As I mentioned in my previous email, I do think the sudden interest in originality is linked to the sudden hike in the prices, which a trader recently told me are in "an unsustainable bubble". I have had to abandon hope of owning a vintage Bentley of my own (I'm just very grateful to be invited to drive other people's) partly because I have been priced out of the market and partly because if I did stretch myself, I would then be paranoid that the inevitable price crash was just round the corner. I know two people who have felt they had to sell their cars simply because the prices are so high. All very sad."

Received from Erik Thomas on March 18, 2016
"Hello Robert, It has been interesting to see the recent crop of Bentley postings on a daily basis. Nice work. Made me think of that old Clint Eastwood movie, "The good, the bad and the ugly" from the '60s.

I like your new idea of contrasting the "As original", with "As it is currently," as this is a good summary. I have used your web site when researching just about any Bentley, and it is unique and very valuable. Certainly interesting to see cars revealed where it is known and identified as Chassis XXX but really is Chassis XXXX with Engine YYYYY and the usual Le Mans Rep body. There is no original content what so ever, and someone else is using the frame from it. The real magic is going to be found in how to sort all of this now that it is revealed.

I agree with your classifications: Original: All matching including coach work that it came with as new. Modified: One good original car but new coach work or different engine. Bitsa: All original parts with real chassis number (or 2 or 3 of them as I have observed) -- a builtup car. Replica: All Bentley but with some sketchy identity based on a few genuine parts, on a new frame. Fake: RR or later Bentley chassis and other less than authentic creations. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly... so to speak."