Category:Bonhams - The Paris Sale 2012 - Bentley 6½ 8-Litre Tourer - 1929

Description in the Bonham's sale catalogue

Lot No: 239

1929 Bentley 6½/8-Litre Tourer Chassis no. FA2510 Engine no. FA2514

This 6½-Litre Le Mans-style tourer offered here was constructed from parts by well known Bentley collector/racer and VSCC competitor, David Llewellyn, and has been upgraded with the engine block of an 8-Litre model. Off test on 19th January 1929, chassis number 'FA2510' is one of only 97 Bentley 6½-Litre models completed on the 12' wheelbase chassis, the majority being erected on the 12' 6" frame. The car started life fitted with Weymann-type saloon coachwork by H J Mulliner and was first owned by Mr R H R Palmer, of Messrs Huntley & Palmer, the Reading-based biscuit manufacturers. It was first registered in the UK on 30th June 1929 as 'RX 3612', a Berkshire mark. The car is described in 'Bentley, The Vintage Years' by Michael Hay (page 465).

David Llewellyn built the car as a copy of a Le Mans Speed Six, with replica Vanden Plas-type coachwork and to high-performance specification, its 8-Litre engine delivering tremendous torque. The 8-Litre block is mounted in reverse on the 6½-Litre crankcase so that the engine retains the appearance of a '6½' while the gearbox is an original Bentley D-type and the axles, steering box, etc are likewise genuine Bentley. After completion the car was bought from David Llewellyn by David Ayre, the Berkshire-based Bentley and Invicta specialist, who further improved it by fitting a servo to the braking system. At some stage the Bentley was loaned to a client to participate in a rally in South Africa. When the car returned it was discovered that the top had come off one of the pistons, so rather than risk further damage David dismantled the entire car and was in the process of reassembling it when a Dutch client, Dirk Lindenberg, persuaded him to part with it. The restoration was completed in time for the 2007 Paris-Peking Rally.

On the rally the Bentley was driven hard and the chassis broke behind the front axle's rear mountings. The car was sent back to David to be repaired and it was at this stage that the chassis was replaced with a Julian Ghosh frame to correct specification. It was decided that the originally chassis should be completely destroyed as it had already received a lot of repair work and was beyond saving. The replacement chassis was stamped with the original chassis number, 'FA2510'. The Bentley was then sold to the current owner (around 12 months ago) but he has not used it as much as he would have liked so it is being sold. Currently registered in the Netherlands and eligible for a wide variety of the most prestigious events, 'FA2510' is described as an honest,trouble-free Bentley ready for the fortunate next owner to enjoy."