Harry Varley: A Man Who Made Motoring History

Harry Varley was a talented engineer who designed the 3-litre Bentley and created a new engine for it fifty-seven years later. He also designed the Vauxhall badge and worked on projects at Cubitt, Crossley, and Streamline Cars. During the Second World War, he helped develop the largest diesel engine made by Perkins Engines and retired as chief planning engineer at Rolls-Royce.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 14 September 2023
Publisher: Fonthill Media Ltd

Harry Varley embarked on an extraordinary eighty-year journey, traversing the vibrant era of twentieth-century mechanical and motor-vehicle engineering. Hailing from an ecclesiastical background, his burning ambition was to become the finest engineer he could be. As a member of the three-man team responsible for designing the iconic 3-litre Bentley, he achieved a remarkable feat fifty-seven years later by creating a new engine for the same car. Varley's exceptional skills as a draughtsman and designer saw him contribute to the design of automobiles, aircraft, and agricultural machinery at various companies. His notable contributions include the creation of the distinctive Vauxhall badge, the revolutionary internal-combustion-engine piston, and his employment on projects at Cubitt, Crossley, and Streamline Cars. During World War II, he served on secondment, where he played a pivotal role in developing the largest diesel engine manufactured by Perkins Engines, along with balloon winches and gun mountings. His contributions culminated at Rolls-Royce, where he retired as the chief planning engineer. The arduous journey of designing and manufacturing his Varley engine spanned nine years of unwavering determination. Upon receiving reports confirming that it had successfully met its design objectives, Varley passed away at the age of ninety-three, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled excellence in engineering.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 242 x 165 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781781559048