Isle of Mull Scotland, 2011

Car is marked as 'SOLD' on Stanley Mann Racing website as of May 06, 2010.

The following advertisement text by Stanley Mann was found on the Stanley Mann Racing website on May 06, 2010:

"1925 Bentley 3/4½ Litre Speed Model VDP Tourer
Registration Number: CX 7658 Chassis Number: HP388 Engine Number: XR3349

Lovely patination with excellent mechanical condition. Just like we should always look for but not always easy to find.

This is a very well known Bentley Drivers Club car. She has all the traditional looks and would be highly desirable in any vintage Bentley collection, even if that collection was only one. We have shown a picture of her competing in a Bentley Drivers event sometime in 1967 and she still looks the same today.

Bentley History
Red Label Speed model with V.D.P. bodywork
4½ litre engine fitted in the 50s
This engine; a real 1928 4½ litre, ran in the 1931 RAC rally in its original 4½ litre Bentley (this Bentley was subsequently scrapped) Engine rebuilt 1996 by Bentley expert L.Wilton.
Laystall crank ,with racing spec rods
New cross shaft gears, new bearings, new water pump, etc. etc.
Last owner was Mrs Annabel Swain daughter of John Bolster, the consummate enthusiast and one of my heroes (yes, we did have them before Top Gear).

If you think your enthusiasm for the marque is needy of one of the best, well, her she is."

The following advertisement text by Stanley Mann was found on the Stanley Mann Racing website on Oct 6, 2009:

"1925 Bentley 3/4½ Litre Speed Model VDP Tourer
Registration Number: CX 7658 Chassis Number: HP 388 Engine Number: XR 3349 Price: POA

Lovely patination with excellent mechanical condition. Just like we should always look for, but not always easy to find... This is a very well known Bentley Drivers Club car. She has all the traditional looks and would be highly desirable in any vintage Bentley collection even if that collection was only one... A full mechanical check over and engine rebuild by Len Wilton in 1995 has proved if you know how to do it, these great British bulldogs can just seem to go on forever...Looked after and loved by a super lady who had enjoyed her for many years."

Bonhams Auction, Chichester UK - Sept 2009:

Michael Hay's definitive work, 'Bentley: The Vintage Years' lists chassis number 'HP 388' as a 3-Litre Speed Model with coupé coachwork by Surbico that was first owned by a T Grahaeme Ferguson. The car's original engine was number 'HP391' and its original registration ' YM 7877'. It is not known when it was fitted with the current 4½-litre engine, number 'XR3349', which started life in chassis number 'XR3342', a car believed burnt out.

'HP388' was acquired by the current vendor in 1996 and immediately subjected to an extensive programme of refurbishment. The wheels were sent away for rebuilding and a new set of tyres fitted, while a family friend, member of the BDC and professional marque specialist rebuilt the engine, cleaning out the crankshaft sludge traps and magnetically crack-testing the crank, which was reground and fitted with new main and connecting rod bearings. Perhaps surprisingly, the cylinders and pistons were in good order, only requiring new rings, while all 16 valves were renewed and a new camshaft and rocker set fitted. At the front of the engine, the magneto drive cross-shaft gear set was renewed and a new water pump fitted. The opportunity was taken to unobtrusively incorporate a modern full-flow oil filter and the car has the popular and powerful CAV axial starter motor, which does not damage the flywheel's starter ring gear, unlike the standard Bendix drive. Other modifications include a lightened flywheel and an increased-capacity oil pump.

We are advised that the engine now performs extremely well while at the same time being smooth and docile at low speeds on a mere whiff of throttle, just like a Bentley's should. The car is reported to be tremendous fun to drive, being well able to hold its own in today's traffic, a fact much helped by the excellent brakes, which can be relied upon in 'competitive' driving. To this end they have finned drums of Meehanite iron and are ventilated by large air scoops.

At some time the car has acquired a 'D' type gearbox, the most sought after of all the Bentley gearbox types with its very easy smooth change, great mechanical strength and delightfully close ratios. We are told that giving this car a quick blast in 2nd gear will definitely put a smile on one's face. Gear changing is much enhanced by the new clutch cone and ring, demonstrating how good W O Bentley's design is when kept in 1st class condition.

Photograph was taken in 1976.

Owned by Ken Cleave then; competing in a 1967 Bentley Drivers event. The BDC Review - October 1967 captioned this photo: "Ken Cleave's 3 / 4 1/2 — even more spruce than in the old 'Hendon' days".