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1926 Bentley 3/4½ Litre |
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Original 1926 Numbers
Chassis No. NR507
Engine No. 1107
Registration No. YM 57
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This car - updated
Chassis No. NR507
Engine No. NT3136
Registration No. YM 57
(Updated with information from owner Anthony Galliers-Pratt - May 2016) |
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May 2016 |
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This car is presently owned by Anthony Galliers-Pratt. |
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Source: Anthony Galliers-Pratt (Owner)
Posted: May 14, 2016 |
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February 2016 |
Click
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Sold: May 26, 2016
"Originally supplied in March 1926 to the order of Mr. E Gordon Craig, Chassis No. 1272* was first registered as a 3 Litre Speed Model, fitted with 4 seat touring coachwork by Van den Plas. Featuring the desirable high compression engine with twin SU carburettors (as opposed to the single Smith variant afforded by the standard model), the car was advanced for its time – with novel features including overhead camshaft operated four valves per cylinder and twin spark ignition and famously won the 1926 Le Mans 24 Hours!
A succession of owners prior to the Second World War saw the car reside in locations dispersed throughout the South of England including London, Hove in Sussex, and Bournemouth and Wimborne in Dorset. Ownership after the war transferred briefly to the renowned aviator and “special” builder Douglas Wilson-Spratt (of WSM Sprite fame) before its relocation to Oban in Scotland when purchased by Norman Hamilton-Smith.
1953 saw the commencement of the intriguing ownership of YM 57 by Roley Fraser, for the princely sum of £100. At that time a keen racer of a Jaguar XK120, tended to by the his friend Gordon Lockart, Fraser acknowledged that the original 3 litre engine was (in his words) “just about knackered and making a fearful clatter” – and agreed with Lockart’s suggestion of converting the car into a 3/ 4.5 litre. A suitable engine was sourced from Messrs T.P. Breen for £50, and the conversion proved a great success. Braving the inclement Scottish weather, Fraser embarked upon the first of many tours with the car in the Winter of 1953/4, initiallyin Perthshire before turning south down to the Border country.
In 1956, circumstances dictated that Roley Fraser had to reluctantly relinquish ownership of YM57, and it was sold to Hamish Gunn in Edinburgh. Although enjoyed for several years by Gunn, the death of his wife somewhat dimmed his enthusiasm for the car, and it was put away in a garage in the city for some years, prior to being purchased back by Roley Fraser in 1976. Despite the period of relative neglect in the latter years of Gunn’s ownership, a battery change and service were all that was needed to ensure that YM 57 burst back into life shortly after Fraser took possession for the second time.
Subsequently, a prolonged period of sympathetic re-commissioning of the car was carried out by Fraser, and his son Simon. This involved re-wiring and re-painting, and the addition of a number of non-period (but desirable) modifications including conversion to hydraulic front brakes and the addition of an electric fuel pump, electric fan and alternator. Furthermore, the car’s long distance touring credentials were enhanced by the addition of a new 16 gallon long range fuel tank and overdrive to the gearbox.
YM 57 has more recently benefitted from a full engine rebuild by marque specialists McKenzie Guppy Ltd. of Blandford Forum, Dorset. An extensive restoration has just been completed by renowned Bentley specialists, Neil Davis where the car has been subject to a compete re-spray and re-trim to its original colour of British Racing Green. The radiator was also re-cored, overdrive fitted, and the original type brakes were re-installed. The cars gearbox was also completely rebuilt by Brineton engineering.
2015 saw further work carried out on YM 57 by rally specialist William Medcalf. Car car is now ready to be enjoyed on all major rallys.
The car offers a rare case of an original bodied vintage Bentley, and offers spirited performance as well as a fascinating and thoroughly documented continuous history. The late Speed model 3 Litre is widely considered to be the archetypical vintage Bentley and the car offered here is the connoisseur’s choice, combining the agility and handling of a 3 Litre, with the power and performance of the 4.5 Litre engine." |
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Source:
Fiskens
Posted: Feb 03, 2016 |
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*The chassis number is NR507 - apologies that we have it wrong on our
website and we will change it forthwith. — Gregor Fisken, Feb 8, 2016 |
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March
2014 |
Click
on thumbnail for larger view |
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Bentley 3/4½
Litre
Originally supplied in March 1926
to the order of Mr. E Gordon Craig,
Chassis No. 1272(???) was first registered as a Bentley
3 Litre Speed Model, fitted with four-seat
touring coachwork by Vanden Plas.
