Goodwood Revival, September 2019

Shelsley Walsh Vintage Sports Car Club Meeting, 7th July 2019

1926 Bentley 3/4½-Litre Vanden Plas Tourer
Vintage Shelsley Walsh, July 2018

This car is presently owned by Anthony Galliers-Pratt.

Sold: May 26, 2016

"Originally supplied in March 1926 to the order of Mr. E Gordon Craig, Chassis No. 1272* was first registered as a 3 Litre Speed Model, fitted with 4 seat touring coachwork by Van den Plas. Featuring the desirable high compression engine with twin SU carburettors (as opposed to the single Smith variant afforded by the standard model), the car was advanced for its time – with novel features including overhead camshaft operated four valves per cylinder and twin spark ignition and famously won the 1926 Le Mans 24 Hours!

A succession of owners prior to the Second World War saw the car reside in locations dispersed throughout the South of England including London, Hove in Sussex, and Bournemouth and Wimborne in Dorset. Ownership after the war transferred briefly to the renowned aviator and “special” builder Douglas Wilson-Spratt (of WSM Sprite fame) before its relocation to Oban in Scotland when purchased by Norman Hamilton-Smith.

1953 saw the commencement of the intriguing ownership of YM 57 by Roley Fraser, for the princely sum of £100. At that time a keen racer of a Jaguar XK120, tended to by the his friend Gordon Lockart, Fraser acknowledged that the original 3 litre engine was (in his words) “just about knackered and making a fearful clatter” – and agreed with Lockart’s suggestion of converting the car into a 3/ 4.5 litre. A suitable engine was sourced from Messrs T.P. Breen for £50, and the conversion proved a great success. Braving the inclement Scottish weather, Fraser embarked upon the first of many tours with the car in the Winter of 1953/4, initiallyin Perthshire before turning south down to the Border country.

In 1956, circumstances dictated that Roley Fraser had to reluctantly relinquish ownership of YM57, and it was sold to Hamish Gunn in Edinburgh. Although enjoyed for several years by Gunn, the death of his wife somewhat dimmed his enthusiasm for the car, and it was put away in a garage in the city for some years, prior to being purchased back by Roley Fraser in 1976. Despite the period of relative neglect in the latter years of Gunn’s ownership, a battery change and service were all that was needed to ensure that YM 57 burst back into life shortly after Fraser took possession for the second time.

Subsequently, a prolonged period of sympathetic re-commissioning of the car was carried out by Fraser, and his son Simon. This involved re-wiring and re-painting, and the addition of a number of non-period (but desirable) modifications including conversion to hydraulic front brakes and the addition of an electric fuel pump, electric fan and alternator. Furthermore, the car’s long distance touring credentials were enhanced by the addition of a new 16 gallon long range fuel tank and overdrive to the gearbox.

YM 57 has more recently benefitted from a full engine rebuild by marque specialists McKenzie Guppy Ltd. of Blandford Forum, Dorset. An extensive restoration has just been completed by renowned Bentley specialists, Neil Davis where the car has been subject to a compete re-spray and re-trim to its original colour of British Racing Green. The radiator was also re-cored, overdrive fitted, and the original type brakes were re-installed. The cars gearbox was also completely rebuilt by Brineton engineering.

2015 saw further work carried out on YM 57 by rally specialist William Medcalf. Car car is now ready to be enjoyed on all major rallys.

The car offers a rare case of an original bodied vintage Bentley, and offers spirited performance as well as a fascinating and thoroughly documented continuous history. The late Speed model 3 Litre is widely considered to be the archetypical vintage Bentley and the car offered here is the connoisseur’s choice, combining the agility and handling of a 3 Litre, with the power and performance of the 4.5 Litre engine."

Bentley 3/4½ Litre
Originally supplied in March 1926 to the order of Mr. E Gordon Craig, Chassis No. 1272(???) was first registered as a Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model, fitted with four-seat touring coachwork by Vanden Plas. Featuring the desirable high compression engine with twin SU carburettors (as opposed to the single Smith variant afforded by the standard model), the car was advanced for its time – with novel features including an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and twin spark ignition.

