| |
23 Jan 2010
Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles
Automobiles d'Exception á Rétromobile
1931 Bentley 4-Litre/8-Litre Le
Mans-style Tourer
Chassis no. VF4012
Engine no. YM5046
The 8-litre Bentley offered here -–
chassis number 'VF4012' -– started
life as a 4-Litre, which was the old
Cricklewood company's swansong model
before its absorption by Rolls-Royce
and was intended to compete with the
latter's successful 20/25hp. The six-cylinder
engine was designed by Ricardo, with
overhead inlet/side exhaust valves
and a claimed output of 120bhp at
4,000rpm. A double-drop chassis was
adopted, closely based on that of
the contemporary Bentley 8-Litre,
and offered in two wheelbase lengths:
11' 2" and 11' 8", both
of which were shorter than the shortest
of the two 8-Litre chassis available.
Only 50 4-Litres were completed before
the original Bentley company's liquidation,
of which only 12 are known to exist
today. The 4-Litre model has been
much maligned and is little understood,
as so few were built. Because it was
too heavy for its power, yet had the
best chassis, gearbox and rear axle
of all the Bentleys, many were converted
into 6½-litre and 8-litre specials,
the car offered here being one such.
First registered on 21st August 1931,
'GP 7192' was supplied new to the
Earl of Dumfries and originally fitted
with saloon coachwork by Freestone
& Webb. In 1950 the Bentley was
bought by Oliver Batten, who over
three years made many modifications
to convert 'GP 7192' into the well-known
competition car it is now, using engine
number 'YM5046' and components from
other 8-Litre cars. Up-rated for competition
and fitted with three SU carburettors
(instead of the original two), the
huge engine drives via an 8-Litre
F-type gearbox and 2.62:1 final drive,
giving a top speed (then) of 125mph
(201km/h). Panelcraft of Putney built
a two-seater sports body and Oliver
Batten and his son David competed
successfully in this very fast car
until 1989 when David Batten sold
'GP 7192' to Victor Gauntlett, the
well-known collector and (at the time)
owner of Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd
and Pace Petroleum.
Since then, the mechanical and chassis
layout has not changed although the
car has been completely restored.
The engine and drive train were overhauled
by the well-known Bentley restorers,
Elmdown Engineering Ltd of Hungerford,
who increased the engine performance
considerably. The complete chassis
assembly was painstakingly restored
by David Gaul and fitted with a Le
Mans Tourer body, beautifully proportioned
and detailed by Roger Wing, while
the trimming, seats and hood were
all perfectly finished by well known
Bentley trimmer Alan Geater. The panelwork,
aluminium and detailed finishing work
were carried out to the highest standard.
A previous owner reputedly spent approximately
£100,000 on 'GP 7192' and this
latest rebuild has been a 'no expense
spared' restoration.
Oliver Batten raced 'GP 7192' extensively
throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and
his results are recorded in the Bentley
Club Reviews. In Belgium in 1959 the
Bentley covered the Flying Kilometre
at a speed of 124.828mph (201km/h)
and the Flying Mile at 123.6mph (199km/h).
'GP 7192' often competed in the Brighton
Speed Trials and many other Club events
and hill climbs. This car is well
documented by the Bentley Drivers
Club and has often been mentioned
for its exceptional performance in
the Bentley Review. 'GP 7192' also
appears in Bentley Specials and Special
Bentleys by Ray Roberts (pages 85
and 86).
'GP 7192' continued to be campaigned
successfully by its immediately preceding
owner, attending the Vintage Monthléry
weekend, the Historic Festival at
Rockingham Speedway, the Jersey Festival
of Motoring and the European Concours
d'Elegance at Schloss Schwetzingen,
Heidelberg as well as club meetings
at Silverstone and Goodwood. These
trips and many other excursions put
approximately 4,500 miles on the odometer
and provided the opportunity to get
everything 'on the button'.
Immediately prior to its acquisition
by the Marbella Collection early in
2003, 'GP 7192' was serviced, cleaned
and fitted with rebuilt front road
springs, new tyres, a new heavy-duty
battery and four new aluminium Bentley
'B' steps (correspondence and invoice
on file). Benefiting from a high quality
restoration, this is a thoroughly
sorted car: well appointed, sensationally
fast, very good looking and possessing
an interesting history.
23 Jan 2010
Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles
Estimate: €450,000 - 550,000
£350,000 - 430,000
US$ 550,000 - 680,000
|
|
