In his e-mail (Jan 30, 2012) to Robert McLellan , Detlef Heyer wrote, "I am the owner of the Syd Lawrence Special, Chassis No. 102/50 ML, Engine No. 102/50 ML. This car is not a replica but was built by Syd Lawrence from 1949 to 1951 on a 3 ltr original chassis with 4.5 ltr original engine. The car was raced by Syd in GB national events in Silverstone and Goodwood in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1956 with good results. Any more history known?"

~~~

Robert McLellan (Jan 31, 2012): "You state it is chassis 102/50 ML. Are you saying it is chassis 102 which would make it originally a 1922 3 Litre? We have no information on chassis 102. You state it is 1927. Also, there is no engine 50 ML. What is the engine number? If you can confirm it is chassis 102, I will put this information and photos on the chassis 102 web page. I look forward to learning more about the car."

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Detlef responded soon after with some information on his car. "I have no pre-war information but a lot from 1949 onwards, some included with this email:

- Copy of Registration-Book, dated 01.05.1950 (26.04.1950) to Syd John Lawrence with registration No. VMF 944

- The chassis is stamped No.102 and additional with 50 ML. This extra marking was added by Southgate Motors (London) Ltd in 1950. The owner of this company was Syd Lawrence who built this Car. 50 ML is standing for 1950 Modified Lawrence. You are stating correctly that No. 102 is year 1922 and I think that here was a misreading somewhere of the handwritten numbers 2 and the 7. The modification in 1950 was, adding "Tiebars" in order to give extra strength to the chassis to suit the 4 1/2 ltr. engine.

- Engine: According to the book "Bentley Specials & Special Bentleys" 1th(?) edition page 80, by Ray Roberts, the engine is KM 3088 and modified again in 1950 by Southgate Motors/Syd Lawrence and additional stamped with 102/50 ML.

Robert, if you could find some records of the pre war time, this could be very nice. — Detlef"

~~~

Upon learning about the sale of VMF 944 recently, Mona Nath of VintageBentleys.org contacted Detlef on February 22, 2016: "Hello Detlef, Do you still own this car? We ask because VMF 944 has just sold at Stanley Mann Racing. But the Chassis no. has been listed as 708. Please confirm this is your car. And why the chassis number is now 708. According to Michael (Clare) Hay, in the 1997 book "Bentley: The Vintage Years", chassis 708 was last heard of in 1946. I look forward to hearing from you. - Mona Nath"

~~~

We received a prompt reply from Detlef on Feb 23, 2016, "Hi Mona. Yes my car has been sold a few weeks ago by "Stanley Mann Racing". Previous the car had been entered in the H & H Auction in Oct. 2015 but did not sell at the price I was looking for and I did give it to Stanley Mann in commission. Prior this auction a detailed and minute check and test-drive had been carried out by H&H and according to H&H a number was found on the chassis which seems to read 708.

This car was always known as "Syd Lawrence Special" chassis No 102 ML 50 and Engine No. 102 ML 50 and was first registered by Syd Lawrence in 1950 with this numbers. These numbers are also stamped on the Engine and car. There are indications that the chassis could be 708 and the engine could be number 3088 because the steering box is clearly marked as KM 3089 which was part of this engine and there is a photo from 1950 titled "chassis chasing its engine" whereby a another Bentley which had engine KM 3088 previous is chasing VMF 944. on the race track.

It is presumed that Syd Lawrence was using this original Bentley components beside other original parts such as back and front axles D type gear box etc. from his owne stock to build the racer VMF 944 and restamped it with 102 ML 50 for (102 Modified Lawrence 1950) 1950 was the year Syd Lawrence registered this car first in the UK.

Sorry for the confusion, but surly without this it wouldn't be a BENTLEY. — Detlef"

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Hungry for more information we got right back to Detlef with: "Hi again Detlef, Just so we learn more about the Syd Lawrence Special: It's so amazing that the chassis turns out to be 708! And quite astonishing that this information doesn't figure anywhere in the old registration book scans you sent us. And no one noticed it all these years... I don't suppose you have pictures of the '708' stamp found on the chassis? In your 2012 email to us you had stated - "The chassis is stamped No. 102 and additional with 50 ML."

