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    www.VintageBentleys.org September 2015   
N E W S L E T T E R
   
 
M E S S A G E    F R O M    Y O U R    H O S T

We hope you had a chance to participate or visit the most spectacular Bentley event of the year, the BDC Silverstone Race Day. I have made the trip from Texas to England many times, going back to 1975. At that time, I was a fanatical Vintage Bentley enthusiast who had seen Vintage Bentleys but never seen one on the track. It was love at first sight. Ken Purdy, a popular automotive writer of the 1940s and 1950s and author of Kings of The Road, once said the three greatest cars are Vintage Bentley, Bugatti and Duesenberg. When asked if he could have twice as many cars, what would we choose? He said,"Two Vintage Bentleys, two Bugattis and two Duesenbergs." The sound of the Vintage Bentleys at Silverstone confirm Purdy was right and I quickly purchased my 3 Litre in 1980. Although, I did not make it to Silverstone this year, I will be there next year. It will be easy to spot me in my cowboy hat and boots and my beautiful wife at my side.  He expect to have our 3 Litre there too!

After several years of running the 3 Litre, chassis 869, and several years off the road, a first class restoration was in order and it is now underway and the car will be on the road in less than a year. I am very appreciative of Vintage Bentley guru, Jim Pearce www.jamespearce.uk.com who I have been working with since the 1980s. Jim and his wife, Chris, have been good friends and they came here in 1988 as my guests. What a treat it was and what a magnificent relationship it has been. You will be hearing more about Jim and the currently ongoing restoration.

I would like to thank the following vintage Bentley enthusiasts for their recent contributions to VintageBentleys.org:

Adam Stacy-Marks, Alan Giles, Alan Stanley, Alice Fingland, Andrea Seed, Andrew Duff, Andrew Peel, Andrew Whittaker, Barrie Young, Chester McKaige, Dave Simpson, Dave Williams, David, Debra Flynn, Des Dillon, Des Mckevitt, Diane de Harter, Erik Thomas, Ernest Van Arendonk, Francis Piquera, Garth Matthews, George Wallace, Helen Pheby, Ian Wegg, Jennifer, jerry Parks Young, Jit Mistry, Jo Ann Smith, John Hogg, John Muckel, John Summers, J D Medcalf, John Wild, John Williams, Jonathan Allen, Keith Mitchell, Ken Forbes, Kevin Herron, Koke & Andi Twigg-Smith, Lars Hedborg, Lawrence Smith, Malcolm Tearle, Martin Podeu, Michael, Mike Dean, Moerlen, Nigel Hannaford, Norbert Andrup, Norman Roper-Marshall, Pete Quilley, Peter Morelli, Peter Woods, Philip Sage, Ralf Storandt, Robert L Field, Robert Stave, Robin East, Robin Gurdon, Ron Warmington, Sally Hiams, Sati Lall, Shaun Lawry, Simon L. Barrington, Stephen Dealey, Steve Tyler, Steven Vandeputte, Stuart Forsey, Terry Gorman, Thurston Twigg-Smith Jr., Tim Felstead, Tim Ford, Tom Irving, William Hassebroek

- Robert McLellan, August 31, 2015
E-mail Robert
 
 
 
James E. Pearce - Master Coachbuilders
In the finest tradition of Vintage Bentley coachbuilding
The 'James E. Pearce' coachbuilders company was started by Jim Pearce in London in the late 1950s. His son David Pearce worked alongside Jim for over 30 years, and in the year 2000 Jim was able to retire as David took over the ownership and running of the business providing the same impeccable service to customers all over the world.

I have known Jim Pearce ever since I purchased my Bentley in 1980.  Every time I go to England I see Jim and his wife Chris. They have been here in Houston to vacation with us and to work on my Bentley.  Jim  is an artist. Before he ever became involved with coachbuilding he had been a stone engraver — several architectural works in and around London bear his mark. Later he worked as a flight mechanic on Spitfires and Lancasters for the RAF. The sum total is a man with a fine head for precision engineering and the hands of a deft and sensitive artist.

