1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Vanden Plas tourer
New Year's Day Gathering, January 2020
Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey

"Some photos from a trip to Italy in November 2018."

"Bentley 4½ litre, chassis PM3268, was built as a 1928 Model specification chassis. It was fitted with engine PM3261, probably with SU HVG5 and ML ER4 magnetos. Transmission was by cone clutch. The completed chassis was sent from Bentley’s Cricklewood Works to Vanden Plas for coachbuilding on 23rd May 1928. The body was a four seater sports built to special order for Mr Jay Paul Malik of Hampstead, London. The order was placed through dealers Jack Barclay.

The VDP body was number 1490. The basic body was a standard four seater sports, but with a host of special details. The bodyshell was panelled in aluminium, rather than fabric. The windscreen was a special vee pattern, with a two stick hood frame. The front seats were fitted with pneumatic cushions. The car was finished in cream to the body and bonnet, with wings and chassis finished in brown. There were various other extras, including chrome plating of all fittings, special Lucas head and side lamps, twin spare wheels and a special instrument panel.

Malik took delivery of the car around 21st July 1928. The registration allocated, a London number, was YX 210. There was extensive service history recorded up until 1939 (as is usual there are no records 1939-45). It appears the car was bought by a G B Hignett of London in March 1930. By this date mileage was 50,419, which was unusually high.

It appears post war that PM3268 was stripped for parts between 1946 and 1953. Engine PM3261 was transferred to another later 4½ litre (chassis XF3522), while registration YX 210 was transferred to a Mk 6 Bentley in 1949. With cars being held by Bentley enthusiasts as spares to run and race vehicles there was some exchange of bits for purpose and there was matching of 4 ½ litre parts with lighter 3 litre chassis parts. In this circumstance it appears chassis PM3268 was used to run a 3 litre engine and parts, with the 3 litre chassis going into a racing special. This is how it remained until the late 1980s, when the car was stripped and chassis PM3268 was rebuilt, using correct and original 4 ½ litre parts, and a new VDP Le Mans rep body.

The car entered current ownership in 2001 and is now registered YU 3679. While “rebuilt”, time has revealed “restoration” left something to be desired! Over current ownership, inspection has revealed poor fettling and worn components, which have been tackled to get the car to good standard. A renewed clutch was tackled initially; an overdrive was fitted early on and radiator recored, then a gearbox overhaul. Following mechanical failure, the rear differential was rebuilt, with brakes also reviewed. The engine, UK3284, was rebuilt in 2010, as well as carburettors. In doing this it revealed the block was cracked on one cylinder and the engine fitted with incorrect 4 ½ supercharged pistons (reducing compression significantly compared to a standard car). It’s a testament to the engine design that the car had been used for nearly ten years in this state!

Further engine work has been carried out over 2015/16 and with it now run in, the full potential of the vehicle is being realised. The car is much loved and driven in all seasons, being used for overseas trips to Normandy (2001), Italy (2008), Le Mans (2010) and Montlhery (2011, 13, 15, 17)."

"Some photos from Montlhery in May 2017"

Vintage Revival Montlhéry, May 2017

Goodwood, 2017

Ben Rally & Summer Fete, July 2015

Brooklands Autumn Motorsports Day, October 2014

Goodwood Revival, September 2014

VSCC Trials Brooklands, February 2014

Brooklands New Year Meet, January 2014

This photograph was taken during Vintage Sports Car Club New Year's driving tests event at Brooklands 2012.

Brooklands VSCC New Year Driving Tests, 2012

"The above photographs were taken at Montlhery, 2011."

Kop Hill Climb, 2010. The driver is John Summers.

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

This car was purchased by the current owner in 2001. He continues to own it as of May 2015.