The following advertisement text by Stanley Mann was found on the Stanley Mann Racing website on October 27, 2015:

"1926 BENTLEY 6½ LTR SHORT CHASSIS SPORTS TOURER
Registration Number: YR 633    Chassis Number: TB 2542    Engine Number: FW 2605
Price: £POA

YR 633 The only remaining sports chassis 6½ Litre vintage Bentley with original coachwork in existence and the most exclusive ever to leave the factory.

Specified at huge expense with HJ Mulliner "Simplex Coupe" bodywork in 1926 YR 633 features the traditional construction method of aluminium over seasoned ash coupled with a bespoke stylish hood mechanism by Beaton & Son of London. Uniquely there are four windows which lower into the coachwork and with the hood lowered create a virtually fold flat appearance. Raising the hood and windows creates a wonderfully snug environment.

With continuous history from new the factory records show that in 1927/8 she received the enhancements by Bentley Motors Ltd which were offered to all 6½ Litre Bentley owners at no cost. Still retaining the benefits of those enhancements YR 633 also retains her original engine, gearbox, steering box, twin magnetos, incredible and rarely seen Smiths 5 jet carburettor and of course her original 11’ chassis.

The combination of this chassis length and the exclusive coachwork give a beautifully proportioned appearance whilst continuous maintainance coupled with a splendidly executed and exquisitely detailed restoration carried out 10 years ago ensure that YR 633 is as exciting to drive today as she was almost 90 years ago. Stylish, decadent and redolent of the period.

Neither Mr. Bentley nor Mr. Mulliner had heard of the phrase then, but the Bentley they created in 1926 really does have the wow factor."

This car is for sale as of October 27, 2015.

The following advertisement text by Stanley Mann was found on the Stanley Mann Racing website on October 6, 2015:

"1926 BENTLEY 6½ LTR SHORT CHASSIS SPORTS TOURER
Registration Number: YR 633 Chassis Number: TB 2542 Engine Number: FW 2605
Price: £POA

YR 633 The only remaining sports chassis 6½ Litre vintage Bentley with original coachwork in existence.

Specified at huge expense with HJ Mulliner "Simplex Coupe" bodywork in 1926 YR 633 features the traditional construction method of aluminium over seasoned ash coupled with a bespoke stylish hood mechanism by Beaton & Son of London. Uniquely there are four windows which lower into the coachwork and with the hood lowered create a virtually fold flat appearance. Raising the hood and windows creates a wonderfully snug environment.

With continuous history from new the factory records show that in 1927/8 she received the upgrades by Bentley Motors Ltd which were offered to all 6½ Litre Bentley owners at no cost. Still retaining the benefits of those upgrades YR 633 also retains her original engine, gearbox, steering box, twin magnetos, incredible and rarely seen Smiths 5 jet carburettor and of course her original 11’ chassis.

The combination of this chassis length and the exclusive coachwork give a beautifully proportioned appearance whilst continuous maintainance coupled with a splendidly executed and exquisitely detailed restoration carried out 10 years ago."

This car is for sale as of October 6, 2015.

The following advertisement text by Stanley Mann was found on the Stanley Mann Racing website on August 6, 2015:

"1926 BENTLEY 6½ LTR S. CHASSIS
Registration Number: YR 633 Chassis Number: TB2542 Engine Number: FW2605
Price: £POA

ONE OF THE TOP TEN VINTAGE BENTLEYS IN THE WORLD.
THE ONLY SHORT CHASSIS 6½ LTR SPORTS TOURER KNOWN TO SURVIVE STILL FITTED WITH ITS ORIGINAL BODY AND ALL MATCHING NUMBERS.
THIS IS THE VINTAGE BENTLEY THE WELL INFORMED WOULD WANT.
TOTALLY CORRECT WITH HER AMAZING VERY LIGHT STEERING AND CLASSIC LOOKS.
FULL HISTORY
BODY BY H.J.MULLINER
EXCELLENT CONDITION
PERFECT HISTORY."

This car is for sale as of August 6, 2015.

Pebble Beach, 2009

Year: 1926; Model: 6 1/2 Litre Simplex Coupe; Condition: Restored / #3+

This was a well-known and -travelled car, having been shown and toured extensively by a prominent owner for years. It's the only surviving SWB Big Six Bentley still hanging onto its original bodywork, restored in the 1970s after being rediscovered in a Rhodesian field in the Sixties. Much use showed in both finish and roadside repairs, and it appeared to have been repainted again in the interim. It remained, unavoidably, impressive and presentable. A tremendous and authoritative history file was presented with the car, which took a fascinating journey to Monterey.

