1930 Bentley 6.5 Litre 'Le Mans' Team Car Evocation

Lot details
Registration No: GF 8818
Chassis No: KR2679
Mot Expiry: Exempt

In Team Car guise, the Bentley Speed Six has quite some claim to being the greatest British sports car of the Vintage era. As well as winning the 1929 and 1930 Le Mans 24-hours (besting Rudolf Carraciola's supercharged Mercedes-Benz SS 7.1 Litre on the latter occasion), the model distinguished itself at Brooklands with victories in the Double Twelve and 500-Mile races. Based on an 11-ft 2.5-in wheelbase and fabric bodied by Vanden Plas, the Team Cars were altogether lighter, nimbler and more powerful than their production siblings. Remarkably, the Works were only ever forced to retire a Speed Six due to mechanical failure on one occasion. The most original of the surviving Team Cars - `Old Number 2' - is perhaps the world's most valuable W.O. Bentley. Little wonder then that these competition-forged Speed Sixes have inspired a host of imitators. Although, few are as authentically detailed as `GF 8818'.

The veteran of numerous Speed Six restorations - one of which netted a class win at the internationally renowned Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance - David Ayre created the car on offer during the early 2000s. An avid long distance rally competitor, he knows more than most about engineering a W.O. Bentley to last. Mr Ayre has told us the basis of the project was a heavily damaged 1930 6.5 Litre chassis (number KR 2679) which was supplied new to Dr J. MacNaughton Christie of Regent's Park, London. He also informs us that the car boasts a genuine Bentley Motors 6.5 Litre engine block (including crankshaft / conrods), flywheel and clutch. H&H are indebted to well-respected W.O. Bentley broker Tim Houlding who inspected `GF 8818' at first hand on November 1st 2013 and reported as follows:

CHASSIS FRAME: The chassis frame is of the 11-ft 2.5-in wheelbase. It is my belief that the cross members and side-rails are reproduction.

FRONT AXLE: The front-axle bed is clearly stamped VA 4090 and the stub-axles appear to be genuine Bentley Motors components. VA 4090 was a 1932 Bentley 4 Litre that is thought to have been dismantled many years ago.

BRAKES: The front braking system has been built to the 1929/1930 Works Speed Six racing pattern, with pull-on brake-rods. The rear brakes are standard and correct. The hand-brake has been carefully crafted with the special Le Mans-type adjuster.

SUSPENSION: The road-springs are original Jonas Woodhead forged-eye type. The twinned shock-absorbers are reproduction Hartford type.

REAR AXLE: The rear axle casing and aluminium differential casing are un-numbered reproductions.

STEERING COLUMN: The steering column is, I believe, a reproduction built to correct 6.5 litre specification. The steering-wheel appears to be original.

GEARBOX: The gearbox is a reproduction "D" type gearbox, fitted with a speedometer-drive.

ENGINE: The crankcase carries the stamping FR 2634 but I believe that it is of modern manufacture as are the sump, valve chest and valve chest-cover. The inlet manifold is a genuine early Speed-Six Bentley item and the twin SU HVG 5 carburettors are genuine and numbered. The nearside Bosch GF6 magneto is genuine and very rare. The offside Delco-Remy distributor is genuine. The starter-motor is a correct and original Smiths type.

SUPERSTRUCTURE: The bulkhead is an aluminium reproduction. The Smiths cut-out and Bosch fuse-boxes appear to be genuine. The radiator is a reproduction Speed Six type, well-crafted in nickel-silver, with integral stoneguard. The fuel tank is an exact recreation of the type used by Bentley Motors Ltd on their 1929 and 1930 Le Mans Speed Sixes with good detailing of petrol and air taps. The headlights are original 11-in pillar-mounted Zeiss of the type used by the Company for their racing Speed Sixes during 1930. The twin short-trumpet Klaxon horns, mounted on the front chassis X-tube, are original items and correct for a Le Mans-style Speed Six.

COACHWORK: The coachwork is crafted as an exact evocation of the Works Speed Six Le Mans racing cars. The dashboard has been modelled to reproduce the layout of the Bentley Works racing cars. The Jaeger 0-120mph speedometer is correct and original. The clock is a genuine and very rare Jaeger Chronographe, with "minutes-total" window and sweep second-hand.

COSMETIC APPEARANCE: The vehicle presents extremely well and has been very diligently crafted as an accurate evocation of the Bentley Works 1930 Le Mans Speed Six.

DRIVING EXPERIENCE: The vehicle started immediately from cold with satisfactory oil-pressure. Several runs confirmed that the cooling system is efficient. The engine revved freely and enthusiastically and was very quiet in operation. The gearbox changed well, although slight adjustment of the clutch-stop is recommended. The road-holding was good. The steering was somewhat heavy at slow speeds but very acceptable at higher speeds.