Restoration in progress.

Our Bentley keeps good company with our 1937 Cord while waiting to be restored.

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Legonnaire's Disease and a brain aneurysm delayed completion of restoration and work on the car remained slow while rebuilding health and business.

In the second edition of Bentley: The Vintage Years, Michael Hay, 1997, it is stated that engine 988 was in Chassis No. 869 in 1989. This information belongs to another chassis. I have owned the car from 1981 to present and no engine changes have been made. Chassis No. 869 retains its original engine today.

Oct. 13-18, 1988 - Visit to Houston by former owner, Lt. Col. N. G. (Noel) Mitchell and his wife, Rosemarie.

Lt. Col. N. G. (Noel) Mitchell
Flat One, Crofton, Stanford Road
Bowdon, Cheshire WA14 2JN, England

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Dec. 29, 1987 - Body restoration completed and returned to me.

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Jul. 1987 - I was appointed Texas Regional Chairman of the BDC.

Nov. 25, 1986 - Shipped body (air freight) to Jim Pearce for body restoration (wood frame repairs, trimming and new windscreen).

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Jun. 30, 1984 - Attended the BDC Kensington Gardens Concours. Met Gibbs Pancheri, Billy Rockell (he remembered Service Engine SE7) and Tim Houlding there.

At home in Houston, Texas, in 1982
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Photographs taken at Bentley Drivers Club Meet in Clear Lake, Texas, in 1982
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May 14-16, 1982 - Rolls-Royce Owners Club Spring Meet in Salado, Texas. The Bentley took 1st place in "Vintage Bentley Class", with two others in the class, and won the "Longest Distance Driven" award.

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My first drive in Houston, Texas, in Mar. 1982
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Nov. 24, 1981 - Letter from George Dodds. Click here for transcript of letter.

Oct. 1981 - The following ad appears in "Thoroughbred & Clasic Cars" magazine, page 113, and was placed by Dodds. Roland Duce, a dealer, purchased the car prior to the ad appearing on newsstands in September.

The following photographs were taken at the home of Roland Duce in September 1981
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Aug. 21 - Sep. 5, 1981 - I made several trips to examine and drive the car. Although mechanically excellent, I requested that Duce do a repaint, new hood, new tonneau, new rubber, dashboard repair, new nickel trim, new speedometer cable and overall "tidy up". I paid $41,584 (£23,000) for the car and an additional $3,997.35 for the work and became the twelfth owner.

I had contacted Nick Hayes prior to my August trip to England with request for locating an appropriate 3 litre Bentley for me to purchase. I had purchased a 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 MKI from Roland Duce in 1976 through Nick Hayes. Roland paid the full £19,750 to George Dodds.

Aug. 1, 1981 - Department of Transportation Test Certificate - Done by George Dodds on completion of mechanical overhaul and then put car up for sale.

May 1979 - Registered as noted by following registration documents.

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Work done by George Dodds:
Engine rebored. Clutch relined. New pistons, valves, guides, tappets, cross shaft gears, thermostat, main bearings, big ends and small ends, water jacket plates, stainless steel water rail filter, stainless exhaust studs, bearing on front end of turret, crankshaft thrust bearings, tires and tubes, exhaust system fitted (excluding the original fish tail) and 4 lb. spring clutch. Rebuilt water pump and radiator.

G. K. (George Kilpatrick) purchased car in Mar. 1979 from Stanley Mann, a dealer who had advertised it for sale in "MotorSport" magazine. Dodds became a BDC member in Mar. 1979, or was already one, and was just notifying them of the purchase.

Mar. 1979 - G. K. Dodds (11th owner) purchased car.

G. K. Dodds
127 Birkbeck Road, Endfield
Middlesex, 01-366-7056

The following ad appeared on page 262 in the Feb. 1979 issue of "Motor Sport" magazine. FY 7920 also appeared in similar ads on page 410 in the Mar. 1979 issue and on page 570 in the Apr. 1979 issue.

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A new address appears in "BDC Review", No. 106, Nov. 1972 (page 356), as a reinstated member:

Fulmar House
Stamford Road
Bowdon, Cheshire

"This Bentley participated in the Manchester to Blackpool Veteran & Vintage Car Run for the consecutive years of 1971-1979."

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Jun. 15, 1969 - N. G. Mitchell attended BDC Vintage Racing meet at Oulton Park in FY 7290 according to information in "BDC Review", No. 94, p. 329.

Noel Mitchell Correspondence
"We used to race the car at Oulton Park at BDC meetings and also in VSCC Richard Seaman meetings. Also in local rallies for many years and the "Daily Telegraph" Manchester to Blackpool in which I won the Vauxhall Trophy." (Sep. 1983 letter from Mitchell telling about history of car.)

