Bentley 3 1/2 Litre

Here is a little new piece about the Bentley 3 1/2 Litre.

Bentley Mk VI ad

The silent sports car. Also good for fishing.

Bentley Spotting from the 60's

Here is a nice pic of a Mk VI in Oxford in the 1960's.

A 1948 #Bentley MK VI driving down High Street in Oxford in the 1960’s. #TBT #BentleyHeritage pic.twitter.com/jL3YtDRgm7

— Bentley Motors, Inc. (@WOBentley) December 5, 2013

1937 Rolls-Royce headlamp needed

This is something you don't see everyday.

Pretty much the exact opposite of what most people do.

Let's buy a 1937 Rolls-Royce assumed to be a 25/30 to make a 4x4.

Not using the chassis or engine, just the body!

The video is certainly interesting, as gets better a it goes along.



Anyone interested is a rolling chassis project?

1947 Bentley Mark VI Franay Cabriolet

Here is a 1947 Bentley Mark VI Cabriolet by Franay.

Let the owner explain.



It's amazing.

Rusty R Type for Restoration

So you are thinking about starting a backyard restoration project?



Where here is a contender.



There is quite a bit of work to do, but that's the point isn't it?



It is a 1953 Bentley R Type.





Chassis number B297WG.





It was originally sold by Jack Barkley.





It is now for sale on the other side of the pond.





That's right, California in fact.





The asking price is USD$9,750.



Currently for sale at Beverly Hills Car Club here.



Or you would always ditch the body and build a special!

1946 Bentley Speedster

I do like the notion of commissioning a car to exactly how you would like it.

Remove the body, this is what I now want!



As we all know, it is quite a popular thing to do with a Bentley Mk VI.



Remove the standard steel, and add a superleggera beautiful thing.

The thing is also, that as it's not yours, you can always make comments to how you would improve these Special cars. I would have put Corniche rear lamps on this, it would have looked much better - that kind of thing!



Tom Martin was lucky to photograph this 1946 Bentley Special, and dubbed it a Speedster.



You can see more of his detailed photos by clicking on the picture below.



Thanks Tom for uploading the photos.

Bentley Badge Bars

Want to see a badge bar in proper use?

Check this one out.



Up close and getting well used.



And if you do run out of badge bar real estate, you can always build a second story.



Nice.

One the ground floor second window in from the left is the BDC of Australia. G'day mate.

These photos are taken from this Austrian rally a couple of years ago.



Check out the whole gallery posted by Gerd here.

Derby Bentley Factory

Every been interested in having a bit of a look around the old Derby factory?

Well, why not say - right now?

Here is the Derby Factory from above. Zoom in a take a look around.

View Larger Map

And here is it from the street. Again, use the controls to walk around the factory, and have a look at the boarded up buildings!

This is the main entrance.

Go on click on the image below and have a look around.

View Larger Map

And one of the side gates. Not the most hospitable entrances.

View Larger Map

It is quite interesting. I'm just happy that architectural styles develop and grow, and as for me the Derby factory is a touch dull and dreary. I think the psychiatrists would have made a lot of money. But that would not be proper. There was probably a keep calm and carry on attitude amongst the workers I'm sure.

Bentley Mk V for sale.

P.A. Wood are renown for their superb cars for sale, and this one is no different.

It is a Bentley Mk V Park Ward 4-Door Saloon from 1939.

Yes a Mk V, a total of which 11 were completed with bodies and 4 additional chassis were also made. Some were lost in the war.

It certainly is a very rare car indeed.



The ad reads, "Dark Blue and Grey with Grey hide upholstery. Experimental car with a most interesting history."



"Amazing performance for a pre-war car. Chassis No. 1R1."



I'm sure the history will be quite interesting! Definitely one for a collection.

PKR 854 Bentley Mk6 Special

Bentley Specials are always a bit, well special.

Especially when they have a personal meaning. Like say, your Dad made it! Let's take a look.

Mark sent in some details of his Bentley Mk6 Special registration PKR 854 made by his father.

The Mk6 started life with a standard steel saloon body that was first registered in the UK on 11 Jan. l951

By 1970 it had reached the end of its life and was relegated to the scrap yard where it was purchased for 85 pounds. The bodywork was full of rust and the engine seized.



The old bodywork was removed and a two-seater body fitted. The suspension was lowered to compensate for the removal of 1 tonne of steel. The radiator was lowered and the steering column angle reduced to match the new body profile.



The chassis was chopped and filled retaining the same wheelbase but moving the engine back 12 inches to achieve a better weight distribution. The fuel tank was retained and rotated 90 degrees.



The engine, gearbox and running gear remains as original.

The rebuild took about 12 yrs and Mark's father undertook all work except the painting. During the next 25 years the car travelled extensively throughout Europe and made two trips to New Zealand.



After his fathers death the car was imported to Australia from the United Kingdom in August 2007.