Gooding & Company Auction - Nov-Dec 2008? / Not sold

Pebble Beach 2008
1926 Bentley 6½ Litre Simplex Coupe

Chassis: TB2542
Engine: FW2605
Estimate: $1,200,000 - $1,500,000

6,597 CC Inline Six-Cylinder Engine Overhead Camshaft, Four Valves Per Cylinder 150 BHP Engine 4-Speed Gearbox Dual Ignition

- Welcome At Many International Rallies And Concours
- Relaxed, Rapid Touring At Today’s Highway Speeds
- Fully Restored By Bentley Specialists
- One-Off Coachwork By H. J. Mulliner
- CCCA Full Classic™
- Sole Remaining "Big Six" Short Chassis With Original Coachwork

St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance 2008.

1926 6.5 litre, Reg No: DZ 31, Engine No: FW 2605, Chassis No:TB 2542

This beautifully restored Bentley, first registered 18 Sept 1926 to Mrs Chalmeley in England, spent a long time in South Africa. It left England in 1937 and was owned by Desmond Baumann (of biscuit fame) in 1938. From late 1938 it was owned by Mike Simpkins in Rusape, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and then in 1964 was bought by Tony White in Cape Town. The car was then a wreck and Tony did a superb restoration before selling it in 1977 to Mr Macdonald-Hall in Essex, England. Matt bought the car in 2002 (after two more owners - one in Portugal and one in the USA) decided to sell.

Matt decided that things were not right with the engine, gearbox and diff after a comprehensive inspection by Tony Fabian of Blackmore Engineering, Sussex, England. By the end of 2003 all the work was completed. Sadly in March 2004 the car was involved in an accident - no fault of the owner - which meant a lot more work for Tony Fabian and a body restoration by Jim & David Pearce in England. This 1 1/2 year restoration was excellent and the car was applauded at the last Bentley Drivers Club at Rousham Park near Oxford in 2006.

Matt is looking forward to bringing it back to South Africa to some of its former roots.

1926 Bentley 6½-Litre H.J. Mulliner Convertible 'Big Six'at the 2007 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

This photograph was taken during the 2006 Bentley Drivers Club 70th Anniversary Summer Rally and Concours d'Elegance.

Matt Sysak has identified this car as being his Chassis no. TB2542 — Dec 7, 2008

Photograph was taken during 2006 Radnor Hunt Rally and Concours in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

Matt Sysak has identified this car as being his Chassis no. TB2542 — Nov 24, 2008

This powerful Bentley 6.5 litre was delivered new to Lady Cholomondley in England in 1926 and thence to a succession of owners until it was found abandoned in Rhodesia in 1960. It was restored in 1972 and then had several additional owners until it was obtained by its present owner. A total restoration was undertaken from 2004 until 2006.

This early 6.5-liter 'sport model' Bentley was the factory's choice for their team's racing cars due to its size and weight advantages. It is the last 'sports model' chassis surviving with its original coachwork intact. It has its original engine, and was the 42nd car to be delivered to a retail customer. The car was delivered on September 18, 1926, after H.J. Mulliner completed the one-of-a-kind 'Simplex Coupe' body. The coachwork is a four-window convertible with a rumble seat. The windows lower into the coachwork so as to provide full protection from the elements with the top up. When the top is down, it has the desirable 'fold flat' appearance. The mechanicals are as originally provided by the factory, including the 6.5-liter, six-cylinder, single overhead cam, four-valve, dual-ignition engine. The four-speed transmission is driven through a single-plate clutch. The car was found abandoned on a farm near Rusape, Rhodesia, in 1964, and was completely restored in the UK in 2005-2006.

BDC Concours, 2006

A truly magnificent W.O. Bentley with its original H.J.Mulliner ''Simplex'' coachwork and all matching numbers.

"TB2542 was repatriated in July of 2006 and I have driven the car approximately 900 miles since with no problems. TB2542 is now a dark non-metallic blue over black with black canvas and claret interior. See the car as it is now appears in the above photographs."

Extract from article, "Original-bodied Vintage Bentleys In America", by Matthew A. Sysak ©. Read full article here.

"After my acquisition of TB2542, oil pressure issues dictated the necessity of serious mechanical work on the engine. To confirm my diagnosis, I brought Tony Fabian of Blackmore Engineering at Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex to the US to evaluate the cars mechanicals."

"I already had very good experience with Tony as it was he who rebuilt my 4½ in 1992. We deduced that a comprehensive engine, gearbox and chassis rebuild was necessary. This effort including replacing the crankshaft, pistons, rods, big and small ends and three-throw drive along with every other system and sub-system. His excellent work was completed in 2003."

"In March of 2004, the car was involved in an accident which required Tony to again weave his magic. Jim and David Pearce performed a complete, body-off restoration. It was at this point that I replaced the head lamps with the current Grebel units similar to those which Tony White installed on the car during the 1976 restoration. It's a great look and the Grebel lamps are so good looking."

