Cappuccino Rally, July 2015

"I confirm purchase, through Neil Davis, from Adrian Cook. I had one weekend to get to know the car (a central throttle) before she (the car) got shipped to India. It never missed a beat and proved to be to most excellent grand tourer I hoped it would be."

This car was sold to Adrian _______, end 2008. Adrian Cook (now 'previous owner') says, "...since last year we have sold her to another Adrian for a tour to India, and Neil Davis was the dealer..."

This car is for sale at Neil Davies Historic Racing as of Oct 21, 2008.

This 4½ litre has survived remarkably unscathed by the rigours of lime, still boasting all its original mechanical components, all now rebuilt and in perfect condition. The body unfortunately needed replacing in the 1960's and a very authentic VDP tourer was fitted with original pattern VDP wings. This car is very well known in club circles, recently completing the BDC rallies of South Africa and New Zealand, a must for the serious tourers.

The Bentley girls... Jenny Cook, of Arrowtown, and Bentley Drivers Club International chairwoman Jenny Ford, from England, with their 4.5 litre Bentleys during the Vintage Bentley Tour of New Zealand, 2008. (Photo by Felicity Wolfe)

Read article here.

Jenny Cook is at the wheel; Adrian Cook waves the flag! These photographs were taken at Arrowtown, New Zealand in February 2008.

(Jenny Cook is a Bentley Girl to watch — we're talking 10,000 plus miles, over 3 continents, in one year!! — VintageBentleys.org)

1929 4.5 litre, Reg No: UU 4080, Engine No: PL3492, Chassis No: PL3493

"First owned in the UK in June 1929 by L. Martin, UU 4080 was first exported to Australia in 1954. At the time of arrival in Australia, the car had a body from a 20HP Rolls Royce - a couple of expert Aussie restorers soon fixed that! The car was rebuilt mechanically and re-fitted with a replica VCP type body shell by A.D.Turner and then R.Warriner set his hand to it and built the present body and wings, lifted the block and fitted club spares Omega pistons, re-built the clutch, fitted new gears and bearings to the gear box, fitted new gears and diff carrier to the rear axle, had a complete new set of 21" wheels made up and fitted and made a new fuel tank.

A well known Australian vintage fully restored Bentley, UU 4080 was used and registered in Australia for over 45 years before being sent "home" to the UK in 1989. Since being re-imported to the UK, UU 4080 has had a working holiday in the United States, been returned to the UK, and after being purchased by us, will be used in the French BDC Tour 2007, the 2007 South African Tour and our own tour of the South Island of New Zealand in February 2008!" - Owner, Adrian Cook

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Vanden Plas Style Tourer
Registration No. UU 4080; Chassis No. PL3493; Engine No. PL3492

Engine: four cylinder in line, water-cooled monobloc, single overhead camshaft, bore 100mm, stroke 140mm, capacity 4,398cc. Four speed gearbox, right hand change; single plate clutch; spiral bevel Back axle. Semi-elliptic leaf springs front and rear. Wheelbase 10ft l0in. Tyres 12in.

A happy blend of the 3 litre car and the Silent Six created the legendary 4½ Litre Bentley which made its debut in 1927. The versatility of the car was remarkable as it displayed qualities of flexibility when married to formal saloon coachwork, however with sporting coachwork continued Bentley's competition record, notably at Le Mans. The 4½ Litre car made an inauspicious debut there in 1927, leading the way into the 'White House' crash. Later efforts were more successful with racing involvement assisting both the development and marketing of the car.

Chassis No. PL 3493 started life as a Harrison bodied saloon, supplied new in June 1929 to a Mr L. E. Martin. In more recent years it has been re-bodied in its present form as a Vanden Plas style long wing tourer with fabric coachwork trimmed in brown hide. A handsome car indeed with its correct style three piece windscreen and period weather equipment. The chassis specification is remarkably original with engine and chassis numbers corresponding with factory records and the car is fitted with Andre Kartford 'Telecontrol' adjustable shock absorbers, a nice period extra.

The car drives very well and epitomises the real vintage sports tourer.