Vintage Bentley
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Bentleys
1928 Bentley 6½ Litre ST1 Saloon
Chassis No. KD2115
Engine No. KD2113
Registration No. KO 3960
Roger Goodwin & Gillian Goodwin in the 1927 Bentley 6½ Tourer
(Photo by Gerard Brown)
History Of The Peking to Paris Rally
In 1907 a Parisian newspaper issued a challenge: "What needs to be proved today is that as long as a man has a car, he can do anything and go anywhere. Is there anyone who will undertake to travel this summer from Peking to Paris by automobile?"
So started the Peking to Paris motor race.
Only five motorists managed to make the start in vehicles ranging from a three wheeled Contal cycle car to a 7 Litre Itala. The race followed a telegraph route which allowed the journalist travelling as a passenger in each car to wire their reports to the newspapers. This enabled the public in Europe and America to keep abreast of the race while it was being run.
The race was won by Prince Scipione Borghese in his Itala. The Prince was so confident of his chances of winning that he took a detour from Moscow to St Petersburg to attend a dinner held in his honour, before re-joining the race in Moscow.
(The following was written prior to the start of the 2007 event)
To celebrate this early pioneering motoring event The Endurance Rally Association has organised a re-enactment of the race to be held in 2007. A total of 134 cars will set out from Beijing (formerly Peking) on May 27th to follow the 1907 route as closely as possible (even making the detour from Moscow to St Petersburg).
Source: Peking to Paris Motor Challenge 2007
Posted: Aug 2, 2007
2003
Posted: Jan 1, 0001
1948
Park, W. C.
Cambridge Road
Haverford, Pennsylvania
6 1/2-Litre, Reg. No. 202BO
6 1/2-Litre, Reg. No. NM420
Posted: Jan 1, 0001
1945
William C. Park (Owner)
Source: "Sports Car" (formerly "The Sportswagen"), Vol. II, No. 6, Nov./Dec. 1945, newsletter of the Sport Car Club of America.
Posted: Aug 1, 2007
1945
Pfc. William C. Park
404th Ordnance MM Co.
APO 235
c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California
Source: "Sports Car" (formerly "The Sportswagen"), Vol. II, No. 2, Mar./Apr. 1945, newsletter of the Sport Car Club of America.
Posted: Aug 1, 2007
1945
Source: "The Sportswagen" (predecessor to "Sports Car"), Vol. II, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 1945, newsletter of the Sport Car Club of America.
Posted: Aug 1, 2007
1944
Chassis No. KD2115
Engine No. KD2115
4 passenger sports tourer, Vanden Plas fabric body
144" wheelbase
7.00x21 tires
Currently in the U. S. Army (he may have bought car in England).
Quote: "When I come home I challenge any pre-1932 Mercedes to a road race after the way. This race should finish in the vicinity of a good restaurant, as the loser is to buy a big steak dinner." — William C. Park (Owner)
Source: "The Sportswagen" (predecessor to "Sports Car"), Vol. I, No. 8, Nov./Dec. 1944, newsletter of the Sport Car Club of America.
Posted: Aug 1, 2007
- Genuine Short Chassis Car
- First Registered - 2nd July 1927
- Registration # KO 3960
- Chassis # KD 2115
- Engine # KD 2113
- Steering Box # KD 2115
- Rear Axle # KD 2115
- Front Axle # No Number
- Wheelbase 11 '
VDP 4 Seater Tourer
- Standard Short 11' Chassis
- 4 Seat VDP Body (Rexene and Painted Green)
- Fold Flat Screen with Aero Screens
- Engine - 6� Litre with all details
- Twin HVG5's
- 8 Litre Water Pump
- 3 Gallon Sump
- Large Capacity Oil Pump
- Rear Axle 3:1 Ratio
- Wheels & Tyres - 700 x 21 x 6
- Gearbox - C Type
- Le Mans Type Brakes with Servo (pull on)
- Standard Dash
- Le Mans Team Car Fuel Tank with Stone Guard
- Carl Zeiss Headlamps with Stone Guards
- 8 Andre Hartford Friction Shock Guards
- Spare Wheel on N/s & O/s
- Twin Fuel Delivery System
- Polished German Silver Speed Six Radiator
- Speed Six Front Springs
- Le Mans Type Chassis Brace in Front of Radiator
- Retro Trip/Indicators/Charging Sockets
History
KD 2115 was sold new in June 1927 to Mr Martin Tomson of Kent in the UK.
A "Standard" chassis car, although built on the very rare 11 foot short chassis length. One of only 21 to have this very desirable length.
Engine number KD 2113 and with a 13/46 ratio rear axle and had a Weymann patent Saloon Coupe coachwork by H.J. Mulliner.
Factory Records state that KD 2115 was maintained until 1934 and by this time had covered 32,000 miles.
By the late 1960's it was in a sorry state and by this stage had acquired a rather crude homemade open body.
By 1969 Mr Ian McVitie was its registered owner and he commissioned well known UK restorer to build a new period style fabric tourer body and mechanically rebuild the Bentley to Speed Six Specification. It was painted Blue.
In the mid 1980's the 6½ Litre Bentley was sold into the Ruger Collection USA.
KD 2115 came back into the UK and was painted Green and in 2004 it was purchased by its current owner who has since used the car extensively and rallied it very successfully throughout Europe, Africa, India, Alaska as well as successfully competing and completing the Centenary Peking to Paris.
Between 2005 and 2006 it was mechanically rebuilt. Rebuild included Chassis Overhaul, Engine, Gearbox and Axles. During this Rebuild KO 3960 was upgraded to Full Speed Six Spec.
Source: David Ayre
Posted: Apr 30, 2013
Earliest Record Of Historical Facts & Information
| Chassis No. | KD2115 |
|---|---|
| Engine No. | KD2113 |
| Registration No. | KO 3960 |
| Date of Delivery: | 30 Jun 1927 |
| Type of Body: | Saloon |
| Coachbuilder: | H J Mulliner |
| Type of Car: | ST1 |
| First Owner: | MARTIN TOMSON W J |
| More Info: | Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Synchronometer in lieu of standard speedometer. Now open tourer in USA." |
Mar 1, 2007
