Featuring the desirable high compression
engine with twin SU carburettors (as
opposed to the single Smith variant
afforded by the standard model), the
car was advanced for its time
with novel features including an overhead
camshaft, four valves per cylinder
and twin spark ignition.
The power output of 70 horsepower,
combined with a four-speed gearbox,
meant that genuine 90mph performance
was possible at a time when most ordinary
saloon cars would have difficulty
achieving half this figure.
A succession of owners prior to the
Second World War saw the car reside
in various locations throughout the
South of England including London,
Hove in Sussex, and Bournemouth and
Wimborne in Dorset. Ownership following
the war transferred briefly to the
renowned aviator and special
builder Douglas Wilson-Spratt (of
WSM Sprite fame) before its relocation
to Oban in Scotland when purchased
by Norman Hamilton-Smith.
1953 saw the commencement of the
intriguing ownership of YM57 by Roley
Fraser, for the princely sum of £100.
At that time a keen racer of a Jaguar
XK120 tended to by his friend
Gordon Lockart Fraser acknowledged
that the original 3-litre engine was
(in his words) just about knackered
and making a fearful clatter,
and agreed with Lockarts suggestion
of converting the car into a 3/4.5-litre.
A suitable engine was sourced from
Messrs T.P. Breen for £50, and
the conversion proved a great success.
Braving the inclement Scottish weather,
Fraser embarked upon the first of
many tours with the car in the winter
of 1953/4, initially in Perthshire,
before heading further south.
In 1956, circumstances dictated that
Roley Fraser had to reluctantly relinquish
ownership of YM57, and it was sold
to Hamish Gunn in Edinburgh. Although
enjoyed for several years by Gunn,
his wifes death somewhat dimmed
his enthusiasm for the car, and it
was put into a garage for some years,
prior to being re-purchased by Fraser
in 1976. Despite the period of relative
neglect in the latter years of Gunns
ownership, a battery change and service
were all that was needed to ensure
that YM57 burst back into life shortly
after Fraser took possession for the
second time.
Subsequently, Fraser and his son
Simon began a prolonged period of
sympathetic restoration of the car.
This involved re-wiring and re-painting,
and the addition of a number of modern
modifications including conversion
to hydraulic front brakes and the
fitting of an electric fuel pump,
electric fan and alternator. Furthermore,
the cars touring credentials
were enhanced by the addition of a
16 gallon long-range fuel tank and
overdrive to the gearbox.
YM57 has recently benefitted from
a full engine rebuild by marque specialists
McKenzie Guppy Ltd. of Blandford Forum,
Dorset, and has also undergone a full
re-spray to its original colour of
British Racing Green. The car is a
rare example of an original-bodied
vintage Bentley that offers spirited
performance as well as a fascinating
and thoroughly documented continuous
history including the same
owner for the past 36 years. |
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Source:
Fiskens
Updated: Apr 21, 2014
Posted: Mar 26, 2014 |
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March
2014 |
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"Writing book about late father
Douglas Wilson-Spratt. YM 57, MH
4827, FBL
732 I know he owned and have many
pictures of those and others. Checking
on KR
6157, HR
9538, but brother-in-law
Botsford may have owned or friend
John Cable. Appreciate any help in
dates and details?" |
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Source:
Tony Wilson-Spratt
Posted: Mar 07, 2014 |
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February
2013 |
Click
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Apr
26, 2013: Sold
Bentley 3/4½ Litre
Originally supplied in March 1926
to Mr E. Gordon Craig, Chassis NR507
was a Speed Model example fitted with
the same four-seat touring coachwork
by Vanden Plas that it retains today.
The Speed Model was extremely advanced
for its time: brakes all round, a
four-speed gearbox and genuine 90mph
top speed remarkable when one
considers that most ordinary saloon
cars of the period would have difficulty
achieving half the figure!
