"I got in touch with Linda (see her entry below), and due to her kindness am now in possession of her father’s Bentley Scrapbook. Lots of pictures of this and other WOs. Am slowly scanning the tiny 2x2 prints, and will send in soon. The scrapbook confirms her Dad modified the touring body in the early fifties while on duty in Triest! Appears the impetus may have been broken gas tank mounts, so the change allowed the tank to be put on top of the frame behind the front seats. The tank is now where it belongs, but modified mountings make it clear there were problems!"

"Hay's third edition lists Major AED Michell as owning NT3143 in Italy in 1950.

Hay also clarifies that the car was the "Firm's Car", Bentley Motors Ltd., in 1936, sold to British and Colonial Motors in 1937, then to I Maclaren in 1938, who held on to it until 1947 wence sold to CEK Nutt, who sold it to Lt Col RMM Porter, thence to Michell in 1950. Michell sold it on to Mafor RS Carpenter in 1953, who sold it to CW Stuart-Brown in 1955.

Mr. Simpson suggested the first engine for this chassis, which he is now rebuilding around the extant crankcase, might have been in the car in the 1950s. In actuality, that engine was replaced in the car in 1936 by Bentley Motors Ltd.

How do I get in touch with Linda Jones? (See April 2015 entry on this page.)"

"I note from your website that on 27th April this year you uploaded some information supplied by Mrs Linda Jones as to 3 litre registration XP 7478, Chassis 398.

Mrs Jones said that her father once owned the 3 litre, later buying 4.5 litre UC 3690, chassis NT3143. She described how her parents drove the 4.5 litre to Trieste seeing as her father was stationed there. She also said that she had a number of photographs of UC 3690 taken during her parents' ownership.

I have an interest in UC 3690, the 4.5 litre, seeing as I currently own and am carefully rebuilding the original engine from the car which bears the same crankcase number as the chassis, NT3143. I believe the car resides elsewhere and at some stage in its history became separated from its original engine, this I acquired as an incomplete collection of parts some years ago. I am rebuilding it with a view to eventually installing it in my own Bentley, chassis 152.

Although I only own the engine of UC 3690 I would be very interested in having sight of the photographs that Mrs Jones mentioned, as I would enjoy seeing/hearing of the history of the car which at the time the photographs were taken was most likely powered by the engine I now own."

Photographs were taken at the NAVBM 2012.

"Original crankcase NT3143 survives and is currently being incorporated into an engine rebuilt by a BDC member in the UK."

This car is presently owned by Thurston Twigg-Smith Jr.

"Chassis no: NT3143; Engine no: TX3228; Registration no: UC3690. Car assembled by HM Bentley in 1936 from three cars as reported by Hay. Current body is the VDP tourer 1559, which was modified into a two seater circa 1970 in USA. Rear portion of tourer body is extant and with current owner. Sump of original engine exists. Car was owned by BDC member in 1946, one of the earliest cars now in the USA to be in the BDC."

American Refining Group Visit 2009

This photograph was taken by Edward LaBounty during NAVBM 2009.

The car in this photo has been identified as Chassis no. NT3143. "Believe this picture was taken of NT3143 at Stowe VT in the mid 1990s" — Thurston Twigg-Smith Jr., March 08, 2010

This car was purchased by Thurston Twigg-Smith Jr. in 1987.

Body was modified into a two seater circa 1970 in USA.

"Denis Michell bought this 4½ litre Bentley on his return from Hong Kong where he was posted (1950s?). He and his wife drove out to Trieste in this Bentley, where he was stationed. His daughter Linda Jones has a whole album of photographs of this car. "I believe the car is still in existence in Texas", she says."

Car was owned by BDC member in 1946.

Car assembled by HM Bentley in 1936 from three cars as reported by Hay.