Concours on the Avenue, August 2011

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Tourer
Modern day Bentley Boy and AC/DC rocker, Brian Johnson, relives the golden era of Le Mans racing every time he drives Thunder Guts.

The legendary, original “Bentley Boys” was a motley crew of wealthy British sportsmen and racing enthusiasts who established Bentley’s reputation for high performance motoring in the 1920s. Woolf “Bentley Boy” Barnato, son of diamond magnate Barnet Barnato and heir to the Kimberly diamond fortune, purchased Bentley in 1925 as it was teeter totting on the precipice of extinction. He was the guiding force behind the creation of the supercharged “Blower Bentleys” and the brand’s revival.

Barnato put together a group of enthusiasts made up of playboys, aviators, sportsmen, racing drivers and even a pearl fishery magnate, Bernard Rubin and an automotive journalist and Editor at The Autocar, S.C.H. “Sammy” Davis, to go racing and save the brand. Had it not been for the Bentley Boys, the marque might not still be around. Bentley won four consecutive victories at Le Mans from 1927 to 1930 and earned the reputation for reliability and durability, and for building “The World’s Fastest Lorries.”

It was the 4½-Litre Bentley engine, an evolution of the original 3-Litre in the early chassis, complete with four-wheel semi-elliptical suspension and mechanical brakes that made Le Mans racing history. The overhead cam, four-valve integrated head and block Four was bored out to 3.9 inches to produce 4.4 Liters (268 cubic inches) and 110 horsepower in street trim. Higher output 130 horsepower engines powered the racecars. In 1928, it was Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin driving a 130-horsepower 4½-Litre, Vanden Plas Le Mans Tourer model that won the 24-hour race. In 1929 and 1930, Barnato and his Bentley Boys increased engine size by adding two more cylinders and won the 24-hour Le Mans enduro in more powerful Speed Six models.

While the high-profile Blower Bentleys usually get all the attention at shows, it was the naturally aspirated 4½-Litre cars that blew away Bugattis at Le Mans and created the marque’s performance mystique that continues today.

AC/DC rocker, historic sports car racer and member in good standing of the Sarasota Café Racers, Brian Johnson, is a modern day Bentley Boy. He street drives, shows and has even taken his 1928 4½-Litre Bentley Vanden Plas Le Mans Tourer on the track. At this year‘s Walter Mitty Challenge at Road Atlanta, Brian took time out from racing to participate in a charity event, taking children for rides around the circuit in his raucous “Thunder Guts” Bentley.

Johnson’s 1928 Tourer, like so many 1920s Bentleys, started out as a four-door Saloon (sedan). Coachbuilder Freestone & Webb originally bodied his car. It was later fitted with a traditional ash-framed, vinyl covered British Racing Green Vanden Plas Le Mans Tourer body. Unlike many makes of cars that have been re-bodied, vintage Bentleys with authentic style bodies are accepted by international clubs and organizations. The Rolls-Royce Owners Club (RROC), which also recognizes Bentley as well as the Bentley Drivers Club, embrace authentically re-bodied vehicles. In order to tell it from an original car, you would have to be a vintage Bentley restorer or aficionado.

Riding on 21-inch wire wheels, Brian Johnson’s thundering Bentley produces torque by the truckload. And it’s all in by 3,500 rpm, the engine’s redline! The cast iron OHC Four, with twin SU sidedraft carbs (without air cleaners) and twin magnetos is mated to a non-synchro four-speed “crash box” via a 300-pound cone-type clutch/ flywheel. With unassisted steering and mechanical brakes, it’s a handful to drive on the street.

The 4½-Litre Bentley is a massive, macho machine that commands attention even when standing still. From its huge mesh-accented grille shell and Lucas headlights and four friction shocks to its exposed Le Mans quick-fill gas tank, Thunder Guts dominates wherever it goes. Other mouth-watering details include a fold-down windshield with Brooklands screens, engine turned alloy dash with full Jaeger instrumentation and a signature oversize cord-wrapped, four-spoke steering wheel.

Brian Johnson is not the only member of the Sarasota Café Racers who owns a Vanden Plas bodied 4½-Litre Bentley. Dale Powers, a world-respected vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley expert, has a British Racing Green 1930 model in his eclectic collection. They often end up showing next to one another at local events, attracting huge crowds. Dale can also be seen and heard at RROC Nationals, narrating the drive-bys at trophy time.

That was then; this is now. Bentley continues as the world’s premium luxury high-performance automotive marque and can still be found on the grid at Le Mans. In 2003, after 73 years since Bentley’s last win at Le Mans, two Bentleys were entered in the epic 24-hour endurance race. On June 14, the race started with the two Bentleys taking the lead. The #7 car ran consistent laps, while the #8 car set the fastest lap of the race.

On June 15, two Bentley Speed Eights came in First and Second at Le Mans, almost 73 years to the day that the two Speed Sixes had achieved the same. It was a day that those who witnessed it will never forget.

1928 Bentley 4½ Litre [HF3177] in Top Gear, TV Show, 2002-2012

'SOLD' sign found on Stanley Mann Racing website on July 16, 2009. Unfortunately we do not know exactly when the car was sold, but it could have been at any point between April 11 - July 16 2009.