Briefly owned post-war by renowned
aviator Douglas Wilson-Spratt, YM
57 was soon bought by Roley Fraser
for the princely sum of £100.
Acknowledging that the original 3-litre
engine was "just about knackered
and making a fearful clatter"
he decided to upgrade to a 4½
Litre unit. A suitable engine was
sourced and, once fitted, Fraser was
soon out and braving the inclement
Scottish weather, embarking upon the
first of many tours with his Bentley
in the winter of 1953.
Fraser always regretted selling YM
57 in 1956 and jumped at the opportunity
to buy her back in 1976. Fraser, along
with his son, improved and upgraded
YM 57 for regular use that included
a long-range fuel tank and overdrive
to the gearbox for long-distance touring.
More recently YM 57 has benefitted
from a full engine rebuild by marque
specialists McKenzie Guppy Ltd, a
full re-spray and re-trim by Neil
Davis, a rebuilt gearbox by Brineton
Engineering and a re-cored radiator.
YM 57 is the rare combination of a
late, ultimate specification Speed
Model with its original aluminium
skinned coachwork and spirited performance
from the 4½ litre engine, as
well as a continuous and documented
history that includes one owner for
the past 36 years. The Vintage car
scene is becoming more and more active,
especially with events such as The
Flying Scotsman, and this Bentley
is ready to embark on a new chapter
in whats already been a very
active life. |
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Source:
Fiskens
Posted: Feb 23, 2013 |
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2011 |
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Roley Fraser sold this car (for the
second time) in 2011. 4½ engine
fitted 1953.
"Since then overdrive, coil ignition,
16 gallon tank, hydraulic front brakes,
4 star diff. alternator and electric
fuel pump also fitted. In 2010 a major
engine blow up resulted in a complete
engine rewbuild with all moving parts
being replaced.
I first purchased YM in 1953 sold
her to Hamish Gunn in 1954 and repurchased
her in 1976. The engine rebuild combined
with having to build a new house resulted
in the sale of YM in 2011" |
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Source:
Roley Fraser (Former owner)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 |
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2006 |
In
Scotland in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member |
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1976 |
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This car was repurchased
by Roley Fraser in 1976. |
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Source:
Roley Fraser (Former owner)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 |
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1960s |
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YM 57 was given the
4½ transplant. I believe this
took place in the 1960s. |
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Source:
Simon Laidlaw
Posted: May 01, 2008 |
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Click
on thumbnail for larger view |
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The late Douglas
Wilson-Spratt, racer-manufacturer-aviator
once got a speeding ticket while towing
this caravan with the Bentley pictured
above.
(Douglas Wilson-Spratt whose childhood
was spent creating models, and an
engineering background gleaned at
the Bristol Aircraft company that
included experience as production
test driver with the car division
of the same company, unearthed a passion
for motorsport. A hint of the future
was illustrated by boyhood bicycle
races against public transport, regular
visits to Hendon air displays, and
later speeding tickets issued while
towing caravans. Ownership of cars
such as the ex-Lord Brabazon Mille
Miglia Fiat , Bentley, Triumph TR
and Austin-Healey Sprite lead to drawings
and plasticine models created in 1961
to full size production of a lightweight
and aerodynamic sports car...) |
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Source:
WSM Cars
Posted: May 20, 2013 |
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EARLIEST
RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION |
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Chassis No. |
NR507 |
Engine No. |
1107 |
Registration
No. |
YM 57 |
Date of Delivery: |
March 1926 |
Type of Body: |
4-seater |
Coachbuilder: |
Vanden Plas |
Type of Car: |
SP |
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First Owner: |
Craig E. Gordon |
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More Info:
NR507 was Chassis
no. 1092
According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder
records, this car was originally fitted
with Body No. 1237 with a standard 4-seater
Sports; scratched aluminium / red /
black; 1/1926.
Michael Hay, in his book Bentley:
The Vintage Years, 1997, states:
"Was 1092. Vanden Plas body no.
1237. Engine NT 3136 ex ch. NT 3135." |
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Updated: Jul 04, 2007
Posted: Mar 01, 2007 |
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Submit
more information on this car |
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BACK |
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439 |
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147 |
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Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651 |
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Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg
for his Chassis No. KL3590 |
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Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207 |
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Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165 |
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