doesn’t happen very often. The challenge of restoring this car means that our apprentices will develop the traditional skills that Bentley is so famous for, and sets them up for their careers building Bentleys of the future.
The T-Series, built from 1965 to 1977 as the T1 and from 1977 to 1980 as the T2, was the first Bentley model to use monocoque construction instead of the traditional body-on-frame design. Its platform and mechanicals were shared with the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, but the Bentley received a lower hood and a reshaped grille, as well as a price tag that undercut its rival by £50 (then $140). Power initially came from a 6 1/4-liter V-8 (increased to 6 3/4-liters in 1970), which produced horsepower enough to propel the T-1 saloon from 0-100 km/h (62 MPH) in 10.9 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 115 MPH. Over its 12-year production run, Bentley assembled 1,886 T1 models, followed by another 568 T2s.
Bentley’s apprenticeship program has been in place for over four decades, and the automaker has recently pledged its support of the Crewe University Technical College, located just over a mile east of the Bentley Motors factory. The school focuses on engineering and design, using the latest technology and equipment to provide the most relevant educational experience to students.
from Hemmings Daily – News for the collector car enthusiast http://ift.tt/2eDl1gn
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