Rétromobile, 2017

Skope Classic, 2008

1932 8 litre, Reg No: GX 8606, Engine No: YX5106, Chassis No: YX 5106

YX506 is a W.O. Bentley 8 litre with a 13' chassis. She carries a disappearing hood, drop-head coupe body by Thrupp & Maberly. First delivered to Mr J.G. Leonard of Northwood, Middlesex in May of 1932, she later lived for many years in South Africa. She was first cared for there by a Mr A.J. MacCallum of Cape Town, subsequently by Sir Leslie Richardson of Port Elizabeth.

In 1962 Bentley enthusiast Rudi Reitz took up the task and carried on until 1968 when Chris Posnett returned her to the UK. In 2001, Richard Buckingham asked Jim and David Pearce together with Tony Fabian to undertake an extensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration.

Her first outing thereafter was to participate in the BDC Western USA Tour organised by David Shephard in April 2005, followed by the May 2005 North American vintage Bentley Meet in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. A broken connecting rod suffered on the way home from that Meet sent her back to the UK for a recuperative visit. But she is now fully recovered and anxiously anticipating her return to South Africa, her home for so long.

YX5106 was bought by Richard Buckingham (USA) in 2001 who had a comprehensive mechanical and body restoration performed by Jin and David Pearce and Tony Fabian. During the restoration a modern oil filter was added with the fuel tank vent being modified to allow for faster filling. Other “modernizations” are the addition of halogen headlamps, a complete re-wire with multiple modern fuses and the fitting of wheel discs.

This work was completed in late 2004. Its first post-restoration outing was to the BDC London-Brighton luncheon in November 2004. After some post-delivery fettling YX5106 was shipped to California along with the cars participating in the BDC Western USA Tour in April of 2005.

Richard sent the car back to the UK, later in 2005, Jim and David Pearce designed, fabricated and installed a new spare tire mount to carry two spares.

All changes and improvements have made the car safer and more reliable for touring. All of the changes and modifications can be removed without any great effort. Richard likes driving brand new old cars and YX5106 is no garage queen. He is registered for the 2007 North American Vintage Bentley Meet, the 2007 South African Vintage Bentley Rally and Adrian Cook’s 2008 New Zealand Vintage Bentley Rally where he will clock many more miles.

As with most true Bentley aficionados, Richard is looking forward to many years of driving his wonderfully unique motorcar. Our hobby and club are fortunate to have this owner who has spared no effort or expense in keeping another original vintage Bentley treasure in magnificent road-worthy order for this and the generations that follow.

This photograph was taken by Edward LaBounty during the 2005 NAVBM.