Vintage Bentley
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Chassis & Engine NOS.
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Unidentified
Bentleys
1925 Bentley 3 Litre SP 4-seater
Chassis No. 869
Engine No. 877
Registration No. FY 7290
January 31, 2017
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Feb 23, 2017
2017
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Mar 23, 2020
July 31, 2016
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Feb 23, 2017
1987
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
1981
I do not have a photo of your Bentley FY7290 / 869 but my notes tell me that it participated in the Manchester to Blackpool car rally. This was an annual rally which I used to attend. I don't know which year this was but presumably it was pre-1981."
Source: Ian Gibson
Posted: Nov 24, 2014
1927
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"Hello Robert,
I have found some photos from the family albums.
The photo on left says 1927 and was taken at Colliston castle. My grandad J.C Neville wrote the information. He was Mary's favourite brother and he joined Bentley Motors Ltd, in July 1926.
The photo on right shows Mary, her home Colliston castle and the car is in the background again around 1927, I think it is a wonderful and captures a special moment in time."
Source: Susan Culleton (Grand-niece of former owner)
Posted: Sep 25, 2014
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Sep. 1949 (Refers to date N. Sharp became a BDC member.)
N. Sharp, Esq. (seventh owner)
6 Maybury House
The Ridge, Woking
Surrey
Purchased in 1949? N. Sharp because a BDC member in Sep. 1949. His name and address appear in the "BDC Review", No. 15, Dec. 1949. He is the artist who did the picture on page 28 of the "BDC Review", No. 19, Dec. 1950.
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Fulmar House
Stamford Road
Bowdon, Cheshire
Posted: Jan 1, 0001
Major S. J. Grose (fourth owner)
The Pond House
Chobham, Woking
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Jun. 24, 1925 - Top vertical bevels adjusted. (1)
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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"We used to race the car at Oulton Park at BDC meetings and also in VSCC Richard Seaman meetings. Also in local rallies for many years and the "Daily Telegraph" Manchester to Blackpool in which I won the Vauxhall Trophy." (Sep. 1983 letter from Mitchell telling about history of car.)
Posted: Jan 1, 0001
Colliston Castle, Arbroath
Forfarshire, Scotland
Mrs. Bruce took ownership of the Bentley from her husband sometime between Mar. 1, 1927 and Jan. 31, 1928. She wrecked the car on Jan. 31, 1928, causing the front axle to be bent. On May 4, 1928 extensive repair work was done to it. A factory service engine (SE7) was fitted in the car (Apr. 1928) while the work was in progress. The original engine (877) was refitted on completion and remains in the car today.
Mar. 1, 1927 - Top bevels adjusted. (1)
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Oct. 1981 - The following ad appears in "Thoroughbred & Clasic Cars" magazine, page 113, and was placed by Dodds. Roland Duce, a dealer, purchased the car prior to the ad appearing on newsstands in September.
Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Mar 3, 2017
Jun. 30, 1931 - Four foot brake camshaft bushes sent to J. V. Morand. (1)
Jun. 15, 1931 - Two clutch rollers sent to J. V. Morand. (1)
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Oak Lodge, Foxhall Road
Ipswich
Date of purchase and sale unknown, but in his possession in 1939. Berthon went to India in Sep. 1939, so he probably sold the car to S. J. Dunn prior to his departure.
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Apr. 12, 1930 - Eight valve guides and ten valve tips sent to J. V. Morand, Esq. (1)
Apr. 9, 1930 - H. H. C. 8/m/m. Pistons and rings and gudgeon pins sent to J. V. Morand. (1)
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Nov. 19, 1928 - Recorded mileage on Nov. 19, 1928 was 1,825 miles.
Sep. 11, 1928 - Two Watford mags fitted in place of M.L.S.
Jul. 5, 1928 - (Accident. Bulge in o/x of frame _______. Chassis frame and axle centres checked over for truth.) Non-lifting type box bevels fitted. Engine gears. Water rail repaired. Brown and bevel trimmed wh. New ball races fitted. Brakes recompensated and al_____. (1)
Apr. 3, 1928 - Service engine No. SE7 fitted. Exhaust manifold replaced. Radiator repaired. Float front nosepiece of gearbox taken up. New cardan blocks fitted. Rear footbrake relined. Front b roughed up. Shackle pins and bushes renewed as necessary. (1)
Jan. 31, 1928 - F.W.B. Front axle straightened. New o/s stub axle and swivel rim fitted. Brake recomensated. (A)
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Nov. 1950 (Refers to date J. E. Graveley became a BDC member.)
