Pre war Le Mans style Bentleys
Discussion
[quote=darrenw]A couple of years ago on the way to the Channel Tunnel:
We may have seen these on the way back. Sitting in the queue for the return trip and three of these rolled into the next lane. We next saw one later on the M25 but had a hell of a job keeping up with it. From the way it was heading I suspected it was on its way back to Stanley Mann.
We may have seen these on the way back. Sitting in the queue for the return trip and three of these rolled into the next lane. We next saw one later on the M25 but had a hell of a job keeping up with it. From the way it was heading I suspected it was on its way back to Stanley Mann.
I rememeber seeing one in a Hotel car park, when my son was six, I held his hand as we walked around it, unknown to me the owner was watching, and he came up and said that as we had been so carfull not to touch it he would take us for a ride in it, Only round the car park but an experience.
Re pre 70 limit cars - I wouldn't get too misty eyed about how modern cars are designed around the limit . Most 50s and 60s machines were achingly slow and almost without exception massively undergeared. A little car like an Imp would be screaming along at nearly 5000 at 70 and even big cars were nothing like as long legged as modern cars.
Bentleys - the last time I encountered a group of pre war Bentleys was in Scotland. I was filling up my Caterham and uttered a cheery 'good morning ' to the leather helmeted crew . I was met with a look that suggested I had crawled out from under a stone.
But, that apart, if you like seeing this sort of thing nothing beats the VSCC race meeting at Cadwell in early June. Wonderful machines including Bentleys and proper Bugattis being driven hard. And very nice people too.
Bentleys - the last time I encountered a group of pre war Bentleys was in Scotland. I was filling up my Caterham and uttered a cheery 'good morning ' to the leather helmeted crew . I was met with a look that suggested I had crawled out from under a stone.
But, that apart, if you like seeing this sort of thing nothing beats the VSCC race meeting at Cadwell in early June. Wonderful machines including Bentleys and proper Bugattis being driven hard. And very nice people too.
coppice said:
...if you like seeing this sort of thing nothing beats the VSCC race meeting at Cadwell in early June. Wonderful machines including Bentleys and proper Bugattis being driven hard. And very nice people too.
I couldn't agree more: VSCC Cadwell Park 2014Many years ago I sold my car (Mini 1000) to a chap for his daughter. He viewed the car and bought it paying by cheque, the name on the cheque was Bentley. I joking asked if he had one, he shrugged the question off with a laugh. Once the cheque had cleared through the bank we arranged for him to collect the car. Imagine the look on my face when he turned up in an open top 1920's british racing green Bentley similar to the photo's on this thread!!
absolutely love them.
A few years ago I was on a prewar-rally and there were two of them. The following year there was only one. Anyway, we were standing in the parking of a hotel and the owner, who knew I loved his car, a 6 1/2 l, asked me if I wanted to have a drive. So I climbed in the passengerseat but then he said that he asked me if I wanted to drive... Absolutely fantastic! One of the best days of my life...
It was only a pity that I noticed that my wife was following me and was driving an Alvis 4.3...
A few years ago I was on a prewar-rally and there were two of them. The following year there was only one. Anyway, we were standing in the parking of a hotel and the owner, who knew I loved his car, a 6 1/2 l, asked me if I wanted to have a drive. So I climbed in the passengerseat but then he said that he asked me if I wanted to drive... Absolutely fantastic! One of the best days of my life...
It was only a pity that I noticed that my wife was following me and was driving an Alvis 4.3...
coppice said:
Re pre 70 limit cars - I wouldn't get too misty eyed about how modern cars are designed around the limit . Most 50s and 60s machines were achingly slow and almost without exception massively undergeared. A little car like an Imp would be screaming along at nearly 5000 at 70 and even big cars were nothing like as long legged as modern cars.
Bentleys - the last time I encountered a group of pre war Bentleys was in Scotland. I was filling up my Caterham and uttered a cheery 'good morning ' to the leather helmeted crew . I was met with a look that suggested I had crawled out from under a stone.
