In Germany in 2008 / Owned by a BDC member

 

"I bought the 4½ Bentley, Registration No. GC 3337, on Oct. 15, 2007 at Coys Auction House in London, England. The numbers were confusing for me. After checking the book Bentley: The Vintage Years (second edition) by Michael Hay which says Chassis No. NX 3458 (page 411) and Chassis No. HB3415... HB3414 in RN3035 (on page 413)... the confusion was even bigger.

Later, after the car arrived at my home, I received more paper stuff from Coys — like the last U.K. Registration Certificate and here is the Engine No. NX3460... even a Stanley Mann invoice from May 2000 shows the NX3460 with Chassis No. HB3415.

Therefore I think the correct Engine No. is NX3460."

This car was owned by Harold Williams from 1947 to 1953.

The following information was received from Barry Williams:

"Chassis no: -
Engine no: -
Registration no: GC 3337
Ownership years - From: 1947
Ownership years - To: 1953

This was my father's (Harold Williams) car. He converted it to shooting break. I have some photos and fully recall holidays in Looe as a six year old.

Odd details came out, such as, where he got pistons from when he rebuilt the engine. He was an inspector in REME in North Africa and Italy and documents say he had the greatest knowledge of 'your' tank the Sherman in those theatres. A 4.5 Bentley may have been easy meat! Though he did say that the Maybach engine in 'his' Tiger was better than both.

No, he was on our side, just borrowed one at the end of the War.

My father is now dead but was fascinated when Coys had it for sale, relatively recently."

"Chassis no. HB3415 was originally purchased by an A.S.G. Buckmaster in July 1929. This superb Le Mans style four seat tourer with its fabric painted coachwork, Le Mans tank and instruments is an excellent vintage touring car which evokes all the style and charisma associated with the Bentley Boys and their racing triumphs of the twenties and early thirties. Bentley Drivers Club ownership and service records exist on the car right up until the outbreak of the Second World War and later owners after Buckmaster included Mr Roy Norton, Ken Meikle John and David Bishop over the last 40 years.

In later years this vintage Bentley was located in New Zealand where it was initially owned by Dr Brian Goodman prior to passing into the ownership of noted Bentley specialist and official Bentley Heritage Dealer, Bruce Mcilroy. From Mcilroy's ownership, it was sold, via P&A Woods to the last owner, Mr Derek Anderson, a well known and highly respected Scottish collector whose cars consisted mainly of important pre-war Rolls-Royce and Bentley motorcars. Also accompanied with this important W.O. Bentley is a fitted touring rack and trunk, essential for any enthusiast wishing to undertake the many UK and European rallies this motorcar is eligible for. Indeed the car was recently used over the bank holiday on an extended road trip from London taking in a race event at Castle Coombe and performed without hesitation or incident.

This superb W.O Bentley, with such illustrious and well regarded ownership and specialists attached to it, is also offered with a UK V5C document and various other sundry paperwork including specific information from Mcilroy, documentation confirming the cars importation into New Zealand in 2000 and return to the UK. The car also has affixed the New Zealand Land Transport Safety certification plate as well as a rather charming silver plaque on the bulkhead testifying to the cars complete rebuild in April 1964 by A.S.Cooper of Birmingham. Offered today in excellent order, finished as one would expect in British Racing Green with a black hood and tonneau cover, this evocative motorcar will evoke that fabulous era when the cars that crossed the finishing line at Le Sarthe all had Union Flags on the side."