Nov 23, 2019: Sold

Found on Robert Glover Ltd. website on September 20, 2019

1929 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer
Original engine uprated to 5.6-Litre specification with over 200BHP

Chassis No. HB3407
Engine No. HB3406
Registration No. GE 3547

This rapid, reliable and potent vintage Bentley is the perfect example of a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and is thus ideally suited to numerous historic races and rallies. Although presented in largely standard trim, Chassis no. HB 3407, presented for sale here, has been the subject of nearly £200,000 of expenditure in recent years and the extensive works carried out include a total engine rebuild by leading vintage Bentley engine builders, The Kingsbury Racing Shop to 5.6-Litre specification with over 200bhp and oodles of torque readily on tap.

The Bentley is offered for sale together with a comprehensive file that documents in detail both the history of the car and the extensive works carried out in both the current and previous owners’ care. Copy factory records in the file indicate that chassis no. HB 3407 was fitted with engine no. HB 3406, a C-type gearbox (no. 6578) and Weymann saloon coachwork by Maythorn. The car was supplied new to a Mr. D. G. Ellis and registered GE 3457. Mr. Ellis on retained ownership of ‘GE 3547’ for a brief period and in July of 1930 the car passed to a Mr. J. A. Roberts of Sheffield. No further owners are recorded on the Bentley Motors Service records so presumably Mr. Roberts owned the car until at least the outbreak of WWII.

In 1955 the car was registered with the Bentley Drivers’ Club in the ownership of the Hon. J.S.T. Hawke of Cheshire. Four previous owners of chassis no. HB 3407 (all in Cheshire) are listed on a buff-log book on file from 1946 to 1955, although there appears to have been two clerical errors whereby the car was registered GC 3547 rather than GE 3547 and is reputedly fitted with engine no. BM 3441 which seems to bear no relevance to the engine now fitted or any Bentley records. Regardless, at some stage between 1936 when Mr. Roberts owned the Bentley and 1946 when it is registered to J. Welbourne of Nantwich, Cheshire the Maythorn saloon coachwork was removed chassis no. HB 3407 and the car fitted with open four-seat touring coachwork in the famed Vanden Plas style.

In c. 1975 the Bentley went from Cheshire to Sweden where it remained until being purchased by Peter Waumsley, in 1991. During Waumsley’s ownership ‘GE 3547’ was treated to a thorough restoration with the lion share of the work carried out by R. C. Moss. Subsequent adventures in ‘GE 3547’ included trips to the USA, New Zealand, South Africa and across Europe. Much maintenance was carried out by R.C. Moss and latterly by Elmdown and Ed Watson, with extensive records of all works carried out retained in the history file.

The current owner purchased the Bentley in 2014 and has commissioned extensive mechanical works to be carried out by Ewen Getley and his team at The Kingsbury Racing Shop. The remit of the works was to significantly enhance the performance and reliability of the car, whilst retaining the lovely patina that the well-travelled Bentley has gained over the years. Once again, the extensive works carried out are all listed on the copy invoices retained the history file. Perhaps the most significant improvement was in the engine compartment where the original engine has been fully rebuilt and upgraded using all new internal (crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, valve gear etc.) to c5.6-Litre specification allowing for a performance that can best be described as ‘dramatic” and laughably at odds with the outward appearance of the car! The transmission system has, of course, received attention to cope with the additional power and a new radiator has been fitted with the original retained and offered with the car together with other spares.

The current owner has enjoyed endurance rallies such as The Flying Scotsman and GP Nuvolari with ‘GE 3547.’ A “matching numbers” vintage Bentley with staggering performance, this fine vintage Bentley has wanted for nothing in the care of the past two owners. It is ready for a plethora of historic racing and rallying events and is equally as comfortable on the road, confusing modern motorists with its extraordinary performance. Viewing and test drive are recommended!

8th Flying Scotsman Rally, April 2016

Flying Scotsman Rally, April 2016

Flying Scotsman Rally, April 2015

30 Nov 2014

1929 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer Coachwork In The Style Of Vanden Plas
Registration no. GE 3547
Chassis no. HB3407
Engine no. HB3406

Sold for £471,900

In Michael Hay's definitive work on the marque, 'Bentley: The Vintage Years', chassis number 'HB3407' is recorded as leaving the factory fitted with engine number 'HB3406'. The car was first registered 'GE 3547' and delivered to its first owner, Mr D G Ellis, in September 1929 fitted with a Weymann saloon body by Maythorn. Mr Ellis is known to have kept the car until July 1930 when it was sold to its first long-term owner Mr J A Roberts, who according to Bentley Service records enjoyed it well into the 1930s. The two buff continuation logbooks that accompany the car show that it had six owners between 1946 and circa 1966, and that at some point between 1936 and 1946 was fitted with an open four-seater tourer body. It is highly likely that this is the same body that it carries today and that it originally came from another car, as the construction methods and materials are identifiable and the front seats appear to be Vanden Plas originals. These logbooks record the registration number as 'GC 3547' and the engine number as 'BM3441', both of these (presumably clerical) errors being corrected in the more recent logbook (issued 1962). There is a (copy) photograph in the file depicting a 4½-Litre tourer registered 'GC 3547' together with a letter from The W O Bentley Memorial Foundation stating that the first time the car was registered with BDC was in December 1955 when owned by the Hon J S T Hawke of Northwich, Cheshire.

