Carovana Romantica, Cortona Italy, 2013

In Switzerland in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

 

Klausenrennen 2002. Photograph by Peter Ackermann.

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre [RL3432] in Festival of Transport, Documentary, 1996

"The leader's Bentley (the 'leader' referred to is Sir Oswald Mosley of the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists), which he extensively used in the 1930s to drive to British Union meetings and marches, is still going strong. Fully restored, it took part in the 1989 Shell Rally at Cannes... When at home it resides in Gloucestershire — its owner Mr. Michael Lester."

"This photograph was taken in London and the car has at least one motorcycle escort. Four men of the Special Detachment are standing on the running boards. These were the Leader Guard."

"(The car) is seen at Islip Street, Kentish Town. Oswald Mosley reviewing the column before the march to his meeting at Trafalgar Square in 1937."

Chassis no. RL3432 was delivered new to Sir Oswald Mosley in March 1929.

"The above photograph ('A') shows Mosley taking salute in his #RL3432 on October 4th 1936 after what was known as 'The Battle of Cable Street'. This car was also to, on this day, transport Mosley and other British Union of Fascists officers during the Battle of Cable Street." — Jeff Wallder

"(The car) seen here with the leader driving past the Blackshirt column on the Embankment after he had marched with them from Royal Mint-street folowing the 'Battle of Cable Street' on Oct 4, 1936. It was finally retired at the Blackshirt camp at Selsey in 1937 when O.M. was presented with a new MG by members of British Union." - June-July 1989 issue of 'Comrade', the 'Friends of Oswald Mosley' newsletter.

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Photo 'B' "shows the Bentley with hood down occupied by Sir Oswald Mosley, the Leader of British Union; Neil Francis Hawkins, Director General of British Union; and Staff Driver George Armsden who was also Mosley's personal Standard Bearer. Photograph taken 4 October 1936 on the occasion that became known as the Battle of Cable Street: the police can be seen holding back Communist agitators attempting to prevent the march of 5000 Blackshirts through East London." - Photo source 'The Fascists in Britain' by Colin Cross (1961), made available by Jeff Wallder; text by Jeff Wallder

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"A photo of the car (also) appears in the book 'Blackshirts-on-Sea' by J A Booker, the story of the Blackshirt Summer Camps in West Sussex 1933-38, where he can be seen being driven in it top down to the Selsey Camp." - Jeff Wallder

"Among Mosley's Papers held at the Library of Birmingham University in the UK there is a letter dated 21 February 1974 from the Bentley Drivers Club, J Raymond Binns, St Teresa's 248 Andover Road, Newbury RG14 6PT referring to GU 2511 but what it is about I don't know — it is among supplementary papers added to the Mosley Papers a few years ago..." — Jeff Wallder

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Channel 4 film "Mosley" released in 1998 shows Mosley riding in a Bentley in several scenes. A 1925 3-litre Bentley was used for the purpose. As part of detailing and faithfulness to historical facts, the registration no. was substituted with 'GU 2511', this being the original reg. no. of Mosley's car. See photos here.

"It (the car) was damaged by a bullet which penetrated a rear door window at Mosley's Hull meeting in 1936." - Feb/Mar '90 issue of 'Comrade' - the 'Friends of Oswald Mosley' newsletter made available by Jeff Wallder

The above photograph shows the bullet hole following an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Sir Oswald Mosley whilst he was visiting Hull for a major public meeting in July 1936. - Photo from book titled, 'Mosley: The Facts', 1958 made available by Jeff Wallder

According to Michael Hay (in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997) Mosley's car was involved in an accident in May 1931, following which it required a new frame and new axle.

Historian and Mosley expert Jeff Wallder comments: "I have never heard mention before of the accident in 1931 that the car experienced. At that time Mosley was a Minister in the Labour Government."