Jim and David are currently helping me to gather up parts for the ongoing restoration of my 3-litre FY 7290.
Read more about Jim and James E. Pearce
 
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Bentley Blue Train dominates Schloss Bensberg Classics
Some 85 years after the famous victory that made its name, the Bentley ‘Blue Train’ is still enjoying winning ways, picking up four prestigious awards at the Schloss Bensberg Classics event in Germany. The Speed Six ‘Blue Train’ coupe, owned by Mr Bruce McCaw, dominated the field at the invitation-only event, which is one of Europe’s premier classic concours shows. It was named ‘Best in Class: The Style of Speed’; ‘Best of Show: Public Vote’; ‘Best of Show: Jury Vote’; and ‘Best in Special Category: Pre-War Closed Models’.
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British Speed in Italy: Bentley marks anniversary with Mille Miglia Run
In 1930, ‘Bentley Boy’ Tim Birkin claimed his aborted attempt on the Mille Miglia in his legendary Blower was due to a lack of “due preparation”. Eighty-five years on, Bentley has ensured all plans are in place for a successful Blower run in the 2015 event. ‘Bentley Boys’ the Hon. Sir Henry (Tim) Birkin and Bentley Chairman Woolf Barnato were to be the first British drivers to attempt the thousand-mile Italian test of endurance, in a supercharged ‘Bentley Blower’ known as the No. 2 ‘Birkin Blower’.
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Article from 1930
"The Autocar" Road Tests (4½-litre Supercharged)

Published by "The Autocar", September 19, 1930

A great deal is expected of any Bentley, simply and wholly because of the name and because of the manner in which that name has been gained. But it is interesting for a moment, in dealing with the supercharged 4½ litre, to regard the car from an angle quite apart from the speed, and see what its advantages are in other directions.

 
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A 1923 photo of Chassis 141 from the archive of the Le Mans.

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Photographs of Chassis FR2637 prior to its sale in 1965.

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Photograph of Chassis RN3036 which was sold for £4800 at Brooks auction at Woodstock, England on 22nd March 1969.

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Photograph of Chassis LR2777 which was sold for £5100 at Brooks auction on 22nd March 1969.

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Photographs of Chassis TB2542 owned by J.H. Mitchell from 1937 to 1948. The car was sold to a Mr H. Gormley in 1948.

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Photograph of Chassis MS3927 at a steam traction-engine rally in Redruth, 1964.

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Photograph of Chassis 707 taken in front of the Rajah Brooke Memorial Kuching, Sarawak in 1970.

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A newspaper clipping outlining the recent unearthing of Chassis PB3527 after many years of storage.

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Photograph of Chassis 547 taken in 1966 at Hoghton Tower, Lancashire, at the Castle Run.

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Photograph of Chassis LT1584 taken in 1983.

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Photographs of Chassis 1131 along with handwritten service record from 1925 to 1932.

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Photographs of Chassis 775 that went to Australia in 1999.

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BENTLEY CLINIC: NEW QUESTION
Engine overheating

Martin Podeu writes:
I bought a 3 litre Bentley some weeks ago and I have a massive cooling problem. Every time I take her for a ride, the water temperature reaches almost 100 degrees, although I drive her in a normal way and the weather here in Austria is not that hot. I have checked the water pump and it’s working fine. I also checked the thermostat, there is no problem. I flushed the radiator. I even installed an electric fan. Is it normal that the Bentleys reach these high temperatures? Do I possibly  need a new radiator? Please tell me what you think, I appreciate your advice.

 

Robert McLellan responds:
Hello Martin, you have checked everything that I would have checked. Since you bought it "some weeks ago", I assume the dealer or individual that sold it to you had the same problem. I suspect you contacted the seller and the seller could not solve the problem either. A blockage in the engine circulation would be the next guess. You might put some dye in the water and see how fast the dye returns. But I cannot tell you how fast that should be as I have never run that test. Do you have the BDC's Technical Facts of the Vintage Bentley? You should not need a new radiator and no they do not normally run hot. I have a 3 Litre here in Houston, Texas and it really gets hot outside but the engine runs fine with no fan. Let me know how this turns out. – Best wishes.

