It began with the complex deal which saw Vickers sell off its Rolls Royce and Bentley motoring marques to concentrate on heavy industry in 1998.
For Rolls, that meant a move to a new factory Goodwood under the stewardship of BMW. For Bentley, it meant a fresh start on familiar territory with Volkswagen at the wheel.
Today, the evidence of VW's £500m investment is everywhere to see on the Pyms Lane industrial site.
A new entrance hall, in keeping with Bentley's refined reputation, greets customers and business contacts alike. A visitor centre, containing rare surviving examples of Bentley cars through the ages, sits alongside a showroom where visitors can take a seat inside a new luxury car.
Crisp
Skilled tradesmen now perform tasks which have been passed down through generations on crisp, clean, state-of-the-art production lines.
But, most importantly, VW have made good a promise to revitalise a marque, which had grown a little tired under Vickers' ownership.
At the time of the Vickers sell-off, the Arnage was the only physical representation of Walter Owen Bentley's automotive vision.
In 2003, the scene was set for a vibrant renaissance by the new Bentley GT Continental - a flashback to Bentley's Continental R Type of the 1950s - which became the new must-have motor for footballers and billionaires alike.
Stylish, exclusive and functional, it also provided a long overdue shot in the arm for the winged B brand.
Since then, Bentley's design team has been working at a rate of almost one new car per year. Hot on the heels of the GT Continental was the Flying Spur, a four-door luxury saloon harking back to the late fifties car of the same name and boasting the same engine and stylings of the two door GT.
Next to hit the production line will be a convertible version of the GT, named the Continental GTC.
And, following soon after, will be Bentley's new Azure, the car which stole the show at the Los Angeles Auto Show and a vehicle which will provide a pinnacle for the company's prestigious fleet.
Another important change for Bentley was allowing customers into the Crewe factory so they could see for themselves why a spend of more than £100,000 might still represent good value for money.
With former factory worker, Tim Moors, as my guide, I'm enjoying a tour which was taken by 9,000 visitors last year.
In some cases, car buyers are flown halfway around the world at Bentley's expense so that they can see the full range of options available for their cars. There's even a helipad at the site.
Range
Moors' tour takes in the brand new production line, where the Continental range of cars is slowly put together.
Unlike volume car plants, each vehicle is made to the customer's exact specifications.
Body panels pressed at VW's plant in Germany are assembled first, followed by the parts which must go into each car and then the finishing touches, selected by the car's owner.
Moving slowly down the production line are examples of cars in 16 different finishes, carrying numerous wheel options and interiors.
But, while the Continental production line is a shining example of modern engineering, the Arnage production line is like stepping back in time.
Body shells are spot-welded together by hand - 4,500 spots at the floor pan stage - before the customer's requests are carried out.
And, if you want something really special, Crewe's Mulliner design department is able to match any colour, piece of fabric or veneer.
Not only have Bentley motor cars again captured the imagination, but the company is also in the black, financially.
VickersThe workforce has been expanded from 2,000 people at the time of the Vickers sale to 3,800.
At a time when VW is facing its own finacial problems, Bentley seems to be holding its own.
Even so, James Barclay, Bentley's press spokesman, says that the firm has no aspirations to be a volume car maker. "As a part of the VW group, we can never be completely insulated from decisions affecting the entire company, but it seems that are pretty well placed at present because of extremely tight management processes.
"The esteem in which the Bentley brand is held globally at present is tremendous and that is great news for Crewe."
