Bentley 3 Litre 645 owned by RAF pilots
Contributed by Duncan Wright
"Bentley XU 5698 was jointly owned by LAC Henry Gilbert Stewart Briggs (1916-1939) and Flt. Lt. John Maurice Winnington Briggs (1920-1945). Both were pilots with the Royal Air Force and both died in plane crashes -- Gilbert died in Scotland on 9 Jan 1939 and Maurice in Canada on 10 May 1945.
They shared ownership of the car from 1937 to 1939."
According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1058 with a 4-seater Sports; eggshell black; 6/1924.
Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Vanden Plas body no. 1058. Extensive accident 12/27 - rebuilt on new 9'9½" frame, new A box casing and front axle beam. Engine now 799 ex ch. 791, original body still fitted."