Just checked the H&H archives. Their page has a lot of photographs of the Syd Lawrence Special including close-ups of the '102/50' stamp and also 'KM 3089', another chassis this car is associated with. But no picture of the '708' stamp.

And while it was H&H that discovered the '708' thing, they still chose to print "Chassis Number: 102/50ML" at the top of the auction page. But Stanley Mann Racing has used "Chassis Number: 708" at the top of their For Sale page (despite all the paper work showing 102/50). Do you know what made Stanley Mann Racing designate the new chassis number so unequivocally?

I noticed that historian Clare Hay has absolutely no extra information on 102. Although for 708 she says it wasn't heard of after 1946, but rebuilt on a new frame after 1930 accident. — Mona Nath"

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Detlef responded with a document titled 'History' (for VMF 944) saying, "Dear Mona, Enclosed a short but not complete history of the above car. Unfortunately I have given all records (two big files) via Stanley Mann to the new owner, one of them having more than 25 black and white photos from 1950th of the car racing at Silverstone, Goodwood and 4 other race tracks in the UK including programs giving starter numbers and position in which the car finished. Hope the enclosed history will answer a lot of your questions. — Detlef Heyer"

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Read article in VintageBentleys.org, March 2016 newsletter

Found on STANLEY MANN RACING website on Feb 3, 2016

"1924 VINTAGE 3/4½ LTR BENTLEY HISTORIC RACING CAR SOLD
Registration Number: VMF 944 Chassis Number: 708 Engine Number: KM 3088
SOLD

THE F1 OF ITS TIME AND STILL ONE OF THE MOST POTENT ROAD RACING BENTLEYS EVER.
Exquisitely detailed history, with photographs, which makes fascinating reading.

Here is a vintage Bentley you should read about. It doesn’t matter whether you own a vintage Bentley, are thinking of buying a vintage Bentley, or are interested in vintage Bentleys. Here is a vintage Bentley that is neither a concours contender nor a matching numbers example. It is an example of what was done with these fabulous machines after they came out of hibernation post war; of the enthusiasm, understanding and affection that existed. An example of a vintage Bentley that was built, owned and raced by an enthusiast who had worked in the service department of Bentley Motors Ltd and someone I knew many years ago. Syd Lawrence.

Syd had worked in the service department during the company’s most successful years and had amassed enough knowledge to set up his own business in Southgate, north London servicing and repairing Bentleys. A visit to Syd was always an education in vintage Bentleys but not in the finer points of the English language, to the point where he was referred to as Syd F****** Lawrence. That aside Syd knew his Bentleys and knew them F****** well!

Now with such extensive knowledge of all things Bentley and all things racing Bentley, Syd set about building a superfast lightweight, highly competitive racer in 1948. His friends and colleagues from Bentley motors had developed and built the famous Brooklands outer circuit racers in the mid 1930’s and Sid wanted to continue with the same enthusiasm and skill. From his huge stock of parts he sourced the 3 litre chassis, installed a proper 4 ½ litre engine, D type gearbox and fitted lightweight coachwork with the aerodynamic front aspect of the Brooklands racers. This was to be a formidable machine.

With a great driver, real Bentley engineering from a real Bentley engineer and capable of 130 MPH Syd stood by the ethos of his former employer that the circuit was the best place for proving or disproving a Bentley. A read through the comprehensive racing file shows our man competing against some of the great names of the time and lots of like minded vintage Bentley enthusiasts who were responsible for keeping the great Bentley name alive and for firing up that enthusiasm which continues today and was also responsible for encouraging a young chap named Stanley Mann.

So much to talk about. The Syd Lawrence Special is a vintage Bentley to be enjoyed, great fun to drive and developed by one of the great Bentley characters.

They really don’t make them like that anymore."

Found on H&H website on Oct 29, 2015

Sale Date: 14th October 2015

1924/50 Bentley 3/4.5 Litre Syd Lawrence Special

Not Sold

Reg Number: VMF 944
Chassis Number: 102/50ML
Engine Number: 102/50
Cc: 4398
Body Colour: Green
Trim Colour: Black
MOT ExpiryDate: Exempt

Syd Lawrence was a talented engineer whose apprenticeship with General Motors was disrupted by World War One. He subsequently worked for Bentley Motors under Nobby Clark and Anzani before setting-up on his own at premises in Southgate, North London. Well known in Bentley circles, Lawrence's workshop soon became a Mecca for those owners who had been previously struggling to keep their cars running on a diminishing stock of original parts.

