1929 Bentley 4.5 litre Open Tourer by Vanden Plas

For sale by auction on Saturday 06 June 2015 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
W. O. Bentley proudly debuted the new 3-litre car bearing his
name at the 1919 Olympia Motor Exhibition. the prototype engine
having fired up for the first time just a few weeks earlier. In
only mildly developed form. this was the model which was to become
a legend in motor racing history and which. with its
leather-strapped bonnet. classical radiator design and British
Racing Green livery has become the archetypal vintage sportscar.
The new 4½ litre model effectively employed the chassis. br/>transmission and brakes of the 3 litre. combined with an engine
that was in essence two-thirds of the six-cylinder 6½ litre unit.
Thus the new four-cylinder motor retained the six's 100x140mm
bore/stroke and Bentley's familiar four-valves-per-cylinder
fixedhead architecture but reverted to the front-end vertical
camshaft drive of the 3 litre. Bentley Motors lost no time in
race-proving its new car. It is believed that the first prototype
engine went into the 3 litre chassis of the 1927 Le Mans practice
car. The original 4½ litre car. nicknamed by the team 'Old Mother
Gun' and driven by Frank Clement and Leslie Callingham. promptly
set the fastest race lap of 73. 41mph before being eliminated in the
infamous 'White House Crash' multiple pile-up.
The 4½ litre was produced for four years. all but nine of the 665
cars made being built on the 3 litre's 'Long Standard'. 10'
10"-wheelbase chassis. Purchasers of the 4½ litre model were. in
common with those of all vintage-period Bentleys. free to specify
their preferences from a very considerable range of mechanical and
electrical equipment in addition to whatever body style and
coachbuilder may be required.

This outstanding Bentley was first registered on 29th
June 1929 to Sq. Ldr. C. A. Ridley of Horley with the car changing
hands to Capt. H. R. Campion just prior to the war. During the war
the Bentley was laid up in the Cumberland Hotel garage in London
and fortunately survived unscathed with the car re-commissioned
after the war by Capt. Campion's son. Originally built with a
Maythorne and Sons saloon body. it is thought to have been
re-bodied by Vanden Plas circa 1965. The engine and back axle were
overhauled by Sid Cooper of Birmingham. a renowned Bentley
specialist. The Bentley is in splendid order today having had
significant sums spent on her over a long period. The history file
is substantial and dates back to 1964. included are a number of
hand written notes showing expenditure and also details of some
European outings.

A Bentley 4½ litre is a thing of beauty. to sit and drive one is
a memorable experience. The current vendor has thoroughly enjoyed
owning this outstanding example after searching long and hard to
find the car he wanted. It is easy to see why he chose to purchase
UU6 794. aesthetically everything is right about the car. br/>mechanically she appears to be in very good order and condition
throughout is excellent. She is fitted with a Le Mans fuel tank and
radiator cap. electric fuel pumps. double Hartford shock absorbers
front and rear. correct P100 headlamps. fold flat windscreen with
aero screens. The dashboard has the correct instrumentation with
Jaeger speedometer and rev counter with Smiths original gauges
completing the impressive line-up. This is a matching numbers
example and remains a car of elegance and style that is still more
than able to cruise at speed should you choose to do so.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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