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ROLLS-ROYCE OUT FOR A BLAST IN BENTLEY'S
& BENTLEY BEST-VALUE BRUISER
ROLLS-ROYCE
& BENTLEY driver
BORDERS BENTLEY 1: COACHBUILT RARITY
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FULL RESTORATIONS, SERVICING, TOUR PREPARATIONS.
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* Forged Pistons. * Carburation & Porting. __* Viscous crank dampers.
* Alloy Wheels. * Fine Limit Engine Balance. * Transmission upgrades.
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ail: jeremypadgett@btconnect.com
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RR & BD SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Family matters
(Older cars that mean a lot to thelr owners are often important
because of their place in the family, or because of the memories
that tie them to one particular family member. This meant enough
‘to David Watt to bring his late father's Bentley - the one in which
he holidayed as a child - back from Canada, as detailed on page
‘40, Our cover car only exists in its unique form because of one
lady, known to us through documentation and records associated,
‘with this 1939 Wraith’s build, The interior, the part that is most,
personal to her, has survived in excellent unrestored condition.
‘To sit in her seat and see the modern world through the shaded
windows of this 83 year-old caris a thought-provoking experience.
We investigate a whole family of post-war production from
Crewe, as our ‘Anatomy Of.’ series reaches the Bentley Mk VI and
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn, Elsewhere, we explore the extended
family of Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiasts across the pond
from ourlittle stands, as we hear about the scene and the market
‘over in America for the cars we love. That leads us to a swooping,
‘almost sinister Bentley SI by Freestone & Webb on page 68, built
for Jack Warner of Warner Brothers - Hollywood royalty, indeed.
Then it's time to revisit a subject we've touched on before, but in
revised and expanded form: our Silver Shadow / Bentley T1 buying
guide begins on page 74. if you'd like to know what happens to
those too foolish to follow the wise advice it contains, move on to
‘our Staff Cars section, where Flying Spares are receiving plenty of
orders as we work through our own Shadow's list of shortcomings.
Keep metering,
Nigel Boothman
rb ed@kelsey.coukSEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022
COVER STORY
ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH
eo eteaets
22
36
64
80
92
UP FRONT
All the latest Rolls-Royce and Bentley news
MARKET WATCH
‘The under-rated, the unusual
and the plain desirable!
READERS’ LETTERS
Your chance to have your say
FROM THE CLUBHOUSE
Alllthe latest news from the RREC and BDC
PERSONAL CHOICE
‘Our readers, their cars and their adventures
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Fabulous, full-colour brochures from past times
MOTOR FREE ADS
Rolls-Royce and Bentley classics for sale
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 RR & BD“The car
pe clitiace ota Lim
BY EViCee (oat -a anu Cl aa
country roads.”
98 THE FINAL PAGE
Rolls-Royce complexity: intimidating but wonderful
SS
26 ARNAGE RED LABEL
It’s the epitome of what a Bentley
should be, to this owner
40 RETURN OF A SPECIAL BENTLEY *”
ar uu aly ai
‘tearful goodbye - and a joyful return 86
48 MEET THE EXPERTS:
PARK-WARD MOTORS
America's centre of Silver Shadows
is also a true marque specialist
ROLLS-ROYCE IN THE USA.