'VMF 944' a.k.a. the 'Syd Lawrence Special' is believed to have been constructed between 1948 and 1950, using genuine pre-WW2 items from Syd's then held stock of W.O. Bentley spares. It is based on what certainly seems to be an original 3 litre chassis. The number stamped into the front engine cross member - 102/50ML - is Syd's own but the number stamped within the nearside front dumb iron resembles '708' and looks to be a Cricklewood factory marking (though, the final digit has been abraded). Chassis 708 was a Speed Model based on the 9ft 9.5in wheelbase (which the Special mirrors). Delivered new to J. Binning Esq. in July 1924, Clare Hay's authoritative tome 'Bentley - The Vintage Years' says of it: 'Last heard of 1946 . . . Rebuilt on new frame May 1930 after accident'.

Whatever their precise origins, Syd used the same number - namely '102/50ML' (1950 Modified Lawrence) - to identify his creation's chassis and engine when registering it with Middlesex County Council on May 1st 1950. Interestingly, Ray Roberts' book 'Bentley Specials and Special Bentleys' suggests that the lightweight two-seater's 4.5 Litre engine was originally numbered as 'KM 3088', while its 4.5 Litre steering box is stamped with 'KM 3089' (the number of the chassis which originally housed engine 'KM 3088'). Initially Green but later Battleship Grey, 'VMF 944' proved a fearsome competitor during the 1950s. Constantly developed by Lawrence who devised his own crankshaft and valvegear designs for it, the 3/4.5 Litre could reputedly rev to 5,000rpm and reach over 130mph. Assorted black and white photos on file show it racing at Goodwood, Silverstone, Boreham and Snetterton, achieving various podium placings along the way.

Sold by its creator for £5,000 in 1968 to fellow Londoner John Bertram Vickery, 'VMF 944' benefited from some £46,000 worth of overhauling / improvement works at the hands of marque specialists McKenzie Guppy during 1988-1990 before being sold to Brian Cook Esq some eight years later. Returning to the tracks with Cook, the Special placed third at Montlhery in 2000 and won the 'Con Martens Trophy' for the fastest lap recorded by a non-hybrid Vintage Bentley at the Bentley Drivers' Club's August 2003 Silverstone meeting. Campaigned by Neil Davies on behalf of next keeper Joanna Vassey including a strong finish in the Fox & Nicholl Trophy race at the VSCC's April 2005 Silverstone meeting, the 3/4.5 Litre was further improved by her successor David Dunn who enjoyed outings aboard it at Silverstone, Mondello Park and Phoenix Park.

A participant in the Irish Festival of Speed since entering the current ownership five years ago, 'VMF 944' has recently been inspected by Bentley aficionado and Benjafield's Club member Philip Strickland whose findings are outlined below:

ENGINE - It is fitted with a new 4.5 litre block. The exact date this was installed is not clear. With triple SU Carburettors, dinner-plate flywheel with ring gear, Borg and Beck clutch, coil ignition (which has replaced a twin magneto set up), ultra-lightweight starter motor (driven by a Varley racing battery), electric fuel pump in place of a pressure or Autovac system, lightweight aluminium radiator and alternator in place of the heavy Smiths dynamo, this engine was constructed for sheer performance, with high revs and good breathing paramount. It started well from cold, was not over noisy and showed a steady 22/24psi oil pressure. It ran cool on the short run we undertook in Dublin traffic. The engine pulled well in all gears with no hesitation or undue noise.

CHASSIS - The chassis, front and rear axles all appear to be genuine Bentley components. Andre Hartford friction dampers front and rear (possibly original pattern).

FRONT AXLE - The front axle appears to be original but I could not ascertain the number under the paintwork. Fitted with anti-tramp radius arms.

REAR AXLE - Rear axle banjo number could not be ascertained but it retained the 3 litre "bowler hat" filler cover still in place, a surprising retention on a race car. It was said to be fitted with a 3.53 axle ratio, but this could not be ascertained, although it felt to be so on test. Mounted on outboard springs set on fabricated outriggers.

