BDC New Zealand Tour - 2013
The power steering is only as strong as their arms and the turning circle needs a safety margin, but for Roy Partridge and more than 50 fellow members of the Bentley Drivers' Club, there is no better way to travel around New Zealand.

Mr Partridge and his wife, Bridget, of Wiltshire, England, are travelling in his restored convertible 3-litre 1924 Bentley motor car, the second-oldest in the fleet of 27 vintage vehicles gracing Otago's highways and valued at more than $442,000.

The retired agricultural engineer said yesterday his ''XU 3123'' was 32 years old when drunken sailors pushed it into a naval dry dock in 1956. His friend of 50 years, Donald Day, rescued the remains from a scrap yard in Plymouth.

''It was a hell of mess,'' Mr Partridge said. ''The body, all the mechanicals and upholstery I did myself and the engine was done by Donald, a specialist maker of parts and restorer.'' The car was their shared passion. Mr Partridge bought it outright in 2007.

The group of New Zealand, Australian, British, Swiss and other nationalities hit the road in Christchurch on January 21, 2013 and will crisscross both islands until March 1. (They depart from Hotel St Moritz Queenstown today bound for Te Anau, Invercargill and Dunedin.)

''People are interested in these cars and you get [other drivers] flashing lights and tooting horns, which you don't get in the UK,'' Mr Partridge said. Those marvellous men and women in their driving machines have toured the United Kingdom, France and Spain, and shipped their cars to join them in New Zealand in 2006 and South Africa in 2007. Here, ''the weather has been beautiful''. Mr Partridge said. "I love the South Island - it's cracking."

1924 3 litre, Reg No: XU 3123, Engine No: 639, Chassis No: 635

"1st owner: W.D. Banks, Harrogate, Yorkshire. May 1924-October 1927

Through 6 more owners until 1939, 2nd owner in Kent, 3rd owner in Surrey, back to Kent for 4th owner, 5th owner in Warwickshire, 6th owner nr, St. Albans, 7th owner in North Wales, last recorded Bentley Works entry 20th April 1939.

The car re-surfaced in the ownership of Sub. Lt. HP. Boys-Stones. R.N. in 1953 as recorded in Bentley Drivers Club members list. In 1956 whilst in the hands of the above named naval officer the car was pushed into one of the Naval dry-docks at Devonport, Plymouth by some drunken sailors, or so the story goes. There are several stories of people having seen the Bentley on the end of a dockyard crane prior to despatch to a local scrap yard, (not confirmed). Needless to say, Lt. Boys-Stones' membership of the B.D.C. ceased in 1956. You may think that this is the end!! Read on...

Donald Day, the well known Bentley parts supplier, who was also at that time a Naval Officer, rescued the car from the scrap yard, but not before some desirable items had been removed by another Bentley enthusiast in Plymouth. Price paid £7.10s.0d (Old money in 1956!!) The car languished in pieces at Donald's home until I, Roy Partridge came on the scene in 1963/4. Donald suggested that I help him rebuild the car and that he should pay me for my time, this was refused by me and subsequently Donald very generously gave me a half share of the car.

Many parts were acquired during the next few years from well-known people like Leslie Pennal, Tony Townsend, Cyril Wadsworth, Jim Howarth and others. Progress was made until about 1969/70 when, due to pressure of business and family commitments, the project came almost to a halt. Both Donald and I were not able for some time to commit money or time to the rebuild, so the project was mainly shelved. Some work was done sporadically by one of Donald's workforce over the next few years, as a fill in job when no other work was on hand.

About 1992 Donald persuaded me to repair a customer's 3 litre Van den Plas body and from this grew my interest in making some replica bodies, ash framed and fabric clad. Amongst these, one for our shared car was made in 1995-96 and there again the project stalled until in 2001, when we both made a claim to Donald's 3 litre for two weddings on the same day, panic ensued!! The error was only noticed by a vigilant Sue Day in May 2001.

Oh well, only one thing for it, finish the rebuild on No. 2 (as the car is known in the Day equipe). Thus minds and many bodies were concentrated over a relatively short period in completing the necessary work to finish the car. We finally finished on 30th July 2001. The car was M.O.T. tested at 3.00 pm.

On 31st July, Donald took his car to a venue in Long Crendon and I in the rebuilt car, for a wedding in my own village. Pheww!!! Talk about cutting it fine.

This must be one of the longest rebuilds ever, unless anybody knows differently!

Many trips have been taken and enjoyed since the re-birth of XU 3123, some in Europe, mainly France, local U.K. long weekends and day trips. The highlight so far was the 2006 New Zealand trip taken by Roy and Bridget last February. And now the new highlight, the 2007 South Africa Tour. We are both so looking forward to another great experience." - Owner, Roy Partridge