1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Sports VDP Tourer
Registration Number: BS 1162 Chassis Number: FT3202 Engine Number: NT3147

"This is an original VDP 4 Seater Tourer in perfect condition. Rare and desirable with its Van Den Plas body. Chassis has been stripped & painted, axles off, body strengthened, re-trimmed with fresh leather, new carpets, etc."

International Bentley Tour of South Africa, 2001

In 2001, this car had spent over 40 years in Devon. An article by Gillian Wylie in The Orcadian dated December 20, 2001 is reproduced below:

Fine piece of Orkney motoring history goes on sale
Orcadians with £225,000 to spare might be interested in buying what is undoubtedly a fine piece of Orkney history.

Still bearing its original Orkney numberplates BS 1162 – this four and a half litre, 1928 Bentley, described as the “ultimate gentleman’s express” of the period, has been put on the market for a cool £225,000.

Derek Mowat of the the Dunstane House Hotel in Edinburgh, explained the car’s significance in Orkney. He said that during the early part of the 20th century, the car belonged to chairman of Highland Park Distillery, Mr Walter Grant.

Mr Grant who lived at Hillhead, just outside Kirkwall, also owned Trumland House in Rousay – which he used as a weekend retreat.

Mr Mowat stated: “Walter Grant took delivery of a brand new Bentley four and a half litre in Vanden Plas coachwork, finished in British Racing Green – registration BS 1162 – supplied by Rossleigh garages, Edinburgh. This model was the absolute ultimate “Gentleman’s Express” in this period.”

He added that a regular Orcadian customer to his Edinburgh Hotel – 89-year-old Mrs Hunter, originally from St Margaret’s Hope – still recalls Mr Grant and his automobile in Orkney.

“She was manageress of the Kirkwall Hotel during World War Two and can remember Walter Grant stopping off at the Kirkwall Hotel with his car to entertain some of his clients and business associates in the 1940s.”

Walter died in April 1947, and the car then passed to his wife, until her death in February 1958.

“It was then bought by John G. Nicolson’s garage in Kirkwall, who had serviced and maintained the car for Mr Grant throughout his ownership and who passed it on to a Mr Michael Woodcock in Dorset, who has owned it ever since.”

The car, as Mr Mowat states, is in remarkably original condition: “There was £40,000 spent on it two years ago, but it is mainly original and the interior is all original.”

With a price tag of £225,000, it will not, of course, be within everyone’s reach. But Mr Mowat says: “It’s not just an ordinary car – it’s extra special.”

“This is a remarkable piece of Orcadian motoring history still on its original BS 1162 numberplate as supplied new. Wouldn’t it be great to see her back in Orkney?”

"Cutting a dash", chairman of Highland Park Distillery, Mr Walter Grant (first owner of this car), sits at the wheel of his Bentley at Hillhead near Kirkwall.

Walter died in April 1947, and the car then passed to his wife, until her death in February 1958.