Colorado Bentley Tour, August 2019

"The 4/8 liter on a Palms Springs Race Track in 2017"

This car is presently owned by Kurt Furger

History
1931 4/8-Litre W.O. Bentley Le Mans - Chassis VF4002

4-litre history: As the unpopular side/overhead valve 4-litre engine which had to pull which was virtually an 8-litre 32cwt.chassis and only provided 120hp, most of the 34 surviving chassis out of 50 have been re-engined with 6.5 and 8-litre engines, with only slight frame modification required. These superbly engineered chassis were manufactured by Messrs Mechan Ltd. but were assembled at the Bentley works at Crickelwood London, being bolted together as was the 8-litre. The most famous was Forrest Lycett's 8-litre which was built on a 4-litre frame in 1934, aspiring to 134,7 miles and making it the fastest Bentley at the time. This 4/8-litre combines the best chassis with the most powerful engine, ideal for long touring and hill climbing.

2008 - 2011
Three times Colorado Grand finisher. Toured New England and Alaska with the Bentley Drivers Club. Red ribbon award at the Sta Fe Concorso. Regular invitee at he Morgan Adams Concourse and Denver Auto Show. Replaced old paper based celeron gear with more durable gear, reconditioned water pump and dynamo and fitted Blockley tires.

2007
Car was invited to the Morgan Adams Concours d'Elegance in Denver and at to the RM Rocky Mountains Concours d'Elegeance in Colorado Springs and received the 2007 "Raizin'Kane" Essence of Power award.

Kurt Furger bought the car from Stephen Robinson in Delaware, US, Odometer reading 7894 miles. Car handles very well and the 220hp engine pulls strongly, ideal for driving in the Rocky Mountains. The W.O with a speed six radiator and Le Mans rep body is still in excellent condition after a quality rebuild 13 years ago. (Photos)

2004
Stephen Robinson bought and imported car to the US from Stanley Mann who sold it on behalf of Graham Jones. Stanley Mann put new clutch in. Car was driven only a few hundred miles in three years ( Import documents on file).

2003
Fiva Identity card 022465 issued

"A 4-litre Bentley that has been fitted with an 8-litre engine and a Le Mans style body. The engine has three carburettors in place of the original two, but is otherwise a standard eight-litre unit; the gear box has been changed from F-type to C type, but is an original period Bentley box. Electric pumps replace the original Autovac system. Readily removable traffickers have been fitted (Document on file).

2000
Repurchased by Graham Jones and car written up by Ray Roberts in "Bentley Specials and Special Bentleys".

1997
Owned by Y. Martens in Belgium

1995
Car for sale in September Motorsport (MS ad on file)

1994
7 year rebuild project completed by Graham Jones, Cheshire:

1953 - 1956
Owned by Mr. B. Morgan, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, who had several Bentleys and dismantled VF2004 in 1954

1936
Owner P.R. Farrer, Leeds

1931
Manufactured in May 1931, engine VA 4089. 12/55 axle ratio, 11'2" WB, licensed as demonstrator 22.5.31,sold to Mr. Jack Carruth, Director of Bentley Motors 19.6.31, then to Jack Barclay 24.8.31 with Shooting Brake body, sold to W. Norcliffe, Midland Bank Leeds, with 3232 miles.

Price: $575,000

Colorado Grand, September 12-17, 2011

Morgan Adams Concourse with Chinese Mig T 17, August 27, 2011

Colorado Grand 1000, September 2008.

Read about the event here.

During the North American Vintage Bentley Meet 2008 in Stowe, Vermont.

Denver Auto Show 2008.

Click here to view video film of this car at the show.

VF4002 was invited to the RM Rocky Mountain Inaugural Concourse d'Elegance at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs Sep. 1-2, 2007 and won the "Kaizen' Kane" Essence of Power award. The powerful 8-Litre 220 h.p. engine was admired by the many spectators.