Noel and Rosemarie Mitchell in the 1960s.	FY 7290 at race track in the 1950s.	FY 7290 on race track in the 1950s.
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Lt. Cmdr. N. G. Mitchell, R. N. V. R.
Calabar Cottage, Woodville Road
Bowdon, Cheshire, England

N. G. (Noel Goohdwell) Mitchell became a BDC member in Mar. 1955. His name and address appear in "BDC Review", No. 37, Jun. 1955. He is mentioned in "BDC Review", Jul. 1962 (page 203), and again in Oct. 1969 (page 329). His address in Registration Book, dated 4 June 1971, is:

River Place
City Road
Cheshire

Mar. 1955 - Lt. Cmdr. N. G. Mitchell (tenth owner) bought car from Mr. Taylor who was a "Mechanic at Pelican Garage, Timberly, Cheshire - emigrating to Australia - bought for £350 to pay his fare".

Graveley sold car to Mr. Taylor (ninth owner). Date unknown.

Nov. 1950 (Refers to date J. E. Graveley became a BDC member.)

Sharp sold car to J. E. Graveley (eighth owner)

Sep. 1949 (Refers to date N. Sharp became a BDC member.)

N. Sharp, Esq. (seventh owner)
6 Maybury House
The Ridge, Woking
Surrey

Purchased in 1949? N. Sharp because a BDC member in Sep. 1949. His name and address appear in the "BDC Review", No. 15, Dec. 1949. He is the artist who did the picture on page 28 of the "BDC Review", No. 19, Dec. 1950.

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NOTE: 1949 Sharp photo (shown above) shows the following as compared to the way the car was in 1981: no side mount; different tool box; different headlamps; different mascot; different side lamps; and no bonnet holes / trim for carburetors.

BDC Membership Directory does not show any record of the car being owned by a member.

S. J. Dunn (sixth owner)
Oak Lodge, Foxhall Road
Ipswich

Date of purchase and sale unknown, but in his possession in 1939. Berthon went to India in Sep. 1939, so he probably sold the car to S. J. Dunn prior to his departure.

Jul. 27, 1938 - One valve and eight guides sent to G. V. Morand. (1)

Nov. 16, 1937 - Bottom half big end bearing sent to owner. (1)

The Berthon Connection
Capt. C. H. D. Berthon joined the BDC in Sep. 1936 while in India after having bought a 3 Litre Saloon in 1935 (Gibbs Pancheri, 1986). In 1937, upon his return to England, the service records show that he owned Chassis No. 869. Therefore, this Bentley was one of the first cars in the BDC. Apparently he sold the car sometime soon after Jul. 27, 1938 service work since Gibbs Pancheri, who met him in 1938, states that Berthon never mentioned Chassis No. 869.

Berthon is listed as a member of the BDC "The Committee" in "The BDC Gazette" from Jul. 1938 through Jul. 1939 and became the club Secretary in 1948 and later Executive Vice-President of the BDC.

On Mar. 20, 1999, T. D. "Tom" Berthon wrote (Click here for transcript of letter).

Capt. C. H. D. Berthom (fifth owner)
Madges Farm, Long Crendon
Aylesbury, Bucks
England

Car was purchased by Capt. C. H. D. Berthon prior to Nov. 16, 1937, at which time he has engine work done per service records.

Sep. 20, 1931 - Sixteen big end bolts sent to J. V. Morand. Complete set joints. Engine overhauled by J. V. Morand. (1)

Jun. 30, 1931 - Four foot brake camshaft bushes sent to J. V. Morand. (1)

Jun. 15, 1931 - Two clutch rollers sent to J. V. Morand. (1)

Apr. 15, 1930 - one valve guide and 1.8/m/mX³/32 ____ ring sent to J. V. Morand. (1)

Apr. 12, 1930 - Eight valve guides and ten valve tips sent to J. V. Morand, Esq. (1)

Apr. 9, 1930 - H. H. C. 8/m/m. Pistons and rings and gudgeon pins sent to J. V. Morand. (1)

Dec. 6, 1929 - Car was at Bentley Service Department, but reason not stated.

Major S. J. Grose (fourth owner)
The Pond House
Chobham, Woking

Nov. 19, 1928 - Transfer of guarantee. Eight new piston rings and scrapers. Rattle in O&G rectified. Two new cardan blocks and slippers fitted. Front footbrake and front drums skimmed out. (1)

Nov. 19, 1928 - Recorded mileage on Nov. 19, 1928 was 1,825 miles.

Sep. 11, 1928 - Two Watford mags fitted in place of M.L.S.

