Bentley Drivers Club at Silverstone - Saturday 1st August 2015

Bentley Drivers Club Meet - Silverstone 2015

"Until recently, my late cousin owned the 1926, 3 litre Bentley: GD 4233 (Chassis 1171). I wondered if you knew whether the black / red colour scheme was originally a Bentley affectation or just a random combination from the coachbuilder (Gurney Nutting)..."

Kop Hill Climb, September 2013

Mar 25, 2013: Sold for £165,000

1925 Bentley 3 Litre Gurney Nutting Tourer
Chassis No. 1171. :: Reg No. GD 4233

A very correct, attractive tourer, thoroughly restored many years ago by the last owner, much of which is documented, who bought the car in 1974, and still in excellent condition following careful use and maintenance. The body is without doubt the original, as evidenced by a brass identification plate. Fitted with a slightly later engine from a speed model, which has the ‘SS’ prefix to its number, correct for the period. An excellent, handsome car, offered with a new set of Dunlop tyres, newly MoT tested, ready to go.

Snippets: Lawnmowers
1171 spent the 1st ten years of his life in Scotland – firstly with J. D Cousin of Kinachoile, Dunblane; secondly with Peter Sinclair of Alloa which is well known for its coalmines & shipbuilding industries. The 3rd Scottish owner was Fred Shanks whose relative Alexander had founded the A. Shanks & Son Iron Works in Arbroath. In 1806 the firm patented a lawn mower and by 1840 were manufacturing portable steam engines, iron bridges & steam cranes. In 1845 Alexander died & the firm was taken over by his son James, he opened their London office 1860 & in 1894 the firm was taken over by the 3rd generation of Shanks – Alexander, James, Frederick & David. By the time that Fred took delivery of 1171 the company were well known for their Rajah & Triumph mowers with one of their best known customers was the St Andrews Golf Course, they actually tested their 42” cutting machine at the Royal Estate of Balmoral with the result that Queen Victoria was one of their first customers. In 1883 Frederick’s sister Jean married James Lyle Mackay (businessman & Colonial Administrator for India) who in 1911 was created the 1st Earl Inchcape – their daughter Lady Elsie was an actress (stage name Poppy Wyndham), aviatrix & interior designer for P&O, in 1928 she & her co-pilot Walter Hinchcliffe disappeared at sea whilst attempting an east-west Atlantic flight in their Stinson Detroiter. After WWII the car is known to have been with A Peduzzi – there was an Anna Maria Peduzzi "La Marocchina" who enjoyed a motorsport career throughout Europe from the 1930s to the 1960s – perhaps there is a connection? Her husband Gianfranco Alessandro Maria Comotti was the official racing driver for Ferrari in the early 1930s & during the war was almost executed for his resistance work in Italy.

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member