1950s Stock Car Racing in a Bentley?

That is right. I do like crazy Bentley drivers.

Imagine in 1954 taking this Bentley 6 1/2 Litre down do the stock car oval for a bit of a mad no holds barred race.



Not really the sport expected of a vintage Bentley. True madness with a steel exoskeleton for protection.

That is exactly what Alex Landborough did at the 'Vue on August 11th 1954.

And this is how stock car racing looked in the 1950s.



Not really a way to treat a Bentley.

Thanks to Oldstox.com for the photo.

Bentley Coupe Heaven

Is this not Bentley coupe heaven?

That's right, a Hooper & Co. (Coachbuilders) Ltd. 2 door Bentley Turbo R next two a couple of Coupes from Crewe.



Now don't be cheeky and ask where the James Young Bentley T 2 door is. Only 15 of those were made, and all of them forgot to turn up to the photo shoot.

Thanks Andy for the photo. It is magnificent!

Hittin' Switches in da Flying B

Yo, if I a waz hangin' wit da bros, goin' 4 a roll in da rides wit switches & hot bitchez lik dis ---



I'd be hittin' switches in da Flying B, muthafuc...



Which essentially translates to:

If attending an event with associates of the air suspension enthusiasts club, on a day when partner were encouraged to participate, I would attend in a Bentley Continential with appropriate modifications to be a member of the club. Thank you.

RM Auctions Hooper Corporate Collection Catalogue

As mentioned previously, the Hooper Corporate Collection will be auctioned as part of the RM Auctions Automobiles of London programme on October 27, 2010, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM GMT at Battersea Evolution, in Battersea Park London, United Kingdom SW11 4NJ.

Here is an extract of the Hooper Corporate Collection from the official auction catalogue.



If you want to read the whole catalogue it is here.

Thanks to RM Auctions for the documents.

Touring in Japan

Check out this walk around video of a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Touring Limousine by Mulliner Park Ward out the front of a hotel in Japan.



More posts on the Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II Touring Limousine by Mulliner Park Ward here.

Cann of Camden Town.

From Autocar July 26th 1913 comes this advertisement about Cann of Camden Town.

The original makers of Boat-shaped Bodies.



Check out their telegram address "CANNABLIST, LONDON". Love it.

Cann of Camden Town was also commissioned by build the body of the second Rolls-Royce ever made, a 10HP chassis number 20153 which came off test on 10 October 1904, and was delivered to a Lt Col Moffatt of Tidworth, Wiltshire.


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This is how Miller St Camden Town looks today. Not exactly a street you would think the second ever Rolls-Royce body was built in.

シーザー・トレーディング

I have always wanted to go to Japan and take a look at Caesar Trading Co. Ltd.

It is somewhere about here I think.


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They always have quite interesting stock. One day I will visit.

In the mean time, they have uploaded a video of a walk around of the dealership.



Thanks for the upload, Caesar Trading Co. Ltd.

Bentley Camargue for sale

I got a little excited when I receive an email that stated, "Bentley Camargue for sale in Vancouver Canada".

I immediately thought is was the one and only Bentley Camargue SCBYJ000XFCH10150.

But alas it was not. It was a former Rolls-Royce turned Bentley, and here it is below.



I have to say, that the person who made the grill did not really study the couple of examples from Crewe.

I say a couple as one was an experimental Camargue made with a Bentley grill, and the other was the only production Bentley Camargue SCBYJ000XFCH10150.

Here is the experimental Camargue test car. Note the Crewe test car number plate.



And here is the Bentley grill of the only real Bentley Camargue SCBYJ000XFCH10150.



As you can see, the maker of this grill was a little, well a lot, off. The balance is not quite right, and the surround is too much. More like a Superfly Cadillac than a Bentley.

But goodonya for trying.



To think about it though, it is quite hard to make a well balanced Bentley grill when you are dealing with a 9 or is it 7 degree slanting inwards grill with a massive width. Blame the Italians for the design.



The rear lights have also been modified. I am not sure where they are from, but they seem Italian, probably from a Ferrari of the 70's, like the 365 GTC/4.

Quite fitting in fact. I do like the Bentley hub caps as well.



Another Rolls-Royce to Bentley Camargue with similar rear lights was spotted here.

The car is currently for sale for $35000 on Craigs List here.

Thank you to Arseni for sending in the tip.

1993 Bentley Continental R and Bentley Brooklands

Here is a great 1993 video that shows the new line of Bentley cars from 1993.

The all new Bentley Continental R and the Bentley Brooklands, which replaced the Bentley Eight and Bentley Mulsanne.



There is some great period video from inside Crewe towards the end.

Enjoy the hiss of the VHS tape, in NTSC with out of sync audio. Love it.

Oh Canada!

 

Just thought I'd fly the flag three months late for Canada Day. 

-With a close up of Eleanor on the old red Shadow.

We took the old girl for a drive last weekend (spot the 'Dead Skunk on the Road' at the end):

 

"If I had to choose one CAR...."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSr_z81ggO4

 

 

 

 

 

 

(posted by David Irvine)