We ask experts about the classic Rolls~
Royce & Bentley scene in the USA
RR & BD SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
ROLLS-ROYCE
& BENTLEY driver
ANATOMY OF...BENTLEY MKVI &
ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER DAWN
Our history series tackles the post-war
successes that built Crewe's future
BENTLEY S1 FREESTONE & WEBB
A super-rare coachbuilt body and a
Hollywood past make this SI fascinating
SILVER SHADOW / T1 BUYING GUIDE
All you need to make a wise, rewarding choice
STAFF CAR REPORTS
Project progress, and many miles in the Turbo RUP FRONT
NEWS
BENTLEY'S SPEED SIX
TO BE REBORN
Only 18 months after the completion
of Car Zero, the First new ‘Blower
Bentley for 90 years, Bentley Mulliner
(effectively the ‘special wishes’ branch
of Bentley Motors) has announced
‘tie bringing the almost equally
Iconic Speed Six back to lfe
This new Continuation Series of 12 cars
will be mechanically and aesthetically
authentic to the Bentley racers that won
Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. The most
successful Bentley racing car ofits era,
the Speed Six is regarded as one of the
most important Bentleys in history,
not only further demonstrating the
‘marque’ world-beating performance
credentials but also proving the
concept of the Grand Tourer ~ a fast
car that remained comfortable and
luxurious, and capable of covering huge
distances with ease. Every Bentley
since has followed the same ethos.
The 12-car series has been designed,
and willbe developed and built, by
the same team of Mulliner specialists
that created the Blower Continuation
Series ~ the first pre-war continuation
project in the world, This acclaimed
run of 12 new 44 ite 'Blower'
Bentleys was based on the company's
‘own 1929 Team Car #2, which raced
alongside the Speed Six in 1930 - and
sold out instantly. The same is true
of the new Speed Six continuations,
with all 12 cars already reserved by
lucky customers around the world
The Speed Six Continuation
Series was announced by Bentley's
Chairman and Chief Executive,
Adrian Hallmark, whe commented:
AND
VIEWS
‘After incredible levels of skill were
acquired by the Mulliner team through
the development of the Blower
Continuation Series, and with the success
cof the cars with their customers, a chance
to honour the Speed Sixis a fantastic,
next step. It's vital that we protect,
preserve and develop not just this
important part of our heritage, but also
the knowledge we've gained through
working with these classic Bentleys
THE SPEED SIX
A high-performance version of the
644 Litre, the Speed Six became
the most successful racing Bentley,
winning Le Mans in 1929 and 1930
at the hands of Woolf Barnato, Sir
Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin and Glen Kidston
The Speed Six chassis was introduced
in1928 as amore sporting version of
the six-cylinder, 64 Litre, which was in
turn WO. Bentley's solution to finding
more power than the four-cylinder, 4%
-litre car could provide. He disliked Tim
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 202:
RR & EDBirkin’ solution - the supercharger: The
‘engine was modified to liberate more
power, with twin SU carburettors, a
higher compression ratio and a high-
performance camshaft, responsible
for an increase to 180 bhp. The Speed
Six chassis was available to customers
with three different wheelbases, with
‘the short chassis being the most
popular. 182 Speed Six models were
built between 1928 and 1930.
The racing version of the Speed
Six had a further-developed engine
running a compression ratio of 6.11
land developing 200 bhp. Two wins at
Le Mans in 1929 and 1930 cemented
‘the Speed S's place in Bentley history,
with the 1928 victory setting a new
benchmark for dominance at the race
Driven by Woolf Barnato and Sir Henry
‘Tim’ Birkin, a Speed Six led from the first
lap until the chequered flag, followed by
‘a procession of three other Bentleys.
RECREATING AN ICON
To deliver 12 new Speed Sixes that
are authentic to the design of the
racers of 1929 and 1930, the Muliner
‘team has first created a complete 30
CAD model of the car, from both the
‘original blueprints and detailed analysis
‘of original cars. Two cars have been
referenced for this process. ‘Old Number
3! was the third of three Speed Sires
‘entered by Bentley into Le Mans in
1930, Despite a difficult race it survived
‘the ordeal, and has been immaculately
preserved since, Stil fully road legal and
actively raced by its owner today, Old
Number 3 has been a valuable source
‘of design details and reference points
for the creation of the new cars,
‘Alongside Old Number 3, Bentley's
‘own Speed Six (GU409) - part of
Bentley's expanding Heritage Collection
= ig a 1929 road car wearing an identical
four-seat Vanden Plas body to the
‘original racers and restored to the
‘same specification, GU409 will provide
benchmark performance and handling