"Writing book about late father Douglas Wilson-Spratt. YM 57, MH 4827, FBL 732 I know he owned and have many pictures of those and others. Checking on KR 6157, HR 9538, but brother-in-law Botsford may have owned or friend John Cable. Appreciate any help in dates and details?"

Apr 26, 2013: Sold

Bentley 3/4½ Litre
Originally supplied in March 1926 to Mr E. Gordon Craig, Chassis NR507 was a Speed Model example fitted with the same four-seat touring coachwork by Vanden Plas that it retains today. The Speed Model was extremely advanced for its time: brakes all round, a four-speed gearbox and genuine 90mph top speed – remarkable when one considers that most ordinary saloon cars of the period would have difficulty achieving half the figure!

Briefly owned post-war by renowned aviator Douglas Wilson-Spratt, YM 57 was soon bought by Roley Fraser for the princely sum of £100. Acknowledging that the original 3-litre engine was "just about knackered and making a fearful clatter" he decided to upgrade to a 4½ Litre unit. A suitable engine was sourced and, once fitted, Fraser was soon out and braving the inclement Scottish weather, embarking upon the first of many tours with his Bentley in the winter of 1953.

Fraser always regretted selling YM 57 in 1956 and jumped at the opportunity to buy her back in 1976. Fraser, along with his son, improved and upgraded YM 57 for regular use that included a long-range fuel tank and overdrive to the gearbox for long-distance touring.

More recently YM 57 has benefitted from a full engine rebuild by marque specialists McKenzie Guppy Ltd, a full re-spray and re-trim by Neil Davis, a rebuilt gearbox by Brineton Engineering and a re-cored radiator.

YM 57 is the rare combination of a late, ultimate specification Speed Model with its original aluminium skinned coachwork and spirited performance from the 4½ litre engine, as well as a continuous and documented history that includes one owner for the past 36 years. The Vintage car scene is becoming more and more active, especially with events such as The Flying Scotsman, and this Bentley is ready to embark on a new chapter in what’s already been a very active life.

Roley Fraser sold this car (for the second time) in 2011. 4½ engine fitted 1953.

"Since then overdrive, coil ignition, 16 gallon tank, hydraulic front brakes, 4 star diff. alternator and electric fuel pump also fitted. In 2010 a major engine blow up resulted in a complete engine rewbuild with all moving parts being replaced.

I first purchased YM in 1953 sold her to Hamish Gunn in 1954 and repurchased her in 1976. The engine rebuild combined with having to build a new house resulted in the sale of YM in 2011"

In Scotland in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

Glamis Castle BDC visit 2006.

This car was repurchased by Roley Fraser in 1976.

This car was owned by Roley Fraser from 1953 to 1954. It was sold to Hamish Gunn in 1954

Recent History
Races: Benjafields 100 Silverstone 2019
Rallies: Flying Scotsman (2017 & 2018), Irish Shamrock Challenge (2018)
Hillclimbs: Prescott (2016 & 2017) & Shelsey Walsh (2017 & 2018)

The late Douglas Wilson-Spratt, racer-manufacturer-aviator once got a speeding ticket while towing this caravan with the Bentley pictured above.

(Douglas Wilson-Spratt whose childhood was spent creating models, and an engineering background gleaned at the Bristol Aircraft company that included experience as production test driver with the car division of the same company, unearthed a passion for motorsport. A hint of the future was illustrated by boyhood bicycle races against public transport, regular visits to Hendon air displays, and later speeding tickets issued while towing caravans. Ownership of cars such as the ex-Lord Brabazon Mille Miglia Fiat , Bentley, Triumph TR and Austin-Healey Sprite lead to drawings and plasticine models created in 1961 to full size production of a lightweight and aerodynamic sports car...)

YM 57 was given the 4½ transplant. I believe this took place in the 1960s.