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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"Hello Susan,
I am just now seeing your email and the photos of "our car". Between a lot of emails being lost and my being in the hospital for open heart surgery, I was not aware of your email, although Mona saw it and placed the photos on this page under 1927. They are great photos and the oldest photos of the car that I have seen. I had not seen a photo of Colliston Castle so that is a treat too. I note the car has twin side mounted spare tires in your photo as it was originally described. When I got the car it only had one spare tire mounted on the passenger side. I believe what happened was that due to the damage to the driver's side on the front of the car in the 1928 accident, the spare tire was removed due to the damage to the wing (or as we call it in America, fender).
It was so good to hear from you and thank you so much for scanning the photos. I hope you come up with more and I am as much interested in seeing Mary and Major Bruce and the castle as I would be in seeing "our car". I assume you are doing a complete history for a book, one that I would very much like to purchase when you are done."
On 10 Mar 2015
"Hello Robert
Sorry to hear you have been in hospital and I hope you are well on the mend. Very interesting to hear about the twin spare tyres in the old photo.
I am not actually writing a book, though I did have a visit from someone who is.
It was Dr Clare Hay and she came over to my mum's house to scan lots of my granddad's well preserved Bentley photos and diary extracts from when he worked for the company from 1926.
Next time I am at mum's I will have another look at the family albums to see if there is anything else of interest to you.
By the way my husband Merlin and myself are often in the States, as we have a villa in Orlando so maybe I will give you a ring for a chat at a convenient time for you,when we are there again in June ?"
23 Mar 2015
"Hello Susan,
I am glad to hear that you are pursuing our interest in Bentleys with such enthusiasm. I do know Clare Hay and have all of her books. You mentioned your grandfather's Bentley photos. I would like to have scans of the photos myself for our Vintage Bentley web site. Is that possible? You also mentioned your granddad's diary extracts from when he worked for the company from 1926. Do you mean he worked at Bentley Motors? That would really be of interest to me. Tell me more as you really have my attention.
Yes, when you are in Orlando in June, I would very much enjoy a call from you and learn more about Colliston Castle, your grandfather and of course Bentleys."
28 Mar 2015
"Hi Robert
Yes my grandad did work for Bentley Motors, he joined July 1926 starting as a fitters mate in the Service department, Kingsbury. He was called into the Progress department when "Freddie " who went on to become the Duke of Richmond left to start Kevill-Davies and March. I will check with mum regarding the Bentley photos.
Here is a photo of Dick Bruce on the left, great aunt Mary in the middle and my grandad J.C Neville on the right "
30 Mar 2015
"Hello Susan,
It is surprising news that Major Richard Bruce worked at Bentley Motors. I assume he worked there from July 1926 to his death in 1929. Another assumption made by me is that J.T. Johnson was a dealer who ordered the car for resale and Major Richard Bruce purchased the car as new in 1925. There must be an interesting connection between buying the Bentley and joining Bentley Motors a year later. The period that he worked at Bentley would be very interesting. Thanks for the photo and information."
30 Mar 2015
"Hi Robert
Just to clarify... it was my grandad J C Neville who worked for Bentley Motors not Major Richard Bruce..."
Source: Susan Culleton (Grand-niece of former owner)
Posted: Apr 1, 2015
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Source: Robert McLellan (Owner)
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
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Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Apr 11, 2007
Source: Richard Freestone
Posted: Apr 13, 2016
Earliest Record Of Historical Facts & Information
| Chassis No. | 869 |
|---|---|
| Engine No. | 877 |
| Registration No. | FY 7290 |
| Date of Delivery: | 1925 |
| Type of Body: | 4-seater |
| Coachbuilder: | Vanden Plas |
| Type of Car: | SP |
| First Owner: | J. T. Johnson |
| More Info: | According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1113 with a standard 4-seater Sports; scratched aluminium/black; 12/1924. The original body remains on the car today. Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Vanden Plas body no. 1113. In USA. Eng SE 7 fitted 4/28. Eng numbered 988 (1989)." (Correction - The SE 7 engine was only fitted during the 1928 Service work. After the repairs were made, the original engine (877) was returned to the car. Engine 988 was not fitted in 1989 nor at any time during the life of the car. Robert McLellan owned the car from 1981 to the present and the original engine, 877, has always been in the car during his ownership. - Feb 9, 2017 - VintageBentleys.org) |
Apr 11, 2007