 
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Aug 31, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. SM3914, MS3946 & MS3950
Aug 29, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. 340
Aug 28, 2015 - Info and photographs added for an unidentified Bentley
Aug 27, 2015 - Information received from John Muckel for his Chassis No. BX2416
Aug 27, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. AP325, 537 & 1219
Aug 27, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. AB3372
Aug 26, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Francis Piquera for Chassis Nos. 141 & 582
Aug 26, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 1124 & AP319
Aug 26, 2015 - Info and photographs added for this unidentified vintage Bentley
Aug 25, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Adam Stacy-Marks for Chassis No. FS3624
Aug 25, 2015 - 'Unknown' Bentley identified by Sati Lall as his Chassis No. AD3666
Aug 25, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 1056 & BL1607
Aug 24, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Dave Williams for Chassis No. 1124
Aug 24, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. LM1345, 835 & 1122
Aug 22, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. SL3067, ST3024 & AH1479
Aug 21, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. 294
Aug 21, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. XF3519, 22 & RN3042
Aug 20, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Adam Stacy-Marks for his Chassis No. TN1554
Aug 20, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. ST3018, 1171 & 446
Aug 19, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Robin East for Chassis No. RC46
Aug 19, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. ML1518 & PB3527
Aug 18, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Shaun Lawry for Chassis No. TN1554
Aug 18, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. RT1550, AX1652 & AP324
Aug 17, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 464, SR1423 & 1084
Aug 17, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. SM3917
Aug 14, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 521, ML1501, BL1601 & HP379
Aug 14, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 985, 217 & YF5020
Aug 13, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. FR2631, DS3573 & AP319

Aug 13, 2015 - Information received from Michael for this unidentified vintage Bentley

Aug 12, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Adam Stacy-Marks for his Chassis No. TN1554
Aug 12, 2015 - New info and photograph received from Koke & Andi Twigg-Smith for Chassis Nos. ST3018, 549 & XF3519
Aug 12, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. MR3390 & 738
Aug 12, 2015 - Camchest units for sale by Tim Felstead
Aug 10, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. RE1393 & 1047
Aug 10, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 865 & 1089
Aug 08, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 781 & AH1481
Aug 07, 2015 - Info and photographs received for Chassis No. ML1519
Aug 07, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Barrie Young for his Chassis No. 775
Aug 07, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. AX1660, AP324 & XF3520
Aug 06, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. FS3602, PB3533 & TB2542
Aug 05, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Ken Forbes for his Chassis No. AB3356
Aug 05, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Ron Warmington for his Chassis No. XF3508
Aug 05, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Malcolm Tearle for his Chassis No. AH1479
Aug 05, 2015 - New info and photographs received for Chassis Nos. HT1645 & 290
Aug 04, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 409, BX2416 & 406
Aug 03, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 881, RN3038 & 473
Aug 01, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 205, 770, MR3376 & 1084
Aug 01, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 921 & WB2570
   
