1929 Vintage Bentley
Chassis No. FB3322 ~ Engine No. FB3325 ~ Registration No: UU 6794
Asking price: 625000

Sold: Aug 3, 2015

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Open Tourer by Vanden Plas
Historics at Brooklands | 06-Jun-2015 | Historics at Brooklands June Sale | Venue : Brooklands Museum

Category : Classic Cars
Year : 1929
Engine Size : See Description
Transmission : manual
RHD
Registration No. : UU 6794
Chassis No. : FB3322
Engine No. : FB3325

W. O. Bentley proudly debuted the new 3-litre car bearing his name at the 1919 Olympia Motor Exhibition, the prototype engine having fired up for the first time just a few weeks earlier. In only mildly developed form, this was the model which was to become a legend in motor racing history and which, with its leather-strapped bonnet, classical radiator design and British Racing Green livery has become the archetypal vintage sportscar. The new 4½ litre model effectively employed the chassis, transmission and brakes of the 3 litre, combined with an engine that was in essence two-thirds of the six-cylinder 6½ litre unit. Thus the new four-cylinder motor retained the six's 00x140mm bore/stroke and Bentley's familiar four-valves-per-cylinder fixedhead architecture but reverted to the front-end vertical camshaft drive of the 3 litre. Bentley Motors lost no time in race-proving its new car. It is believed that the first prototype engine went into the 3 litre chassis of the 1927 Le Mans practice car. The original 4½ litre car, nicknamed by the team 'Old Mother Gun' and driven by Frank Clement and Leslie Callingham, promptly set the fastest race lap of 73.41mph before being eliminated in the infamous 'White House Crash' multiple pile-up. The 4½ litre was produced for four years, all but nine of the 665 cars made being built on the 3 litre's 'Long Standard', 10' 10-wheelbase chassis. Purchasers of the 4½ litre model were, in common with those of all vintage-period Bentleys, free to specify their preferences from a very considerable range of mechanical and electrical equipment in addition to whatever body style and coachbuilder may be required.

This outstanding Bentley was first registered on 29th June 1929 to Sq. Ldr. C.A. Ridley of Horley with the car changing hands to Capt. H.R. Campion just prior to the war. During the war the Bentley was laid up in the Cumberland Hotel garage in London and fortunately survived unscathed with the car re-commissioned after the war by Capt. Campion's son. Originally built with a Maythorne and Sons saloon body, it is thought to have been re-bodied by Vanden Plas circa 1965. The engine and back axle were overhauled by Sid Cooper of Birmingham, a renowned Bentley specialist. The Bentley is in splendid order today having had significant sums spent on her over a long period. The history file is substantial and dates back to 1964, included are a number of hand written notes showing expenditure and also details of some European outings.

A Bentley 4½ litre is a thing of beauty, to sit and drive one is a memorable experience. The current vendor has thoroughly enjoyed owning this outstanding example after searching long and hard to find the car he wanted. It is easy to see why he chose to purchase UU 6794, aesthetically everything is right about the car, mechanically she appears to be in very good order and condition throughout is excellent. She is fitted with a Le Mans fuel tank and
radiator cap, electric fuel pumps, double Hartford shock absorbers front and rear, correct P100 headlamps, fold flat windscreen with aero screens. The dashboard has the correct instrumentation with Jaeger speedometer and rev counter with Smiths original gauges completing the impressive line-up. This is a matching numbers example and remains a car of elegance and style that is still more than able to cruise at speed should you choose to do so.

"4½ Litre Bentley
A remarkable car, remaining to this day, a total matching number rolling chassis. The car comes with a comprehensive history file. NDR undertook an extensive refurb including all upholstery and paintwork. The car also benefits from the larger capacity Blower fuel tank giving her an incredible range. The perfect touring car."

This car was purchased by Phil Boyce in March 2013.

"I have just purchased this car. It has been mechanically overhauled and cosmetically finished to Le Mans spec. The car drives very well and smooth on delivery."

This photograph was taken near the border close to Aachen, Germany, in September 2008.

"In September 2008 a group of Bentley Drivers Club members from Britain entered Germany to tour around the country for a whole week. In the photo here they had just came across the English Channel and crossed the border after a further 200 miles nonstop drive between The Netherlands and Germany, a few miles north of the German city of Aachen.

This was a batch of 15 Vintage Bentleys, all of them open ones, in the style of the famous Vanden Plas Le Mans tourers."

This photograph was taken at Cheverny on the 2008 Downes' Wine Tour.

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

H H auction, 2003
With a new car guarantee dated 30 June 1929, the Bentley 4 1/2-litre offered here was supplied to the order of Squadron Leader C A Ridley of Horley placed with Bentley agents Rootes Limited. The aviator first owner specified that his new motor car, which was bodied with Maythorn and Sons made close-coupled saloon coachwork, should be supplied with C Type gearbox and factory-fitted stone guard. A diligent record of any work carried out during this five year warranty period was kept.

UU 6794 then passed into the care of next owner, Captain H R Campion, just before WW2, during which it was laid up in the Cumberland Hotel garage in London's West End. Having happily survived the blitz, post-war, the car was recommissioned by the Captain's son. The next owner, a Mr J Bell of Walton on Thames, writes of his purchase of the car in 1965, after which, he records, various service work was undertaken and that the car was in "magnificent fettle with plenty of urge". Having moved to a new home without a garage, however, he sold it to a David Selby in 1961 by when the total mileage from new had only reached around 100,000 miles. In another letter in an extremely well stocked history file, Selby confirms that he spent some 1250 hours restoring the chassis, so it may be assumed that the original Maythorn crafted body was removed at this time. It would also appear that after completing all the work on the rolling chassis, he sold it, without the body, to Simmons of Mayfair. These Dealers in 'Fine Sporting Carriages', in turn, sold it on to Walter Taylor of Stourbridge for the princely sum of £900 - again, the receipt charting this transaction being on file. It was Walter Taylor who commissioned new Van den Plas style tourer coachwork from John Phillips of Meynall Phillips, the same bodywork being fitted to the car today. Repainting, trim and carpet work, and the supply of weather equipment were all undertaken by the craftsmen at the celebrated Derby firm of Wilkinson. Receipts recording all the work done are on file. The 4-cylinder motor and back axle were overhauled by Sid Cooper, another renowned marque specialist in Birmingham.

Following the 1965 completion of this extensive refurbishment, which was all carried out to a very high standard, Walter Taylor reset the odometer to zero and only put on another 2850 miles before selling the car to the current owner in 1987. Since then, the vendor has always maintained the car in fine order and has added less than 10,000 miles. Indeed, when entered for this auction, there was only a total of 12,500 miles indicated. A full service record is on file as are all previous MOT Test pass certificates. Current condition of chassis, body, paintwork, interior, engine and transmission are described as being very good. The owner also tells us that all the numbers still match and his fine pre-war Bentley is an absolute pleasure to drive.

"Now Vanden Plas style four seater open tourer, owned by Jim Paterson (BDC Midland Group Committee member)"