Description of the sold car reads:

"This vintage Bentley has some great continuous history and this, I always feel is a lot more important than matching numbers. As they say, she has seen a bit and come through as all real Bentleys do... A must for the Vintage Bentley proper chaps... A well-restored vintage Bentley ready for this seasons rallies etc. She drives very well and should prove very reliable..." - Stanley Mann

Newer photographs since March 10, 2009 have been added for this car on the Stanley Mann Racing website. (Car in photographs bears Reg. No. UC 3256 on the number plate. No Chassis number or Engine number is mentioned in the description, and price is POA)

Description of car on website: "A well-restored vintage Bentley ready for this seasons rallies etc... She drives very well and should prove very reliable... For more information why not come in. The coffee is on and we always like to chat about this and any other vintage Bentley we have in stock. - Stanley"

Newer photographs since February 13, 2009 have been added for this car on the Stanley Mann Racing website. (Car in photographs bears Reg. No. UC 3256 on the number plate. No Chassis number or Engine number is mentioned in the description, and price is POA)

Stanley Mann states: "1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Le Mans. A well-restored vintage Bentley ready for this seasons rallies etc... She drives very well and should prove very reliable."

New photographs have been added for this car as of Feb 13, 2009 (Car in photographs bears Reg. No. UC 3256. No Chassis number or Engine number is mentioned in the description and price is POA)

Textual description remains the same as it was on our previous update — Jan 24, 2009 (see below).

New information has been posted on Stanley Mann Racing website since yesterday — i.e. January 23, 2009. (Car in photographs bears Reg. No. UC 3256. No Chassis number or Engine number is mentioned at this time and price is POA):

Quoting from Stanley Mann's website as of Jan 24, 2009:
"WELL IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE REBUILD BY US ON THIS VINTAGE BENTLEY SHE’S ALMOST THERE WITH JUST THE DASH TO FINISH

This Bentley built as a sports saloon in 1928 with Albany coachwork had an accident in 1936 and was returned to Bentley motors for a rebuild. This involved changing the chassis to another 4½ litre that the factory had in stock.

There are many reasons why this would be done but usually because the client didn’t want to wait months for his frame to be repaired so they would use another from stock and complete the rebuild.

Obviously the car would keep its identity with the original registration number.

Rebuilt in the late 80s an original VDP 4 seater body was purchased from Hoffman and Mountfort and completely rebuilt.

At this time the mechanics were all done and since then have covered some 11,000 miles.

Body is fully re-trimmed with fold flat racing screen. Le Mans tank fitted with racing disc to rear.

Recently further work at Stanley Mann Racing included fitting of 8 new shockers as well as an overdrive.

A complete set of racing instruments for the dash to complement her original switch plate and ancillaries."

Details found on Stanley Mann Racing website on Jan 23, 2009:

History
"Rebuilt by factory in 1936 after an accident.
Chassis changed to FB 3324 1929.
All main parts then fitted to this frame i.e. chassis plate, bonnet, steering box, rear axle all from original car HF3177 with this number.
Engine fitted in 1956; SL 3054 and at this time front dumb iron nibs also from that car rest of which was then scraped."

Stanley Mann further states: "Please call if confused but this is a real car and that is how real cars have their own history."

Further Information
"This Bentley built as a sports saloon in 1928 with Albany coachwork had an accident in 1936 and was returned to Bentley motors for a rebuild.

This involved changing the chassis to another 4½ litre which the factory had in stock.

There are many reasons why this would be done but usually because the client didn’t want to wait months for his frame to be repaired so they would use another from stock and complete the rebuild. Obviously the car would keep its identity with the original registration number.

Rebuilt in the late 80s an original V.D.P. 4 seater body was purchased from Hoffman and Mountfort and completely rebuilt.

At this time the mechanics were all done and since then have covered some 11,000 miles.

Body is fully re-trimmed with fold flat racing screen, Le Mans tank fitted with racing disc to rear.

Recently further work at Stanley Mann Racing included fitting of 8 new shockers as well as an overdrive. A complete set of racing instruments for the dash to complement her original switch plate and ancillaries."

A car is up for sale at Stanley Mann Racing bearing Reg. No. UC 3256. No Chassis no. or Engine no. is mentioned. Price: POA.

On Dec 13, 2008, text on Stanley Mann Racing website reads: "Here’s something that doesn’t happen every day... A vintage Bentley part restored for you to build up at home. (Yes, all the bits are there) or get Stanley to finish off at the Fruit Farm with your own taste to add... say, metal dash or wood? Extra storage area? CD radio? Who knows? But if you always wanted a vintage Bentley with a bit of you in her, here’s your chance... Will be ready in a few weeks."

On April 21, 2008 Stanley Mann notes on his website that "this Bentley has had an interesting last 80 years to say the least. Although very proper, a major rebuild by Bentley Motors in 1936 after an accident changed her chassis ID to FB3324. But history shows that she still is UC 3256 (registration no)… Rebuilt in the early 80s to present form and with mechanics well looked after since then, she drives superbly. Please come and look her over."

"The use of a new chassis number (FB3324) on this car is in conflict with the Bentley with the original, same chassis number. Two cars cannot have the same chassis number so therefore this car is still chassis HF3177 unless new information determines otherwise." — VintageBentleys.org

Read article here.