"Following the 1½ year restoration, we flew to the UK to join our fellow BDC members at Rousham House for the concour and 70th anniversary celebration. We then drove approximately 1,100 miles on a 10-day tour of York, the Yorkshire Dales, the Lake District and the Cotswolds before returning to the south then home. We left the car with the Pearces for fettling some minor bits before the car left the UK for home."

"She is a wonderful car to tour with. There is plenty of power, something on the order of 150 bhp. The assisted brakes have the initial braking effort of a modern car but one has to be careful not to overheat them as they suffer fade from overheating. Sustained use of all mechanical braking systems are subject to this issue."

"The effectiveness of the vacuum assist was exemplified when the engine stalled approaching the ferry across one of the lakes on our tour and the increase in braking effort was enormous - we almost got very very wet."

"6-cylnder cars have the reputation for very heavy steering. TB2542, according to all of those who have driven her is very nicely balanced and very light for a 6½. She's not as light as my old 4½ but not nearly as heavy as the 8 liters I have driven. On the twisty bits, she can actually be thrown around with some confidence, for an 81 year-old 6-cylinder car."

"The windscreen is flat and fixed with fixed triangular front quarter windows. The seat is a very comfortable and wide bench seat with separate bottom cushions. There are large map pockets fitted to the doors with full instrumentation to the dashboard. All of the instruments are very rare and are as originally supplied with the chassis. The speedo, oil pressure gauge and main light switch have the "Big Bentley" script on the instrument faces. There are auxiliary switches which operate the dashboard lamps (2), the interior light (fixed to the rear hood frame and very handy at night) and the spot lamp. Side cowl vents provide warm weather ventilation."

"The dickey is large enough for two average size adults although we remove the seat bottom and use the rear for luggage when touring. I like to describe the body as a two door all weather coupe with dickey."

"As an early Big Six, the car came with a tapered radiator and corresponding tapered bulkhead. The bonnet originally supplied was "plain" with doors on both sides which could be opened to provide for ventilation of the engine compartment and the dynamo was mounted to the rear of the overhead camshaft."

Extracts from article, "Original-bodied Vintage Bentleys In America", by Matthew A. Sysak ©. Read full article here.

1926 Bentley Big Six Simplex Coupe
"Big Six “Sports” (i.e., short) chassis TB2542 was fitted with what coachbuilder H. J. Mulliner called a Simplex Coupé, very much like a modern two-plus-two convertible, with a folding fabric top, wind-up door glass and rear quarter-windows that pull up with a strap. Its raked-back windshield was also ahead of its time and required a second set of quarter-windows fixed ahead of the doors.

Originally painted green with mocha fenders, the car weighed 4600 pounds and cost £2025 when it was delivered in September 1926 to one Mrs. P.R. Cholmeley (say “Chumley”) of Lushill, Highworth, Wiltshire, England, who stood five feet four inches tall and drove it herself. Like most early Big Sixes, it was later updated to 1928 specifications, which included moving the generator from under the dash to between the front dumb-irons. At some point, it was raced in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), then abandoned under a tree from about 1940 to 1960. It was first restored around 1972 and purchased by Sysak 30 years later. It was wrecked by a hit-and-run driver in March 2004, and Matthew A. Sysak had just gotten it back on the road for our test drive last fall.

The cockpit is wide and roomy, with generous foot space. The seats are minimally comfortable and adjust only with some disassembly. Prime the fuel system with the Ki-Gass hand pump, switch on the twin magnetos and press the huge starter button. The engine is one of the first to be rubber-mounted and is eerily silent even when driven hard. Acceleration, with 140 hp at 3200 rpm, is the quickest we’ve yet experienced in a car from the 1920s. The shifter — a steel I-beam that would serve equally well as the reversing lever on a steam locomotive — requires an uncomfortable reach forward and down, as it clunks though its gate with substantial seriousness. The clutch, similarly, is not stiff but requires a very long stomp. The worm-and-wheel steering is quick and heavy, although fast corners on a 132-inch wheelbase take up a lot of road. Vacuum-assisted mechanical brakes feel numb but, like the engine, operate with effectiveness well ahead of their time."

"Col. MacDonald-Hall (1976) and subsequent owners in the UK (Ron Player) and Portugal (Helmut Peitz) continued to maintain TB2542 until it was sold via a Bonhams auction in 2001. The 2001 purchaser was a dealer in vintage Bentleys, Mr. Peter Hageman who imported the car into the United States in 2001."