'GE 3547' is a really nice example of the marque, the perfect events car and long distance tourer. Importantly, its mechanical integrity is very good and all of the large numbered parts are present and correct, including the front chassis knuckle, chassis cross member, steering box, engine, gearbox, front axle, rear axle and master switch plate, and the original bonnet sides. The Vanden Plas-style tourer body is well preserved and has a very authentic patina, an authenticity bolstered by the presence of those Vanden Plas front seats.

Over the last 20-plus years, 'GE 3547' has been fastidiously maintained with no expense spared by its current owner (a well known BDC member) using highly regarded specialists including Dick Moss, Elmdown Engineering and Ed Watson. The vendor bought the Bentley in February 1991 and, being a keen driver, had Dick Moss completely rebuild it after five years of ownership. Since then he has travelled with the car around the USA, New Zealand, South Africa and all across Europe. Still fitted with its original C-type gearbox, twin SU carburettors and self-wrapping brakes, 'GE 3547' is said to be a delight to drive, with an easy gear change and lusty motor. Consisting of two ring binders, the accompanying history file includes the aforementioned buff logbooks, old/current V5/V5C registration documents, SORN paperwork, assorted correspondence, a substantial quantity of bills, some old MoT certificates (most recent expired August 2013) and various photographs. There is also a copy of the original Bentley Motors service record covering its early years.

If there is one car from the 'Roaring Twenties' that embodies the spirit of British motoring achievement during that era, it is the Bentley 4½-Litre. Establishing its reputation at the arduous Le Mans 24-hour endurance race, an event it won in 1928, it has become a motoring icon recognised the world over. A good '4½' such as that offered here is a great all rounder capable of touring, racing and rallying, and will always draw a crowd wherever it is parked.

Nov 4, 2014: Sold

1929 Bentley 4.5 Litre Tourer
Registration: GE 3547
Chassis: HB 3407
Engine: HB 3406

If there is one car that embodies the spirit of British motoring achievement from the ‘Roaring Twenties’ then that is the Bentley 4½ Litre. Establishing its reputation at the arduous Le Mans 24 hour endurance race, it has become a motoring icon and recognised the world over. A good 4½ is a great all rounder and will serve faithfully as Tourer, Sportscar, Racing car, Rally car and will also always draw a crowd in your local pub car park. 658 were built on the 10 foot and ten inch chassis during the six years between 1927 and 1931 and at that time the price of a new car with open coachwork was about £ 1,300 which is remarkable when you consider that the average house price then was about £ 200. With four valves per cylinder and an overhead cam shaft it was one of the fastest and finest cars on the road.

GE 3547 is a really nice example of the marque, the perfect events car and long distance tourer. Importantly the mechanical integrity of the car is very good and all of the large numbered parts are present and correct (including front chassis knuckle, chassis cross member, steering box, engine, gearbox, front axle, rear axle and master switch plate, and the original bonnet sides). The car has a well presented Vanden Plas style Tourer body showing a very authentic patina, an authenticity bolstered by the presence of original Vanden Plas front seats. HB 3407 has been fastidiously maintained by its current owner (a well known BDC member) using highly regarded workshops including Dick Moss, Elmdown and Ed Watson over the past twenty years.

It was original delivered on 9th September 1929 to Mr D.G. Ells with a Maythorn Saloon body and he is known to have kept the car until July 1930 when it was sold to its first long term owner Mr J.A. Roberts and according to Bentley Service records he enjoyed HB 3407 well into the 1930s.

The early buff logbooks that accompany the car show that the car had 6 owners enjoyed between 1942 and 1965 and that at some point between 1936 and 1942 it was fitted with an open 4 seater Tourer body. It is highly likely that this is the same body that it wears today and that it originally came from another car as the construction methods and materials are identifiable and the front seats appear to be Vanden Plas originals.

The current owner bought HB 3407 in 1991 and being a keen driver he had Dick Moss completely rebuild HB 3407 after 5 years of ownership and has since travelled with the car around the USA, New Zealand, South Africa and all across Europe. Still fitted with its original C type gearbox, twin SUs and self-wrapping brakes, HB 3407 is a delight to drive with an easy gear change and lusty motor ready to venture forth on fresh adventures.

A significant history file accompanies the car that includes old registration papers, buff log books, correspondence, bills and photographs. There is also a copy of the original service record from Bentley Motors that cover its early years.

BDC Irish Tour, July 2013

BDC Concours, 2008

"Bentleys on Parade", 2008

Photographs were taken at in the Las Vegas area in May 2005 during the Western U.S.A. Bentley Tour.

Photograph was taken in Durango in April 2005 during the Western U.S.A. Bentley Tour. Courtesy of Donald E. Atkinson.

Photograph was taken during "The Jewel that is Jordan" car rally in Jordan in 2003.

Photograph was taken in Portugal at Azores Bentley Rally in 1998.

Bentley 4½ Litre Chassis No. HB3407

Isle of Man Rally.