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1929 Bentley 4½ Litre    
Original 1929 Numbers
Chassis No. RL3440
Engine No. RL3445
Registration No. UL 6371

  This car - updated
Chassis No. RL3440
Engine No. RL3445
Registration No. UL 6371

(Updated with information from owner Peter Thornton. - May 2016)
 
August 2020
Click on thumbnail for larger view
 
 

Found on Henderson Fellowes website on August 7, 2020

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre - VDP Le Mans Tourer
- Delivered new by Bentley Motors in March 1929
- Restored to Le Mans Tourer specification by James E. Pearce
- Recent mechanical overhaul by Neil Davies (NDR Limited)
- Continuous ownership from new with fully documented history file

Chassis RL3440 was delivered new to its first owner Mr P.A. Bax in March 1929. Finished with elegant saloon coachwork by Vanden Plas, factory build sheets confirm that the 4.5 Litre returned to Bentley Motors after 2,000 road miles for a service and check over before being sold to Captain Philip Palmer in late 1929.

The 1930’s would see RL3440 change ownership a handful of times, acquiring an open 2-seater body by Corsica in 1936, before falling into the fortunate hands of H.A. Reinche in 1936. Reinche retained the Bentley throughout the war years, before the Bentley was sold to the United States in 1951 where RL3440 would remain for the next 22 years.

Repatriated to the UK in 1973 by Peter Shaw, the car was acquired by Robert Pearman in August 1982. The decision was quickly made to carry out a frame up restoration and marque specialists James E. Pearce were entrusted to carry out the work. Not uncommonly, the coachwork was replaced with a Vanden Plas style Le Mans Tourer body, while the chassis, engine, gearbox and all mechanical components were rebuilt. The work would take some two years and are documented in the wonderful history file that remains with the car today.

Following the restoration, RL3440 was sold to Alan Prince, before being purchased by well-known historic racer, Peter Thornton in 1995.

The current owner acquired the 4.5 Litre from Peter Thornton in 2017. Upon purchasing the Bentley, Neil Davies (NDR Limited) was instructed to carry out an engine rebuild and some cosmetic detailing on the car. In 2018, the owner entered RL3440 on the renowned rally organised by The Endurance Rally Association, the 10th Flying Scotsman which it completed.

RL3440 presents very well, retaining its matching numbers engine, a continuous ownership from new with two files charting its history.

This car is for sale as of August 7, 2020

 
     
     
  Source: Henderson Fellowes, Photo Credit: Riiko-Andre Nuud, Riiko Photo
Posted: Aug 07, 2020
 
     
April 2020
Click on thumbnail for larger view
 
 

Found on Classic Driver website on April 16, 2020

1929 Bentley 4½ Litre - VDP Le Mans Tourer
Chassis number: RL3440
Price: Price on Request

- Delivered new by Bentley Motors in March 1929
- Restored to Le Mans Tourer specification by James E. Pearce
- Recent mechanical overhaul by Neil Davies (NDR Limited)
- Continuous ownership from new with fully documented history file

Chassis RL3440 was delivered new to its first owner Mr P.A. Bax in March 1929. Finished with elegant saloon coachwork by Vanden Plas, factory build sheets confirm that the 4.5 Litre returned to Bentley Motors after 2,000 road miles for a service and check over before being sold to Captain Philip Palmer in late 1929.

The 1930’s would see RL3440 change ownership a handful of times, acquiring an open 2-seater body by Corsica in 1936, before falling into the fortunate hands of H.A. Reinche in 1936. Reinche retained the Bentley throughout the war years, before the Bentley was sold to the United States in 1951 where RL3440 would remain for the next 22 years.

Repatriated to the UK in 1973 by Peter Shaw, the car was acquired by Robert Pearman in August 1982. The decision was quickly made to carry out a frame up restoration and marque specialists James E. Pearce were entrusted to carry out the work. Not uncommonly, the coachwork was replaced with a Vanden Plas style Le Mans Tourer body, while the chassis, engine, gearbox and all mechanical components were rebuilt. The work would take some two years and are documented in the wonderful history file that remains with the car today.

Following the restoration, RL3440 was sold to Alan Prince, before being purchased by well-known historic racer, Peter Thornton in 1995.

The current owner acquired the 4.5 Litre from Peter Thornton in 2017. Upon purchasing the Bentley, Neil Davies (NDR Limited) was instructed to carry out an engine rebuild and some cosmetic detailing on the car. In 2018, the owner entered RL3440 on the renowned rally organised by The Endurance Rally Association, the 10th Flying Scotsman which it completed.

RL3440 presents very well, retaining its matching numbers engine, a continuous ownership from new with two files charting its history.

This car is for sale as of April 16, 2020

 
     
     
  Source: Classic Driver, Photo Credit: Riiko-Andre Nuud, Riiko Photo
Posted: Apr 16, 2020
 
     
May 2016
 

This car is presently owned by Peter Thornton.

 
     
     
  Source: Peter Thornton (Owner)
Posted: May 05, 2016
 
     
2006
In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member
1984
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Photographs were taken at Bentley Drivers Club Concours at Kensington Gardens in England in July 1984.

 
     
     
  Source: Robert McLellan
Posted: Aug 12, 2006
 
     
1970
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This is excerpted from a 1970 list of cars being offered by William Klein in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
Bentley 4½ litre Corsica tourer. Chassis Number RL3440. This 1929 Bentley 2 door was rebodied in the mid 30's. The car's interior was restored recently and is in perfect condition. No mechanical work necessary. One of the nicest driving vintage Bentleys we've ever owned. $9,700,00.

 
     
     
  Source: Don Struke
Posted: Apr 22, 2013
 
     
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The person in the photograph is probably William Klein Jr., former owner of the car on left (Reg UV 7549). This information has been provided to us by Don Struke who is a friend of Bill Klein (William Klein Jr.'s son). — VintageBentleys.org

 
     
     
  Source: Unknown
Updated: Aug 01, 2011
Posted: Oct 08, 2008
 
     
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  Source: Bridgeman Art Library
Posted: Dec 17, 2010
 
     
1951
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  "You have a picture on your site of my father in 1951 with his car (UL 6371) at Eastbourne Winter Gardens. Regrettably, I don't actually remember him owning that car as I was born too late, although there have always been photos around of it. I'm just interested to know if the car is still in existence and if so, whether it appears at rallies or anywhere I could see it at all?" — Simon Harris, Mar 8, 2014  
     
 
 
     
  "Original Weymann Saloon by Vanden Plas obviously replaced with new tourer coachwork, probably during the late thirties. Wings could be modified originals." — Olle Ljungström, Feb 14, 2008  
     
 
 
 

This 1929 Bentley is shown at the Eastbourne Winter Garden as competitors in the Midnight Concours d'Elegance paraded before the judges. It was owned by Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Harris in 1951.

 
     
     
  Source: "The Autocar" magazine, Jul. 6, 1951
Posted: Mar 12, 2007
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. RL3440
Engine No. RL3445
Registration No. UL 6371
Date of Delivery: Mar 1929
Type of Body: Saloon
Coachbuilder: Vanden Plas
Type of Car: No info
   
First Owner: BAX P A
 
     
  More Info: According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1567 with a Flexible Saloon, motorcycle wings; 3/1929.

Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Vanden Plas body no. 1567. Corsica 4 seat 1936 now Le Mans replica by Pearce."
 
     
     
  Updated: Jul 05, 2007
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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