"Peter had the car re-painted in a single-tone claret while maintaining the brown canvas and the plum interior. He removed the Grebel head lamps and TB2542's appearance when I purchased the car in March of 2002 can be seen in the above photograph."

Extracts from article, "Original-bodied Vintage Bentleys In America", by Matthew A. Sysak ©. Read full article here.

"In 1964, Tony White bought the car, sight unseen, from Tony Whale-Smith (the 1938 owner from Rhodesia). It was not running and had to be put on an open rail car for transport to South Africa. After Tony White restored the car (c. 1976) he found the car's performance not to his liking. He found the performance of a 4½ more suitable. TB2542 as it appeared following the White restoration..." ...see above photograph.

"Consequently, Tony sold the car, via Stanley Mann, to Col. MacDonald-Hall in 1976. TB2542 was re-registered in the UK. With the assistance of the BDC, was re-assigned its original registration number, YR 633."

Extracts from article, "Original-bodied Vintage Bentleys In America", by Matthew A. Sysak ©. Read full article here.

This photograph is from an advertisement by Coys of Kensington in "Thoroughbred & Classic Cars" magazine, August 1977.

Text in ad says: 1926 6½ litre Bentley by W.J. Mulliner 2-door DHC with dicky seat.

This car has been identified as Chassis no. TB2542 by Olle Ljungström. "Photo showing reg. number CA is probably from when owned by K. A. White, Capetown, South Africa." — Olle Ljungström - July 29, 2008

For Sale advertisement, 1976

Bentley (TB2542) 6½-litre
Original, unique 11-ft. chassis; Mulliner drophead Coupe with rumble seat. Engine FW 2605. 2500 miles since bare chassis up rebuild. Pic. Green's 50 Years, pg. 47. Selling to finance other restorations. $36,000 U.S. or equiv. currency. Part exchange considered; inspection invited. K. A. White, P.O. Box 4566. Cape Town. 8000, South Africa. Cable: Toniwyt Cape Town. Tel: 655563.

TB2542 was owned by Desmond Baumann Capetown in 1937 (South Africa); J.H. Mitchell in 1938 (Capetown, South Africa); Tony Whale-Smith in 1938 (Rhodesia).

"The car, in the ownership of its English owners, had accumulated approximately 80,000 miles on the clock when it was exported to South Africa. After going through owners in South Africa, the car was campaigned including hill climbs. Eventually, TB2542 was abandoned in a field on a farm near Rusape, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The appearance of the car at that time was rough to say the least as can be seen in the following photo. Notice how the wings had been modified by the time this photo was taken. They were changed back to the much more attractive original shape by Tony White during his 1976 restoration."

Extracts from article, "Original-bodied Vintage Bentleys In America", by Matthew A. Sysak ©. Read full article here.

"...photograph is a view of TB2542 after completion of the coachwork by Mulliner prior to delivery to the customer. Note that a number plate has not yet been obtained for the car. The number YR633 was later assigned and a V-5 for this number is still with the car. The original paint scheme was purportedly pea green (we discovered this during its restoration) over brown. There was no indication of the color of the hides. The canvas was most likely black."

"On 5 June, 1928 at 24,449 miles, the factory records show that TB2542 was the recipient of factory changes to the mechanicals and coachwork relating to the change from a cam-driven dynamo to the more common crankshaft-driven one. The records note the following changes: "1928 Head Lamps. 1928 mods. fitted. Rad, dynamo, Bonnet Sides, Camshaft damper, Dashboard blanking plate." Hence the later-appearing dynamo through the bottom of the radiator, the louvered bonnet vents and the large round plate fixed to the passenger side of the firewall where the Smith's dynamo originally protruded through the bulkhead. These 1928 changes apparently were post-sale updates to this early 6½ car that replicated production design changes made to the production cars commencing with the cars shown at the 1927 motor show."

"At 30,790 miles, on 14 November, 1928 the Dewandre vacuum brake servo was retro-fitted, again as an update to bring the car up to the 1927 specifications. The only 1927 spec. change not made to the car was the removal of the nearside mag. so as to replace it with the Delco-Remy distributor as provided on the later production 6-cylinder cars. A "heavy-type" front axle was also fitted."

Extracts from article, "Original-bodied Vintage Bentleys In America", by Matthew A. Sysak ©. Read full article here.

This car was owned by J.H. Mitchell from 1937 to 1948.

"My father J.H. Mitchell owned this car from 1937 to 1948. In 1948 he sold it to a Mr H. Gormley. The car was in pieces, Gormley reassembled it and sold it on, presumably to Tony White-Smith. Dad sold it because it was in pieces and he was being transferred from Riet River and, according to my sister he could not afford the licence fee of 25 pounds!

We have a few photos of my dad with the car dated 1939 and 1947.

I would like to make contact with the present owner."