The car is now undergoing a rolling restoration and some extended maintenance.



The car was registered in Queensland with the same UK number plate PKR 854.



It is special!

My tip would be to leave the UK plates on the car! I know it's naughty missing the 'QLD' on the plate, but when the Police pull you over they will probably check the Rego sticker and see the number is the same. Hopefully they will give you a wink and send you on your way. They would only want to have a look at the car anyway! It is actually what a lot of the W.O owners do.... cheeky!

Beim Winterraid in a Bentley Donington

Beim Winterraid 2009 in St. Moriz Schweiz

Der WinterRAID - der Mythos

In der Ferne die Alpen, die Dolomiten.
Immer näher, steil hinauf ins Weiss des Schnees.
Blau der Himmel, leuchtend die Sonne.
Spüren – das ist Fahren der anderen Art.
Aber auch das: Grau in grau, stiebender Schnee, blankes Eis,
die Strasse, die Kurven nur zu erahnen.
Herausforderung! Beweisen: Alles ist möglich!
Abends dann, unter Gleichgesinnten im komfortablen Hotel.
Das Essen, die Wärme, die Gespräche geniessen.
Die Gewissheit, nicht Alltägliches erlebt zu haben.

My German is rubbish, so using google to translate comes up with this:

The WinterRAID - the myth

In the distance, the Alps, the Dolomites.
More and more, steep climb into the white snow.
Blue of the sky, the sun is shining.
Feel - that is driving the other Art
But also: gray in gray, stiebender snow, bare ice,
the road, the curves only be guessed.
Challenge! Prove: Everything is possible!
Then the evening, among peers in a comfortable hotel.
The food, the warmth, enjoying the conversations.
The certainty, not to have experienced everyday.


It certainly sounds fun!

Herbert Rey came in third in his 1951 Bentley Donington Special.



It is always great to see a Bentley Special out working the circuits, no matter how hard they are!

Thank you Herbert for letting us know! It looks like you are having a great time.

Tasmanian Ute Mate

Take a look at this Aussie invention.

Yep the ute, or Coupé utility vehicle was invented in Victoria, Australia. The story goes that a farmers wife wanted a car that was nice enough to go the church in, but a practical load carrier on the farm. And the combination car truck was born.



Ute's are quite culturally significant to Australians, and past times are based around this body shape, including their own racing series, beaut ute compititions and even ute musters.

There is even a Bentley S1 ute in the National Motor Museum of Australia. Check out the previous post here.

Ticked away in a shed in Tasmania is this Bentley Mk VI ute, stored below some cheeky pigeons.



I like that the interior is well protected by snail bate from an ice cream container. Good thinking mate.



I love it. It is actually quite similar to a South African Bentley Mk VI ute here.

Thanks Steve for sending in the photos.

Smiley Special Tourer

So what are your options when you come across a rusty Bentley?



A hell of a lot of body work patching up that standard steel.



Then finding all the bits that were meant to be on the car.



Then engine can be a challenge, but it is a must.



Not to mention the interior.



But there is another option.

Coachbuilding the exact car you want on the Bentley chassis.

Take a look at this Bentley Special.

1950 Bentley MK VI #B96HR



It is known as the Smiley Special Tourer, and you can kind of tell why.



The look of it is very cutesy, kind of like a Bentley version of Noddy's car.



It was built by Richard Straman, of Richard Straman Coachbuilders Costa Mesa, CA, USA who has been featured on Bentleyspotting before for his convertibles.



Smiley special tourer was apparently built by Richard for his father in law to use as everyday driver.

The grandchildren would definitely get excited.

Pictures courtesy (Eliot, and Daveseven)

Rare Bentleys on the Track

Generally at Silverstone you would expect to see the Bentley Speed 8 blasting around the track.

Here it is thankfully photographed by avid automobile photographer Tim Dunlop.



But over the weekend something slightly different happened.

It was the annual Bentley Drivers Club day at Silverstone and some Bentley cars not often seen on a track got to have a go.

Here is a Bentley R Type followed by a Bentley Eight.



Then Tim Dunlop snapped a Bentley T2 tailed by a Bentley Turbo R



Next up came a Bentley S1 Contenential Flying Spur, tracked by a Bentley Continential R, and out wide is a Bentley Azure



At its own pace then came along a Bentley S3.



Then a bit of a surprise came around the corner.

A Bentley Turbo R six door limousine. A 1990's one at that.



With the roof racks and three rows of forward facing seats it looks like it is for the funeral market, so it is certainly a surprize to see on the track at Silverstone.

Great appreciation goes to Tim Dunlop for allowing these photograghs to be reproduced. I'm sure an enjoyable day was had.

Pictures courtesy (Tim Dunlop) reproduced with permission.
Images are copyright of Tim Dunlop and Dunlopix and may not be reproduced without prior written consent