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1929 Bentley 4½ Litre    
Original 1929 Numbers
Chassis No. RL3432
Engine No. RL3430
Registration No. GU 2511

  This car - updated
Chassis No. Not known. Read below
Engine No. Not known
Registration No. GU 2511
 
BDC records of 2003 and 2006 list RL3432 as the chassis for this car. But it is relevant to note
that histories for chassis RL3432 and chassis BL1603 are inextricably linked
owing to events that took place in the 1930s. Read more here.
 
2013
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Carovana Romantica, Cortona Italy, 2013

 
     
     
  Source: BloggingInItaly
Posted: Jul 08, 2013
 
     
2006
In Switzerland in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member
2005-2008
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Sardegna, 2005

Veneto Italy, 2008
 
 
 

 

 
     
     
  Source: CarovanaRomantica.IT
Posted: Jul 08, 2013
 
     
2002
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Klausenrennen 2002. Photograph by Peter Ackermann.

 
     
     
  Source: Flickr, photo by user 'RedRose'
Posted: Jul 09, 2009
 
     
1996
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1929 Bentley 4½ Litre [RL3432] in Festival of Transport, Documentary, 1996

 
     
     
  Source: Internet Movie Cars Database
Posted: Aug 29, 2012
 
     
1989 - 1990
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"The leader's Bentley (the 'leader' referred to is Sir Oswald Mosley of the British Union of Fascists and National Socialists), which he extensively used in the 1930s to drive to British Union meetings and marches, is still going strong. Fully restored, it took part in the 1989 Shell Rally at Cannes... When at home it resides in Gloucestershire — its owner Mr. Michael Lester."

 
     
     
  Source: Jun/Jul '89 & Feb/Mar '90 issues of 'Comrade' - the 'Friends of Oswald Mosley' newsletter made available by Jeff Wallder
Posted: Feb 10, 2009
 
     
1938
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"This photograph was taken in London and the car has at least one motorcycle escort. Four men of the Special Detachment are standing on the running boards. These were the Leader Guard."

 
     
     
  Source: Jeff Wallder
Posted: Feb 24, 2009
 
     
1937
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"(The car) is seen at Islip Street, Kentish Town. Oswald Mosley reviewing the column before the march to his meeting at Trafalgar Square in 1937."

 
     
     
  Source: Feb/Mar '90 issue of 'Comrade' - the 'Friends of Oswald Mosley' newsletter made available by Jeff Wallder
Posted: Feb 10, 2009
 
     
1936
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"It (the car) was damaged by a bullet which penetrated a rear door window at Mosley's Hull meeting in 1936." - Feb/Mar '90 issue of 'Comrade' - the 'Friends of Oswald Mosley' newsletter made available by Jeff Wallder

The above photograph shows the bullet hole following an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Sir Oswald Mosley whilst he was visiting Hull for a major public meeting in July 1936. - Photo from book titled, 'Mosley: The Facts', 1958 made available by Jeff Wallder

 
     
     
  Updated: Feb 16, 2009
Posted: Feb 10, 2009
 
     
  Above is a photo of a saloon car (make unknown) with a bullet hole. If the original body was a VDP 4 seater and later a Le Mans replica what is the connection with the car with the bullet hole which is obviously not #RL3432? - VintageBentleys.org  
     
1936
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A

B
 
 
 

Chassis no. RL3432 was delivered new to Sir Oswald Mosley in March 1929.

"The above photograph ('A') shows Mosley taking salute in his #RL3432 on October 4th 1936 after what was known as 'The Battle of Cable Street'. This car was also to, on this day, transport Mosley and other British Union of Fascists officers during the Battle of Cable Street." — Jeff Wallder

"(The car) seen here with the leader driving past the Blackshirt column on the Embankment after he had marched with them from Royal Mint-street folowing the 'Battle of Cable Street' on Oct 4, 1936. It was finally retired at the Blackshirt camp at Selsey in 1937 when O.M. was presented with a new MG by members of British Union." - June-July 1989 issue of 'Comrade', the 'Friends of Oswald Mosley' newsletter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photo 'B' "shows the Bentley with hood down occupied by Sir Oswald Mosley, the Leader of British Union; Neil Francis Hawkins, Director General of British Union; and Staff Driver George Armsden who was also Mosley's personal Standard Bearer. Photograph taken 4 October 1936 on the occasion that became known as the Battle of Cable Street: the police can be seen holding back Communist agitators attempting to prevent the march of 5000 Blackshirts through East London." - Photo source 'The Fascists in Britain' by Colin Cross (1961), made available by Jeff Wallder; text by Jeff Wallder

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"A photo of the car (also) appears in the book 'Blackshirts-on-Sea' by J A Booker, the story of the Blackshirt Summer Camps in West Sussex 1933-38, where he can be seen being driven in it top down to the Selsey Camp." - Jeff Wallder

"Among Mosley's Papers held at the Library of Birmingham University in the UK there is a letter dated 21 February 1974 from the Bentley Drivers Club, J Raymond Binns, St Teresa's 248 Andover Road, Newbury RG14 6PT referring to GU 2511 but what it is about I don't know — it is among supplementary papers added to the Mosley Papers a few years ago..." — Jeff Wallder

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Channel 4 film "Mosley" released in 1998 shows Mosley riding in a Bentley in several scenes. A 1925 3-litre Bentley was used for the purpose. As part of detailing and faithfulness to historical facts, the registration no. was substituted with 'GU 2511', this being the original reg. no. of Mosley's car. See photos here.

 
     
     
  Source: 1930s newspaper clipping; BBC; Jeff Wallder; Susan Hesketh
Updated: Feb 16, 2009
Posted: Feb 03, 2009
 
     
1931
 

According to Michael Hay (in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997) Mosley's car was involved in an accident in May 1931, following which it required a new frame and new axle.

Historian and Mosley expert Jeff Wallder comments: "I have never heard mention before of the accident in 1931 that the car experienced. At that time Mosley was a Minister in the Labour Government."

 
     
     
  Posted: Feb 12, 2009  
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. RL3432
Engine No. RL3430
Registration No. GU 2511
Date of Delivery: Mar 1929
Type of Body: D/H Coupe
Coachbuilder: Freestone & Webb
Type of Car: No info
   
First Owner: Sir Oswald Mosley
 
     
  More Info: Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Accident 5/31 - new frame and front axle. Was Vanden Plas 4 seater, now Le Mans replica."  
     
     
  Posted: Mar 01, 2007  
     
 
 
 
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147
Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651
Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg for his Chassis No. KL3590
Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207
Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165
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