Bay of Plenty Vintage Car Club, 2009

Tauranga, New Zealand

These photographs were taken in Blenheim, New Zealand, which is at the top of the South Island before the car and owner moved to the Bay of Plenty, which is two thirds the way up the North Island on the Eastern Coast.

"Not quite the usual docile family car... Number 891 as it is today"

1924 3 Litre Bentley, Chassis Number 891, with original long chassis and wide body by Cadogan Motors.

The whole Goodman family, Brian, Jaccy and four sons, including 3 months old Sandy, travelled over 3,000 miles in the car in 1980 during the course of the International rally, and returning home via Auckland, Coromandel and Hawkes Bay.

Barry Goodman sold the car to brother Brian in order to build a new home.

During the 70s the car was used mainly for runs around the local area by Barry, who was no longer a V.C.C. member, but Brian took it on the 1977 Mount Cook Rally.

Proper Vanden Plas type mudguards were fitted to the front in 1972 and to the rear two years later.

Chassis 891 Engine 908 Reg. DS3467. Van den Plas Replica Tourer Body. 1924
Originally imported into NZ in 1933, this car was dismantled following a major accident. In 1960 when looking longingly at (5) ST3008, the 4½ Litre then owned by Don Oddie, a young Timaru lad named Barry Goodman remarked, "One day I will own a Bentley." Those who laughed were mistaken, as over the next few years Barry with his older brother Brian managed to borrow, beg or buy enough parts by 1963 to complete the restoration of this 1924 3 Litre Tourer in 1965. Initially jointly owned, the car was owned by Barry until 1977 and by Brian until 1986, During Brian's ownership it participated in the 1983 'Totally Bentley Tour of South Africa', and is currently (?) owned by M. Owen of Cranmer Square, Christchurch. This photograph shows Brian Goodman with his family on board Ch891 at Stirling Point, Bluff.

In 1969 a 'B' type gearbox was imported for the car from England.

The car participated in the 1968 Queen's Birthday Tour when it had the misfortune to lose a wheel in the middle of Naseby, Central Otago, and it was wheeled into a church graveyard to await recovery the next weekend.

In 1967 Chassis No. 891 took part in the Riverton Rally, and a Bentley Drivers Club Rally.

In 1966 Brian Goodman and Jaccy took the car on their honeymoon trip around the North Island, taking in the National Rally, at Wellington on their way home.

Brian Goodman sold his share of Chassis No. 891 to brother and part-owner Barry in late 1965 in order to buy an engagement ring.

"Sixteen days after moving under its own power, the rebuilt Number 891 speeds around Teretonga Park during the 1965 International Rally."

The motor is in the trusting hands of Bob Beardsley of Christchurch, and work is progressing well on this. The shaft has been ground and new bearings run. All oil drain tubes have been replaced with new stainless steel ones. The motor has also been rebored and the pistons turned to suit. Valve guides have arrived from England and it should not be too long before our garage is filled with "Bentley Burble".

"Work is being done to the rear springing and the body, which is to be a fabric Van Den Plas replica with cycle type guards. Andrew Anderson has just come to light with a pair of Hartford shock absorbers for the rear…"

Barry Goodman invited his brother Brian to become part owner of Chassis No. 891.

"My brother and I restored Chassis No. 891 in the early 1960s. I took part in the 1983 South African rally with the car and sold it in the mid-1980s."

Chassis No. 891 was obtained by Barry Goodman in 1962.

"According to legend the Goodman Bentley was conceived about 200 metres from the summit of Danseys Pass - a remote and little used short cut to Central Otago from the north - on Saturday, June 4th, 1960. The South Canterbury Branch's Queen's Birthday Tour was en route to an overnight stop at Alexandra and the Goodman lads, Brian, then aged 20 and Barry, aged 17 struggled up the long winding pass in their Model T Tudor, they each having to put a foot hard down on the low gear pedal. Suddenly with the blare of a horn and a shower of shingle Hon Oddie bellowed past in his 4 1/2 litre Bentley, and as he disappeared over the summit Barry was heard to mutter "One day I will own a car like that!"

It was two more years before Barry made any move to realize his ambition until after he had been with Don Oddie on the first Bentley Alpine Rally he arrived home fired with enthusiasm from a weekend of Bentley noise, smoke and talk. Barry later talked over the possibility of building a car with Don and came home with the nucleus of a car, 4 brand new semi-finished pistons, which he had acquired as part payment for a 1910 Triumph motorcycle that he had sold Don! Following weekend Barry arrived back from Christchurch with a long 10' 10" chassis which he had got from Bill Clarke, but which he eventually swapped for a short 9' 9 1/2" chassis which bore the number 891.

"A syndicate comprising Buddy Harding, Rex Frisken, and Geoff Williams was finally successful in buying the complete collection of "bent Bentleys" from Jones, and they brought most of it down to Canterbury around 1955-56. Andy Anderson obtained the chassis 891 from the syndicate in 1958 after getting all enthusiastic at the 1958 Picton National Rally, and he had it shortened by Anderson's Engineering. Dave later got this shortened chassis from Andy, and eventually swapped it for the long chassis that Barry Goodman had and this is how Barry came to be the possessor of chassis 891."

In 1947, the crashed Chassis No. 891 was owned by a "Jones" who lived at Te Aroha. He had the odd hobby of collecting bent Bentleys and other old damaged cars. In 1947 his collection had at least 3 long chassis tourers, including old Number 891… Despite pressure from the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, he adamantly refused to sell or restore any car in his collection.

"Hec (Walker) sold the car to Victor Lundy of Hamilton about 1937 and eventually it was disabled in an accident, possibly in the Hawkes Bay area."

"In 1925 he (P. Campkin) sold it (Chassis No. 891) to C. F. Armstrong, who it is understood, used the car for racing on Murawai Beach. Later the car passed through various owners including Hec Walker of Papakura who believes that the car was driven overland from Cairo to Capetown, before being shipped to New Zealand."

"The original owner of chassis 891, which had engine 908 fitted and had open 4 seater bodywork by Cadogan Motors on a standard long chassis was one P. Campkin, of Cavendish Square, London, who purchased the car on December 20th, 1924."