BENTLEY SPOTTING

It's the Rolls-Royce of Bentley websites.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin in 1930

The 1930 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 8th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 21 June and 22 1930.

This is a picture from practice day, showing Team Hon. Miss Dorothy Paget, consisting of car Number 8 driven by Dr. Dudley Benjafield and Giulio Ramponi, being a Bentley Blower with a Bentley 4.4L Supercharged I4 engine, and car Number 9, driven by Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin and Jean Chassagne. Their car was also a Bentley Blower with a Bentley 4.4L Supercharged I4 engine.

Sir Henry

There was an epic dual between both Bentley Blowers and car Number 1, a 7.1L Supercharged Mercedes-Benz SSK driven by Rudolf Caracciola and Christian Werner. All three cars ended up not finishing.

Car Number 8 completed 144 laps coming in in 10th position, and car Number 9 completed 138 laps coming in in position 11.

Here is Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin working on his blower on race day.

Sir Henry

Team Bentley who entered Bentley Speed Six models with Bentley 6.6L I6 engines came in first and second, with car Number 4 driven by Woolf Barnato Glen Kidston winning having completed 179 laps and car Number 2 came second, driven by Frank Clement and Richard Watney completing 173 laps.

Later that year on 21 September 1930 Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin completed in the French Grand Prix at Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, again in a Bentley Blower.

Here he is taking a corner on race day.

Sir Henry

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Hooper in Mayfair

Here is a great period photograph sent in by Andy.

It was taken in 1985, and the car, a Bentley Mulsanne with Hooper enhancements.



Take a look at the Hooper wheels and front spoiler with additional lights. The bumper bars are also colour matched as well. The badge bar is added, along with chrome inserts under the headlights. Nice. I'm sure the interior had plenty of things done to it as well!

Thanks Andy for the photo.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

Brand New in 1981

Here is another amazing collection of photographs from the ultimate Bentley and Rolls Royce spotter David Irvine.



All these photos were taken in 1981.



All these cars were brand new in 1981.



They were all taken in London.



Good morning James. (photo in HD - click in enlarge)



Go on, don't just tyre kick, buy the most expensive car in the world!





The classic place to spot Rolls-Royce cars even today, out the front of Harrods.



Again thank you David for sending in these amazing photographs for all of us to enjoy.


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Aussie S2 Conti Flyin Spur Mate

Bloody beautiful.

1960 Bentley s2 continental flying spur

Taken in Bris-vagas recently by Brian.

Hopefully more pictures will follow.

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A Time To Cool Down

It is currently 38 degrees Celsius so that's 100 degrees Fahrenheit where I am now.

It's a little hot.

Which made me think of this image sent in by Pete.



A time to cool down indeed, and how about that yellow Bentley Azure Mulliner - and beer!

Nice spotting Pete!

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Bentley Mulsanne L

Now here is a car model I think I have never written about before. The Bentley Mulsanne L.

Rick from California sent in these photos and of his Bentley Mulsanne L and information about the model.



Just 49 examples of the Bentley Mulsanne L were made between 1981 and 1987, being the long wheel base derivative of the Mulsanne.

The production years follows:

1981 X 4
1982 X 5
1983 X 3
1984 X 0
1985 X 5
1986 X 23
1987 X 9



Ricks car shown here is GCX16234 a 1986 model. A good production year!

Now the reason why you get this car. The rear leg room ion the back seat!

I do like the picnic tabled.



It looks like Rick has a little fleet going!



Certainly nice cars to have in the drive.

Send in your photos and information about your cars (especially rare ones) and have them posted.

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Dusty Dubai Disintegration

A reader Christopher who currently lives in Dubai took these photos and sent them in.



He explains 'reading about the abandoned Camargue reminded me of some cars sitting here in Dubai.'



'They have all been left with the RR dealer for several years.'



'This is after the owners received big repair estimates and just walked away.'



'It sounds incredible but as these photos show, it’s fairly common out here.'



'The cars sit with the dealer forever because there is no system to transfer ownership without the owner being present.'





'So the dealers hold onto the cars and charge silly storage charges that are more than the car is worth.'





'None of these cars will ever turn a wheel again and will rot where they stand, very sad.'



'And yes, that’s a Camargue…'






Very sad indeed, this dusty Dubai disintegration. Policy change anyone?

Thanks Christopher for sending in the photos and the explanation.

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Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

I had always presumed that the four special edition Bentley RT Olympian cars made by Jack Barkclay were all the same specification.

Until this one came along.

Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

This Turbo RT Olympian is not blue, but "Rose Wood metallic with magnolia leather piped in deep red with complementing red carpets".

Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

And I certainly do like the Hooper-styled rear window.

Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

What I thought was standard was silver around the headlights, a badge bar and a special Olympian badge centre mounted.



Also I would have expected to find a special Olympian badge on the back.



This car has neither.

Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

But it still looks very nice, even with after market wheels.

Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

If you want it, it is for sale here.

Bentley Turbo RT Olympian

Thanks to Nigel for the tip.

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1980 Geneva Motor Show

Salon International de l'Auto held in Geneva each year generally does have some nice introduction of cars.

In 1980 this car was introduced to the world.

The Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit.

Here it is on the stand in 1980.

1980 Geneva Motor Show rolls-royce silver spirit

I think you could say that the car was a success.

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New range of Bentley-styled accessories

Hello Hello! Bentley Motors this week has announced a new range of accessories. In an interesting move that surely highlights the popularity of accessory after market companies such as Mansory and the like Bentley has introduced striking 'Vented Wings' available for the Bentley Continental GT and GTC.

bentley.vented.wings

"Styled by Raul Pires, Bentley’s head of exterior design, the sleek, vented wings further emphasize the Continental’s sporting lines. Positioned to the rear of the front wheel arch, the vents are cut into a newly tooled wing panel and feature a black mesh finish. An alternative chrome mesh is currently under development and will be available in early 2010. This accessory will also be offered on Continental Flying Spur models."

In addition there was the introduction of new Self-Levelling Wheel Badges for Arnage, Azure, Brooklands and Continental cars.

bentley.self-levelling.wheel.badges

"The badges fit into the centre of the wheel and feature Bentley’s classic ‘B’ symbol surrounded by the ‘Bentley Motors’ script and remain completely level and upright at speeds of up to 70mph (112 Km/h). Once the car comes to a halt the wheel badges will also automatically self-level."

Also there is a new car cover that you can personalise.

bentley.car.cover

"Offering excellent indoor and outdoor protection (and tailored to specifically fit each model) Bentley’s branded Car Covers are now available for the Continental Supersports and Series 51 GT and GTC models. The covers are branded with unique Supersports and Series 51 logos with the name of the model embroidered on the side. In addition, Bentley is now offering Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur customers the opportunity to personalise their indoor car covers with their own bespoke text – for example, a cherished registration number."

I wonder how many people will want them retrofitted.

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Saturday, November 07, 2009

Minnesota Ute

Coach building with a monocoque chassis can be challenging.

It is a little rare. Here is an example.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

A proper ute mate.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

Or if you are American, a pick up truck.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

The hub caps are not the best, but are better than nothing.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

Gday Minnesota.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

Due to the sloping body of the Silver Shadow, the ute does look like it is falling away a little too much.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

I'm waiting for the day a Silver Spirit ute turns up.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Ute Pick Up Truck

It's only time I'm sure.

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