This car is for sale as of Nov 5, 2010 with Neil Davies.

Chassis no. AB3365 has a new body.

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

 

This very attractive Bentley is one of a handful of cars that have survived to today representing the common practice in period of updating the coachwork on an existing owned chassis. The car was delivered new to the Morton-Smith family on 20th November 1928, and Vanden Plas records note that it was originally supplied with a fabric bodied two seater coachwork number 1525. But it is clear that as fashion evolved and with the introduction of the Derby-built Bentleys, AB 3365 would have begun to look 'old-hat', so its owners returned the car to Vanden Plas in 1935 to receive the latest chassis enveloping coachwork. Although sadly a contemporary photograph of the car does not exist, images of other similar revised configurations do and confirm the clever blending of 1920s chassis with 1930s style executed by the coachbuilders.

Retrospectively it is perhaps unsurprising that the car was kept within the 1920/30s rather than being replaced since history now records that it would continue to remain in the same family for nearly 40 years, before being sold publicly at auction in 1968. A decade later Christie's offered the car for sale on behalf of that purchaser at a sale at the Cunard International Hotel, London, in December 1979. At the time its long term previous ownership was referred to, and noted that it had not only been in the same hands for 40 years but that it had been maintained by the same garage throughout!

By the mid 1980s the car had found its way to Australia and to the Mayor of Melbourne, from whom the present owner acquired the car in 1989. Since then it has been actively campaigned all around the world, including in the United States where it participated in the 1989 Rolls-Royce Owners Club National at Lime Rock, and has often simply been the choice for long distance touring on holiday. This regularity of use is testament to the practicality of the coachwork design, which offers comfortable front seats behind which there are a pair of fold-away seats that when stowed create a large area for extra luggage space whilst touring. As was more popular by the 1930s the gear lever and hand brake both sit within the coachwork and are conveniently placed for ease of operation. The car also has an all-enveloping hood and side screens, so is ideal for all weathers. Naturally owing to this use and the need for the car to be reliable, it has consistently been maintained whilst in the current ownership.

In 1995 Neil Davies rebuilt the engine, and there are various invoices on file for parts from Donald Day. The cosmetic condition of the car is good, despite its paintwork clearly being old there are very few signs of age and the interior, hood and sidescreens have been renewed relatively recently. It is fascinating to inspect the 4 ½ and to see how carefully Vanden Plas incorporated almost every detail aspect from the vintage chassis into a post-vintage tourer, from bold Lucas headlights to dashboard instrumentation. The large vintage wheels are hidden behind period Ace wheel discs, with only the 'W.O.' hubs alluding to the earlier chassis, and a large front valance completes the veiled disguise. The front of the car is impressively appointed with additional Lucas driving light, long trumpet horns and badges for events and clubs ranging from the Autocycle union to the Coronation. There is a further benefit of the fact that the car remained usable throughout its life which is that this has ensured that it has not suffered the fate of many of its brethren and retains its original matching components throughout, from engine to front axle.

This Bentley is an intriguing and unspoilt piece of history. It is a proven long distance touring car, with spritely performance and re-assuring vintage exhaust tone.