But, that apart, if you like seeing this sort of thing nothing beats the VSCC race meeting at Cadwell in early June. Wonderful machines including Bentleys and proper Bugattis being driven hard. And very nice people too.
While most 50s and 60s cars were achingly slow, not all were. An Imp should do 70 all day long, or until it over heats if mine was anything to go by. The thing I'd be more worried about was the brakes. The chances of an Imp stopping from 70 was slim, The 40MPH were shed fairly easily after which is usually quicker to give them a half hour cool down before trying to slow down the rest of the way Bentleys - the last time I encountered a group of pre war Bentleys was in Scotland. I was filling up my Caterham and uttered a cheery 'good morning ' to the leather helmeted crew . I was met with a look that suggested I had crawled out from under a stone.
But, that apart, if you like seeing this sort of thing nothing beats the VSCC race meeting at Cadwell in early June. Wonderful machines including Bentleys and proper Bugattis being driven hard. And very nice people too.
. Top Gear have been having a go at the official braking distances from the highway code, which I think were measures in something like a Ford Anglia. I'd suspect that a driver doing 70 (honest officer) down the outside lane in a pre war Bentley probably has brakes that work, at least to some degree. My XK150 has 4 wheel disc brakes and even before I started tinkering with it would happily brake from 120+ (running out of revs, speedo gave up a long time before) at the end of the Lavent straight at a point well past the point where my road brain was screaming "Your definitely going to die".
Some years ago Pangbourne Bentley were offering an owners free'once over' that included all Crewe built cars. so i turned up in th spirit for an inspection by guys from the factory.
As it was going to take about 30mins they offered a ride in one of the factory owned 'Cricklewoods'
This guy took me up the A329 at speeds i would not have attempted in a modern car. (those that know the road know exactly what i mean) it was amazing to see the front wheels working as he certainly made exceedingly good progress through the bends. Streatley arrived in milleseconds, and the ride back was just as fast!
I still want one, but to buy one would mean having nowhere to park it, let alone live!!! The lottery might come up one day
As it was going to take about 30mins they offered a ride in one of the factory owned 'Cricklewoods'
This guy took me up the A329 at speeds i would not have attempted in a modern car. (those that know the road know exactly what i mean) it was amazing to see the front wheels working as he certainly made exceedingly good progress through the bends. Streatley arrived in milleseconds, and the ride back was just as fast!
I still want one, but to buy one would mean having nowhere to park it, let alone live!!! The lottery might come up one day
In the late 60's I worked with an elderly and charming guy named W.B. Scott. He told me that he used to drive Bentleys in racing, but I was not sure I believed him. However, it was all true and he took me to the Brit G.P. as his guest and I met all his 'chums' from the 30's in the BRDC suite.
I now realise how privileged I was to have been befriended by such a wonderful and great driver.
Check him out on 'Google'.
I now realise how privileged I was to have been befriended by such a wonderful and great driver.
Check him out on 'Google'.
johnxjsc1985 said:
marcosal said:
La Chartre Sur Loire during Classic LeMans last Year
they are simply magnificent machines.They are the zenith of empire, impeccable class and taste. They are from a time when men were real men.
When we didn't need to be saved from ourselves by an army of impotent inadequate cretins.
Sermon concluded.
Dr Jekyll said:
It struck me that while every other example of a pre 1960 car I've seen on a motorway has been trundling along the inside lane at 40 or 50, every time I've seen one of those Bentleys it's been bombing down the outside lane overtaking everything.
Me too. I suspect that they are owned by a certain type of (very wealthy) enthusiast. They may have been from a time when men were real men, but most men couldn't afford any car the time (my granddad drove a Model A Ford, but it belonged to his boss, and rode a BSA -with a lot of 'enthusiasm', apparently).If Sir need ask about fuel consumption, then this may not be the car for him.
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