   
JULY 2015
   
Jul 31, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 844, KR2679, KL3589 & DN1736
Jul 31, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. MS3946, LT1582 & PB3537
Jul 30, 2015 - Info and photographs received from George Wallace for Chassis No. ST3024
Jul 30, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. YX5119, MF3167 & 436
Jul 30, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 530, AX1671, VF4019 & KM3094
Jul 29, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. AH1481, 835 & 512
Jul 28, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Alan Giles for his Chassis No. 707
Jul 28, 2015 - Information received from Des Dillon for Chassis No. 1068
Jul 28, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. YF5024, KD2106 & YM5031
Jul 27, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 376, VF4019, AH1479, UK3278 & SB2753
Jul 25, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. YR5096, PB3536 & SM3914
Jul 23, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Jonathan Allen for Chassis Nos. VF4019 & XR3348
Jul 23, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. XL3117
Jul 22, 2015 - Info and photograph added for Chassis No. RT1537
Jul 21, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Malcolm Tearle for his Chassis No. AH1479
Jul 21, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Nigel Hannaford for Chassis No. MS3927
Jul 21, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. XL3103 & 1056
Jul 21, 2015 - Info and photographs added for this unidentified vintage Bentley
Jul 20, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. FT3210 & 707
Jul 20, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 1223 & AH1481
Jul 17, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. SM3917, SM3924, XF3518 & TW2703
Jul 17, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. YF5002, HM2855, HB3403 & EXP 2
Jul 16, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 897 & RC44
Jul 16, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 1223 & DS3554
Jul 15, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Dave Simpson for Chassis Nos. NT3143 & HB3402
Jul 15, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. PL3491, SB2753, TN1554 & LB2330
Jul 14, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 247 & HB3402
Jul 14, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 398, FS3604 & WB2562
Jul 13, 2015 - Info and photograph received from Dave Williams for Chassis No. FR2630
Jul 13, 2015 - Info and photograph added for Chassis No. BX2416
Jul 13, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. PM3268 & KR2679
Jul 11, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. HT1643 & PM3264
Jul 11, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. TN1565 & DE1221
Jul 10, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. PM3267
Jul 10, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 994 & ML1515
Jul 10, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. 604
Jul 08, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Andrew Whittaker for his Chassis No. 1131
Jul 08, 2015 - Info and photographs received from Keith Mitchell for Chassis No. TB2542
Jul 08, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. ML1524 & PB3539
Jul 07, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis No. AH1479
Jul 06, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. MS3950 & FA2507
Jul 06, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. XT3636, KF2397, SB2761 & SM3914
Jul 04, 2015 - Information received from Ralf Storandt for his Chassis No. 1222
Jul 04, 2015 - Information received from Peter Woods for Chassis No. 500
Jul 04, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 835, SR1405 & RN3042
Jul 03, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. 1062 & XF3508
Jul 03, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. ST3017, ML1524 & TX3246
Jul 03, 2015 - More info and photograph added for this 'Unknown' Bentley
Jul 02, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. RN3042, SR1405 & AH1479
Jul 02, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. SR1423, BX2409 & AB3362
Jul 01, 2015 - Information added for Chassis No. EXP 5
Jul 01, 2015 - Info and photographs added for Chassis Nos. SR1416, XF3519 & 905
[More]
 
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U N I D E N T I F I E D     B E N T L E Y S
 
Identify this vintage Bentley car
 

3-Litre Bentley "Red Label"

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LOOK FOR SPECIFIC
VINTAGE BENTLEY CARS

VINTAGE BENTLEYS
LOOKING FOR NEW OWNERS
Chassis No. 409
1924 Bentley 3 Litre
   
Chassis No. 406
1923 Bentley 3-4½ litre
   
Chassis No. BX2416
1927 Bentley 6½ Litre
   
Chassis No. PB3527
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre
   
Chassis No. 299
1923 3/8 Litre Bentley
   
Chassis No. TX3227
1928 Blower Bentley
   
Chassis No. XR3330
1928 4½ Litre Bentley
   
Chassis No. 184
1928 Bentley 3/4½ litre
   
Chassis No. 1123
Bentley 3/4½ Litre
   
Chassis No. RL3439
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre
   
Chassis No. NR501
1925 Bentley 3/4½ Litre
   
Chassis No. 341
1923 3/4½ ltr Bentley
   
Chassis No. 925
1925 Bentley 3 Litre
   
Chassis No. AH1479
1926 Bentley 3/4½ Litre
 
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UPCOMING
BENTLEY EVENTS
~~~~
Benjafield's Racing Club - Stubble Racing
3rd October 2015
~~~~
 
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Instruction Books - The starting point
3 Litre :: 6½ Litre :: 4½ Litre :: 8 Litre :: 4 Litre

It is surprising how many owners do not possess the 'Instruction Book' for their vintage Bentleys. Get your copy now.

CLICK HERE to read or download Instruction Books for all models.

 
 
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Host Robert McLellan   ::    Editor-in-chief Mona Nath
 
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