On the first day of the event we toured through the Garden of the Gods with its' outstanding geological formations. On the second day some 140 cars and motorcycles were displayed on the Broadmoor Golf course. I drove the 100 miles each way thru the Rockies only to be caught in a two hour downpour late in the evening with the yellow and white lines on the road disapearing fast due to poor visibility. The Michelin tires performed well on the wet roads and I made it home safely — car and driver were soaked as the top, in true Bentley fashion, never came up. Here are a couple of pictures of the event.

These photographs were taken during 2007 Morgan Adams Concours d'Elegance at Dentennial Airport in Denver, Colorado, on Aug. 25, 2007.

Kurt Furger bought the car from Stephen Robinson in Delaware, US, Odometer reading 7894 miles. Car handles very well and the 220hp engine pulls strongly, ideal for driving in the Rocky Mountains. The W.O with a speed six radiator and Le Mans rep body is still in excellent condition after a quality rebuild 13 years ago.

Stephen Robinson bought and imported car to the US from Stanley Mann who sold it on behalf of Graham Jones. Stanley Mann put new clutch in. Car was driven only a few hundred miles in three years.

Fiva Identity card 022465 issued

"A 4-litre Bentley that has been fitted with an 8-litre engine and a Le Mans style body. The engine has three carburettors in place of the original two, but is otherwise a standard eight-litre unit; the gear box has been changed from F-type to C type, but is an original period Bentley box. Electric pumps replace the original Autovac system. Readily removable traffickers have been fitted"

Repurchased by Graham Jones and car written up by Ray Roberts in "Bentley Specials and Special Bentleys"

Chassis No. VF4002; Engine No. VA4089/8 (VA4089-4); Cubic capacity 7983cc; Registration No. GP 394 (FVJ 677); Date of First Registration: May, 1931. (For further information see Bentley: The Vintage Years - 1919-1931 by Michael Hay.)

Although shown initially as a H.J. Mulliner saloon car for demonstration it was later seen with a large shooting brake body, owned by J.K. Carruth (1926 Bentley Motors shareholder and Board Member).

By the end of WWII the car had fallen into a derelict state and was broken up in 1954. It is believed that it was rebuilt from a collection of parts around 1996, with a replica Le Mans style body and a new engine. Owned in 1977 by Y. Martens, the car was based in Belgium. The fine qualities of the 4 litre were late in being appreciated in many instances, and afford and excellent home for an 8 litre built. The rebuild included the use of a "C" type gearbox, 6 1/2 litre column, and an 8 litre front axle. It is not known who reconstructed the car, but it was offered for sale by Stanley Mann in August 1999, quite a special car you would have to agree.

Owned by Y. Martens in Belgium. Car for sale in September "MotorSport".

- Multi year rebuild project completed by Graham Jones, Cheshire, in 1994

- Chassis VF 4002 was acquired from a retired Coys mechanic in Yorkshire who found it in a loft in London as a back up to an 8-Litre, 8-litre front axle ex YR 5093, 6.5-litre rear axle 8/1 2424 12-50, C-type gearbox # 6864/6138, 6.5-litre steering column #D221, unused Speed Six radiator purchased from the Scottish police who kept a spare

- 8-Litre engine numbered VA 4089 was built by Don Rawson Engineering around an original crankcase and rods which have not been used before, supplied by Bill Sykes

- Le Mans rep body by Rod Jolley Coachworks dated 14/8/87, supplied by Stanley Mann

Owned by Mr. B. Morgan, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, who had several Bentleys and dismantled VF2004 in 1954

Owner P.R. Farrer, Leeds

Manufactured in May 1931, engine VA 4089. 12/55 axle ratio, 11'2" WB, licensed as demonstrator 22.5.31,sold to Mr. Jack Carruth, Director of Bentley Motors 19.6.31, then to Jack Barclay 24.8.31 with Shooting Brake body, sold to W. Norcliffe, Midland Bank Leeds, with 3232 miles.