Bentley rose to prominence with powerful early models that were equally capable of winning the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans or carrying the most elegant coachwork effortlessly. But even the fascinating figure of Woolf Barnato - diamond heir, investor, Le Mans winner and leading Bentley Boy - could not save Bentley from receivership in 1931\\. W.O. Bentley believed he had reached agreement with Lagonda for a sale to be approved by the receivership court. He believed, that is, until a gentlemen stood to address himself to the court with a higher offer from an unidentified bidder. The receiver was obligated to accept the higher offer. The bidder was soon revealed to be Bentley's keen rival, Rolls-Royce.