Jul. 5, 1928 - (Accident. Bulge in o/x of frame _______. Chassis frame and axle centres checked over for truth.) Non-lifting type box bevels fitted. Engine gears. Water rail repaired. Brown and bevel trimmed wh. New ball races fitted. Brakes recompensated and al_____. (1)

Apr. 3, 1928 - Service engine No. SE7 fitted. Exhaust manifold replaced. Radiator repaired. Float front nosepiece of gearbox taken up. New cardan blocks fitted. Rear footbrake relined. Front b roughed up. Shackle pins and bushes renewed as necessary. (1)

Jan. 31, 1928 - F.W.B. Front axle straightened. New o/s stub axle and swivel rim fitted. Brake recomensated. (A)

Mrs. M. E. Bruce (third owner)
Colliston Castle, Arbroath
Forfarshire, Scotland

Mrs. Bruce took ownership of the Bentley from her husband sometime between Mar. 1, 1927 and Jan. 31, 1928. She wrecked the car on Jan. 31, 1928, causing the front axle to be bent. On May 4, 1928 extensive repair work was done to it. A factory service engine (SE7) was fitted in the car (Apr. 1928) while the work was in progress. The original engine (877) was refitted on completion and remains in the car today.

Mar. 1, 1927 - Top bevels adjusted. (1)

Aug. 16, 1926 - Engine decarbonised. Four new gudgeon pin bushes. Lift in bottom bevels taken up. Top beverls adjusted. Slack in rear universal joint taken up. Eight leaf front road springs fitted. F.W.B.'s [front wheel brakes?] and handbrake relined. (1)

Nov. 4, 1925 - One valve insert. (1)

Jun. 24, 1925 - Top vertical bevels adjusted. (1)

Major R. F. D. Bruce, Colliston, Castle, Arbroath, N. B. (second owner)

The Bruce Connection
On Apr. 13, 1999 Ian B. Fisken, a BDC member in Scotland, responded to an inquiry that I made regarding the Bruce family ownership of our Bentley. Click here for transcript of letter.

Colliston Castle Records
"1920: John Hoome Adams Peebles - Chaplin (owner of the castle) sold it to Richard (Dicky) Bruce (Major R.F.D. Bruce), son of the Hon. F. J. Bruce of Seaton, who was a son of the Earl of Elgin. He installed a gun cupboard in part of the original kitchen fireplace in the west tower. This room became the gunroom. In 1929 Dicky Bruce was found dead in the hall with his gun beside him." (In 1929 the castle was sold to Captain Alfred Knox.)

In 1999 the present owner was R. A. Gordon Stuart. In correspondence to me on Apr. 4, 1999 he stated that, after buying the Bentley in 1925, Dicky Bruce gave it to his wife (Mrs. M. E. Bruce) sometime prior to 1927 and, with the death of her husband in 1929, she sold it. At that time she was having an affair with a local (Arbroath) lawyer. On the death of her husband she married the lawyer and sold the castle.

Apr. 1, 1925 - Back axle quietened . Overhead gear quietened. Brakes recompensated. (1)

Jan. 13, 1925 - Back axle quietened (1)

Dec. 9, 1924 - Minor adjustments, 14/53 axle ratio, 1925 Speed Model. Service engine SE7 temporarily installed. (1)

Dec. 3, 1924 - Registered (FY 7290) to:
J. T. Johnson
Hill Crest
Wilmslow
Cheshire
England

Regarding the "Scratched Aluminium" finish on the body, I received the following from Gibbs Pancheri in a letter dated Apr. 25, 1983:

"Now, regarding your own 3-litre, 'Scratched Aluminium' was a finished obtained by rubbing the metal over with steel wool and then varnishing over with clear lacquer. At that time, it was fashionable to have the bonnet (hood) done that way, with the coachwork either in fabric or painted. A kind of dark red or maroon was most popular. In your case, I would expect the whole car to be in scratched Aluminium with the wings (fenders?) and chassis in black.

You are right, there were not all that many green Bentleys in those days, I remember as a small boy seeing yellow, white, maroon, aluminium, blue, but no green ones!"

Nov. 11, 1924 - Vanden Plas Coachbuilders. Order No. 1113 (page 79 of their record book). For Queens & Brighton Motor [Ltd] of Cunliffe Garage, £160. Body Standard 4 Seater Sports. Scratched Aluminium, Black upholstery and Black wings. Two spare wheels (extra wheel key supplied) at £7-10-0), Triplex glass (note that it will delay delivery) at £6-10-0, Rev Counter being supplied for fitting at 7/6, Polished Aluminium Instrument Board at £3-3-0. (More Information)

Nov. 11, 1924 - Chassis delivery date (to coachbuilder). Chassis No. 869 (9' 9 ½" wheelbase), Engine No. 877 (3 Litre Speed Model).

(1)	(1)	BDC Record
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