Bentley was founded in England in 1919 by Walter Owen (W.O.) Bentley, who had previously designed engines for aircraft, including the BR1 which appeared in later versions of the Sopwith Camel. Economic circumstances such as insufficient funding and the depression led to the sale of Bentley to Rolls Royce in 1931. Overcoming a perpetually tumultuous existence, Bentley has been owned by The Volkswagen Group since 1998.