WHEELS - Well based 19in wheels shod with various race covers. Wheels held in place by lightened locking rings that require a special tool to remove (car originally had standard two-ear Rudge Whitworth locking rings, but the replacements save weight)

GEARBOX - "D" type gearbox fitted, changes well. Unable to confirm numbers on box but probably fitted by Syd from his stock of spares. Outboard gear lever.

FUEL TANK - 3 litre pattern replica 11 gallon tank fitted between dumb irons in correct place. It is probably made of aluminium sheet, with quick-release cap.

BODYWORK - The body is, to say the least, of minimal proportions. Behind the seats is a flat box-like structure in which sits the Varley battery with room for a small bag. No hood or side screens but a tonneau cover. Dashboard sports an array of modern instruments and switches which do not appear out of place but are not period. Radiator is fully enclosed in a cowl, recently replaced by a replica in lightweight ally. Bonnet is in three panels, all separately removable. Outside four branch exhaust currently fitted with a proprietary parallel tube silencer. Car repainted after it left the hands of owner Brian Cook, and changed from Battleship Grey to British Racing Green. Externally it retains its original profile as built by Syd Lawrence.

DRIVING - I had a very brief run in traffic conditions, but was able to engage top gear, brake and accelerate rapidly. Steering, gearbox, clutch felt good in all areas but brakes need to be adjusted as the front drums were binding. Car was slightly skittish on the tyres with quite high pressures, but handled the bumps surprisingly well. No crashing of suspension. Oil pressure was around 12psi at tick over and increased to 22psi during run. Engine started well and was extremely lively, with little mechanical noise, apart from the loud rasp of the exhaust. It gave excellent acceleration and very strong pull from low revs. The ride was comfortable although exposed. Water temperature remained very cool. Gearbox was pleasant to use, modern clutch coped admirably.

OVERALL - This is a racing sports car. Its appeal is limited by its lack of practicality. It was designed for a purpose and was historically successful. Its appeal probably lies in its associations with Syd Lawrence and his great exploits which are well documented in a file that is to be sold with the car. Subsequently in various hands, it continued to gain success on the track. It has been well maintained and much has been spent on it over the years.

Among the more famous 3/4.5 Litre Specials, albeit one made from period parts by a renowned expert rather than a "matching numbers" example, 'VMF 944' possesses its own unique character and a well-known provenance.

Syd Lawrence Special Bentley
"I am the owner of the SYD LAWRENCE SPECIAL Chassis No. 102/50 ML, Engine No. 102/50 ML. This car is not a replica but was built by Syd Lawrence from 1949 up to 1951 on a 3 ltr. original chassis with 4.5 ltr original engine. The car was raced by Syd in GB national events and at Silverstone and Goodwood in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954 and 1956 with good results."

Photo of Detlef Heyer, present owner of the car, racing at "Irish Festival of Speed" in 2011 at Adare Manor, Limerick

"From BDRC No. 229, Aug. 2003 awarding to Brian Cook the "Con Martins Trophy" for the fastest lap at Silverstone by a non-hybrid Vintage Bentley."

"From the book Bentley Specials & Special Bentleys 2nd edition, page 801. Brian Cook the owner then racing at Montlhery in 2000 finishing 3rd position."

This drawing was made by artist Mary P. H. Burgoyne in 1960.

"From the book Bentley Fifty Years Of The Marque by Johnnie Green. Photo of the car racing in Silverstone in 1960."

"Racing history of Syd Lawrence with the car from 1951 to 1956 at Goodwood and Silverstone."

15th July 1950. David Chapman in MKN 841, chassis KM3089, chasing Syd Lawrence in VMF 944 in Race 3 for short chassis 4.5L cars at Silverstone. Finished 8th place in 7min 14 sec. VMF 944 has engine No. KM3088, previously in chassis KM3089 (MKN 841), the chassis number is only given as 102/50ML (ML stands for ML Motors, Syd Lawrence's business at the time) so I can't give the true chassis number of VMF 944. (Confused? The photo shows a chassis chasing its original engine!)

I understand that Syd Lawrence shortened chassis KM3089 and swapped it with David Chapman for Chassis HF3185, registered YV9608. The shortened chassis KM3089 was built into a road / race car registered MKN 841 by David Chapman using the engine and many components from Chassis HF3185.