A la recherche de la Bentley de Mme James

Big thank you to all who have commented. Your comments have been so helpful, I have found the websites mentioned, and have purchased a copy of the book.
Mother is so pleased with the progress to date in trying to trace 'her car'. A little disappointed, but not surprised to find that engine chassis and registration number are no longer all on the same vehicle.

I am so grateful to find such a helpful group of enthusiast through PreWar.com

Jimmy James

I am afraid the news for Mrs James may not be that good. I have the Second Edition of Hay's book 'Bentley: The Vintage Years', published in 1997 where CT 9330/HT1633 is described as being broken up. Its engine should be in ch. 1225. CT 9330 acquired a 4.5L engine, bulkhead, and 4-seater body of unspecified design at some stage, presumably after Mrs. James sold it. The original body on her car was a Weymann saloon. The 4.5L acquired by CT9330 was returned at some date to its original chassis, and a new one found for HT1633 (NX3474?).

The pictures you have of CT 9330 in 1949 show a beautiful example of a Blue Label of late manufacture, with a high radiator and what look, from the wheel rims, to be high-sided beaded edge tyres. Hay states that Bentley switched to Dunlop well-based tyres in 1926, but shows pictures of two 1927 3L on beaded edge in their book. More importantly, the 1949 pictures show clearly that CT 9330 has chassis struts and is therefore a Standard, with a long chassis (10'10.5"), as one would expect from the records.

The car with number plate BF 6979 can be seen in its 2014 state at Stanley Mann's on Robert McLennan's 'vintagebentleys.com' site (note the need for an 's'). It is now clearly a short chassis car, without chassis struts. Mann wrote, somewhat cheekily, in 2014 that "(1928 chassis which is the same as a 4.5 ltr)". This would basically be true if both cars were long chassis, but not true when comparing short3L with short 4.5L (both 9'9.5"), since short chassis 3L had no struts. A short chassis 4.5L was not standard, but obtainable by order, according to Hay.

So the 2014 car has a shortened chassis, if it is HT1633. My understanding of DVLA rules requires an original chassis number. This could be found in a number of places, but was often on a cross-member behind the radiator. Numbers on front and back axles, and steering boxes are less satisfactory , for obvious reasons. I am assuming charitably that the 2014 version of HT1633 has a piece of the original chassis somewhere, possibly because it is still the same chassis, but minus 1'1" in the middle. It is possible, on this basis, that the car still contains the original gearbox and back axle. Alternatively, the original chassis may simply have been scrapped and HT1633 stamped on a new one.

The engine bay looks to be a typical stripped down rebuild, with most of the original parts removed. The steering column has a Bluemels-type wheel (possibly a replica), which was never seen on an ordinary 3L and the steering column is not original to the chassis number, and looks to be a fairly modern fix. The engine NX3474 is out of a 1929 4.5L, ch. NX3470.

From Robert McLennan's website, it is clear that Fraser Ewart (2005-2012) or Gerard McCosh (pre-2005) might be able to fill in more of the history.

We all forget these were just old cars at one time.

Currently registered with the number BF6967, so likely to be in the UK. It is likely that an approach to the BDC could put Mr. James in touch with the current owner.

This car was for sale through Stanley Mann in 2014 as a restored rolling chassis, with or without a VdP-style body. Some more information is available on vintagebentley . org website. (Remove the spaces in the web address).

Wouldn't we all love to come across this today in some back yard!