Unknown Bentley

John Robins · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2023 3:41 pm Post subject: Unknown Bentley

Can anyone help me with a chassis number and a possible lead on who built the body?
This is a still from a 1963 TV Series called “The Sentimental Agent”, in which the car is referred to as having been driven by Barnato in the 1929 Le Mans, but I’m sure we must know better.

It’s on YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=5ksN9sw4vFM Suggest you watch with the sound off, it’s almost at the beginning.

Thanks in advance
John Robins

Martin Webster · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2023 2:12 pm Post subject:

Hi John,
The series featured some very interesting cars as you will have no doubt viewed on the IMDb cars in movies section but sadly nothing specific about the Bentley in question.
Martin

John Robins · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2023 3:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks Martin,
I am an admin on the Internet Movie Cars Database and am trying to get the most accurate identification possible which is a bit of a struggle with the conflicting information. My provisional guess would be a 3 litre with touring coachwork of some kind, but that might not be right. Looking through all the listed vintage cars with “N” at the beginning of the plate is a bit boring! Pity it’s not a MkVI!

Cheers
John

Martin Webster · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2023 5:54 pm Post subject:

John,
I am looking through the BDC Members and their Bentleys for 1963 as a sideways solution looking at cars with registrations beginning with N and will let you know if anything might be a possibility. I agree, probably a 3L and all the business about supercharging and Barnato in the conversation is just hot air.
ATB
Martin

John Robins · Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2023 6:28 pm Post subject:

Thank you, mine only go back to 1982. 👍

John Murch · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 8:14 pm Post subject:

Is this a possibility
http://www.vintagebentleys.org/carpages/nu6319.php
Body and screen seem similar, bar between headlights (but different lights).
Not many 3ltrs with N as the first letter, but none that I have seen photos of look quite right!

John Robins · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2023 8:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks John, thanks Martin.

I’ll go forward with John’s suggestion, and express my gratitude to you both.

It’s been a while, John, I hope you keep well.

All the best to you both.

Cheers

Martin Webster · Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 5:23 pm Post subject:

Very interesting thanks John.
From Members and their Bentleys 1963 NU6319 was listed as a 3/ 4/1/2 and the owner lived in Harlow. Going even further back to the edition printed in 1950 it was still listed as a 3/ 41/2 and lived in Hendon. Still registered with DVLA with 4.5 L engine today.

Martin

John Robins · Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:48 pm Post subject:

Thanks Martin, the extra history will go down well with the IMCDB members.

With best regards
John Robins.