Bentley 4.5 Litre Vanden Plas

We are delighted to present this beautiful Bentley 4.5 Litre, finished in stunning British racing Green paintwork with contrasting Green Leather interior trim.

This Bentley was first registered in 1928 to Honourable Edward Partington of 10 Ennismore Gardens, London SW7, The selling dealer was Jack Barclay Ltd London.
Build date is recorded as 12th November 1927, the car was allocated registration number YU4517 a london registration which remains on the car today.

In 1930 Mr Partington part exchanged YU4517 with Jack Barclay Bentley Ltd against a new 4.5 Litre. The car was then sold to F A Jennings of 11 Wilbury Gardens, Hove, Sussex. The next recorded owner is E.A. Benton of Messrs Edward Benton & Co Ltd, Brook Lane Ferring Worthing.
As usual there is a gap in owneship until the car turns up in post war BDC records that shows YU4517 was purchased by well known Motoring poet and BDC member W.H. Charnock in 1946 who kept the car until 1950 and subsequent owners are listed as follows R.A.Harman 1950-1955, A.Gregson 1955-1957, David Scott Moncrieff 1957-1970, James Birkett 1970-1974, John Allan 1974-1975, N.H Walker 1976-1981, J.R.Hand 1982, R.W.Laidlaw 1983.
During this period YU4517 was rebodied with a Vanden Plas style four seater open body by Meynell Phillips sometime around 1970. The car was purchased by Australian Peter Graham circa 1980 he embarked on an ongoing restoration over the next 20 years of ownership whilst using the car on many rallies some of which are listed below :-

• BDC Western Australia organised the first Bentley Drivers International rally in Australia 2005
• Bentley Drivers Club, New Zealand Tour -January 21st - March 1st 2013
• Death Valley, 27 May 2013
• Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway Bonneville Lake, 29 May 2013
• New York in 2013
• The Perth Darwin Rally
• Queensland Rally
• The Bentley Alaskan rally completed the rally and won the award for the best WO on the event
• Tasmanian Alpine rally

According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1430, Clare Hay, in her book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Vanden Plas body no. 1430. Freestone and Webb saloon 1931 now Meynell & Phillips tourer."

The current owner purchased the car in 2018, who bought the car with the intention of carrying out various rallies around the world, below is a list of some of the rallies this car has competed in since he has owned the car

• Peking to Paris 2019 - finishing 3rd Overall. (Hero ERA)
• Alaska to Mexico 2023- (Rally the Globe)
• Road to Hanoi Marathon 2024 (Rally the Globe)
• Southern Cross Safari 2020Yorkshire Cloverleaf 2021
• Carrera Italia 2021 (Rally the Globe)
• Carrera Espana 2022 (Rally the Globe)
• Ypres to Istanbul Challenge 2022 (Rally the Globe)

Meticulously maintained regardless of cost via William Metcalf and Jack Aimes Engineering, Invoices on file for maintenance carried out since 2018 total over £210,000.

Supplied with an extensive history file which includes, original invoice for the car from Jack Barclay Ltd, historic photos of the car, Original Buff log book, original build sheets, and the all important CLARE HAY REPORT.

This bentley has had sympathetic modifications to rally spec which includes the following :-

• Twin Fuel pumps
• On Board compressor
• Aluminium sump guard
• Aluminium Gearbox guard
• Twin spare wheels.
• Twin Monit rally computers
• Bluetooth tyre pressure monitor system.

A replacement engine is currently in the car which has been Bored out to 5.3 litre, but the original 4.5 litre engine block has been retained and will be sold with the car.

This link shows the car in action in the Southern Cross Safari in 2020 where owners Keith & Norah Ashworth took the overall win in the Bentley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty_hlHmFuNs


Please call for more information of this spectacular Bentley.