VSCC Shelsley Walsh - Sunday 5th July 2015

"Lovely original VDP 4½. Taken at Shelsley Walsh 5th July 2009."

This photograph is from an advertisement by C.A.R. Howard Ltd. in "Thoroughbred & Classic Cars" magazine, August 1983.

Text in advt reads: 1928 Bentley 4-litre Sports Tourer by Vanden Plas Chassis No. FT 3210. This is a quite exceptional Vintage Bentley that is in fine original condition. It was sold when new to Mr. L Du Pont Copeland of Bridgeport Conn. U.S.A., and is one of very few Bentleys of the period sold new to that country.

It has factory fitted Brake servo and a Brooklands type steering wheel sent to America by Bentley Motors in 1936. The car retains its original and perfectly serviceable leather, the hood and sidescreens have been recovered but the hood bag is original. The fabric body has been recovered in the original blue and the paint is blue as per the original specification but was re-finished in the fifties at which time the car was extensively rallied in America. It came back to this country in 1978. I have driven this car myself on Rallies for about two thousand miles and by the time this advertisement appears I hope to have completed the Monte Carlo Rally. At this point the total mileage of the car will be under 100,000. It is quite the best Vintage Bentley I have driven and will cruise comfortably at 70-80 mph. All the instruments are correct and work well. The oil pressure at 70mph is a steady 50lbs per sq. in. The car has an extensive tool kit properly fitted. This is not a car for the enthusiast who wants to collect prizes for cleanliness and polish although the car is very tidy and respectable. It is for the owner who will enjoy long hard driving and great reliability.

Vanden Plas car, a 1928 4 1/2 litre chassis FT3210 delivered new to L. Du Pont C.opeland.

(Four Bentleys from the Klein Collection in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, in the 1960s. Nearest the camera is 3 litre Vanden Plas Speed Model YR5725, chassis LT1579, rebuilt to Kensington Gardens concours standard by Dick Moss. Next another Vanden Plas car, this time a 1928 4 1/2 litre chassis FT3210 delivered new to L. Du Pont Copeland, and blower 4 1/2 EU919 with Birkin replica body by Townshend. Finally a second blower 4 1/2, chassis MS3932 registered GN6087, with its original high-sided Vanden Plas four-seater body, a sister car to GO2641.)

"Here are three photos in my collection that I feel are all the same car. It belonged to Sam Bailey many years ago and the 2 photos with the #100 on the banners were taken during the 1950 Glidden Tour. Headlamps have sealed beams installed and the front bumper is quite distinctive. I have looked through the 4 1/2s but haven't found this car."

"Hi Mona and Robert, In reply to your Unidentified Bentley in this (June 2018) edition of the Newsletter, this is Samuel E. Bailey's 4.5-litre, FT3210, a car that was later in South Africa for a few years. Owned by Samuel E. Bailey a prominent figure in US Vintage & Veteran Motoring " — Wayne M. Kennerley Researching Bentley and Rolls-Royce in Africa. - Jun 29, 2018

"A beautiful 4.5-litre VdP car (currently) in America." — Sven Ljungström - Nov 25, 2008