Over the years Robert has sought out every potential source of information on our 3-Litre Bentley, Chassis No. 869. This has included everything available through the Bentley Drivers Club archives, contacting previous owners, purchasing literature pertaining to all 3-Litres, seeking out magazine and newspaper articles where our car appeared and talking experts ears off in order to learn everything possible about the car.

But there are always surprises. And www.VintageBentleys.org is designed to help you fill in gaps in the history of your Bentley by soliciting information from previous owners and people who have knowledge of the car. One success story that we can relate is on Chassis No. 564, currently owned by David Brownell.

Click for larger view The car as owned by David Brownell

Roy Ginn, who owned 564 from 1966 to 1971, contacted us with information and numerous photographs and a newspaper article about the car as it was when he owned it - a goldmine of information for David.

In 1966 Roy Ginn got to know of a 'veteran car' lying in a shed, in a village in Essex. A friend and customer, Michael Grigsby, acted as the go-between and helped to locate this car. Well, this wasn't 'any' veteran car; it was a vintage Bentley! The owner, according to Roy, was a Major Douglas Forrester Muir, retired from the Army. Word was out, says Roy, that Major Douglas was "financially embarrassed" at the time. But when asked if he would sell the car he said, "If I thought of selling it — about £1000, but I'm not. It can stay where it is."

Michael Grigsby still managed to make an appointment for Roy to view the car, who proceeded to the village of Great Totham located between Maldon and Colchester. He looked at the car and it "seemed complete" — i.e. the engine, gearbox, rear axle were in place; lamps were there, but in a box; looked for and found instruments... Ginn pressed £700 into Major Douglas' hand — the deal was struck. And he returned home with 564 on his trailer.

He knew the new purchase would either 'surprise' or 'shock' his father Alfred George William Ginn, who ran a car repair business. Says Roy, "Father was a time served Coachbuilder and Wheelwright. He worked for Parkward Coachworks also All Lewis's. He worked on Coach bodies and Limousines, also made carriage wheels as part of his work."

Click for larger view The car soon after Roy Ginn bought it in 1966

The first thing his father said was, "What the b_ _ _dy hell load of junk have you gone and brought now?" Quite annoyed he said, "Does it go?" "Don't know", said the new owner.

Roy tried starting it up after cleaning two sets of plugs, getting top of Auto Vack off and filling it up with petrol. A few explosions later, and re-cleaning of plugs she did start up, showing reasonable oil pressure. He put the engine off and walked around the car to discover that it had "water pissing out of everywhere". Restarting the engine caused the starter motor to fall apart, and the bits were everywhere. Time to set it all aside and do some planning.

Click for larger view Assessing the restoration work involved

"I first did some kind of inventory as to what was of any use to the rebuild. What remained of a body came off the chassis. Basically the only parts were the left hand front door. The bonnet was complete and in not bad condition. The body frame timbers between the fire wall and the steering wheel were kept. The rest of the body was unusable, resembling a shed. These were discarded." The entire overhaul was carried out in-house by Roy Ginn and his father.

As there was no body to speak of, they had to think where to locate ash boards. Says Roy, "We located two rather rough ash boards. My father had, in the meantime, been fashioning ply templates cut to a shape not too far from that required. Went to timber yard, negotiated a price to cut and purchase ash. Fun and games now start. Band saw blades got blunt very quick, change new one, after a while they finished the job — and said, "Don't come back again." I think they were glad to see the back of us. Dad pressed on and he fashioned the bodywork. He decided to build to connecting bodywork between the front and rear seating to alleviate any body movement."

So many long hours were being spent working on the car that Roy's mother enquired if he would like his bed moved into the garage!

Click for larger view The makeover

"The front dash panel with the instruments in was an Elm Board located in a Local Builders yard. Didn't have tachometer fitted when I had it. The body was finished in aluminium. Bonnet repaired, wings repaired. Cellulosed in Black with red wheels. Completely reassembled to a car able to move under its own power."

There were no seats either in the front or back of the car, so it had to be driven by sitting on a box while visiting the local coach trimmers. "The firm was called J J Benson of Leigh On Sea Essex" says Roy, "The company has now moved into the aviation business operating from Southend on sea Airport."

"We had discussed with J. J. Benson, himself, the finished trim to be fitted. As the car didn't have any weather protection it was suggested that a leather substitute vinyl was to be used... JJ Bensons manufactured the complete set of seats, door panels, and floor covering. Finished with a brass half round beading to finish the top surrounds to the front and rear passenger area."

The services of some specialist repairers had also been engaged along the way — the radiator was overhauled by Northern Radiators in Leeds Yorkshire; the wheels were sandblasted and fitted with new spokes to the original hubs, by Carlton Forge in London; the lamps and bright work were polished and plated by Borough Plating in Southend; ML Magnetos' were repaired, rewired etc. fitted with new rotors by Eastwood Auto Electrical; all engine parts, water pump, water jackets, gaskets, various brackets etc were supplied by Southgate Motors in London whose workshop was full of W.O.'s cars; the button in the middle of the differential was fashioned by a Hungarian engineer (this engineer, Roy recalls "had defected from Hungary when the Russians invaded; he escaped and took up residence in England").

And to apply the final 'finish', the car was given a tonneau cover for the front and rear. Needless to say, the restoration was immaculate to the last detail. And the value of this 1924 3-litre had risen considerably from £700.

Click for larger view

In 1968, a local newspaper published a story on Roy Ginn's 564. Excerpt: "Shoebury garage owner, Mr. Roy Ginn, of Beach Garage, Rampart Street, picked up the wreck of a 1924 Bentley in a shed in Great Totham, for £700. Three years work, a further £700, and six first rally prizes later the car is valued at more than eight times the original price... Mr. Ginn was offered such a price - but he is not selling. "The value goes up and up and up. I'm entering it for rallies and so forth, but it is not a practical road car." The three litre Bentley is well known in the town, although it has only been road worthy for six months..."

Roy Ginn sold the car in 1971: "When I sold CX 6624 she was black with red trim and red wheels… Had SU carbs. All nickel bright work."

The buyers, Frank Dale & Stepsons remarked, "Nice car. Just needs breathing on."

Click for larger view Pride of the town... Roy Ginn owned it until 1971.

The above history is an example of an ongoing process in unraveling the mysteries of a car's origin. You will enjoy reading the entire history of Chassis No. 564 as we know it. And perhaps you know something about the car before it passed into Roy's hands in 1966. If so, please submit information here.