Harry Rose Cars

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 11:13 am Post subject: Harry Rose Cars

The Harry Rose may be the body of which there are the most examples extant and I agree with Malcolm that it would be good to try and record them. I shall put a little note in the next newsletter asking HR owners to make themselves known.

In the meantime we could see how many we can get?

Here's a few to get us started.

Malcolm's
Pat Connock's
The late Dennis Potter's car (originally built for John Cobbing)
David Radcliffe's; possibly the only MKVI special to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally, but I may have to stand corrected on this?
Paul Forty's super quick racer. (Which his parents have just taken on a gentle tour of France illustrating the versatility of these cars)

I've got photos of the above which I can post when time permits.

Also the following from BS&SBs;

LFX 666G
GSV 284
HAC 362?
HSF 740
PKR 854
OFX 885?

There are undoubtedly more in there. Ray's index is not exhaustive.

I would like to nominate Malcom as the group's Harry Rose specialist.

Work beckons, sadly.

Malcolm Gordon · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:45 pm Post subject:

More than happy to help out with listing the Harry Rose bodied cars. I will give you a call to discuss what would be required.

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Malcolm,

That's great. It's early days yet and we're blazing the trail for SIGs. I did ask Paul if we could have some space on the website e.g. for galleries of pictures of the cars. A Harry Rose gallery would be a good example of such a thing.

In the meantime, we could use this thread as a repository for information until something better comes along. The only real downside to this is that the pictures will get reduced to low-res (and, if successful, it will become a pain to navigate).

I'm very much open to suggestions. We're in uncharted territory here.

Do you mind if I borrow the image of your car at the concours to go in the newsletter?

Best wishes,

Stephen

Paul Neil - Maclachlan · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:44 am Post subject:

Well volunteered Malcolm, you get my vote as well!
Paul Neil-MacLachlan

Mark Taxis · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 10:01 am Post subject:

PKR 854 is now in Australia, just completed a respray and retrim, Stephen, I sent you an email with some photos and a speil about the car, hope this got to you ok as it was a large file
Regards
Mark
_________________
Mark Taxis
Sunshine Coast
Queensland 4560

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:51 pm Post subject:

Hi Mark,
Yes I did get the file you sent. Many thanks. I thought I had sent an acknowledgement but evidently not. Please accept my apologies. Things have been rather hectic of late. For example I was at BDC do's both days this weekend; the AGM on Saturday and our regional 20th anniversary picnic on Sunday. Both successful in their own way but there wasn't much time for other things.

Malcolm,
Have you got this one in your collection? I took these photographs on Sunday at the E. Mids meet at the Newark Aircraft Museum

While I've got your attention; am I right in thinking you got an award for building your special? If so, perhaps you could let us know which one?
Kind regards,
Stephen

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 2:06 pm Post subject:

Kindly brought to our attention by Mark Taxis;

http://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/detail/bentley-mk6-207006

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 2:22 pm Post subject:

R Type in Angouleme 2014;

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:09 am Post subject: Harry Rose bodied MK VI D?? ??0

Harry Rose bodied MK VI.

OOPPS! the Renault came off worst.

Interesting hydraulicals

The nicest untouched gearbox ever, with only very black oil and a broken Achilles heel.

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 8:52 am Post subject:

Just goes to show how incredibly safe driving these old cars is compared with, say, motorcycling or eventing.

Interesting hydraulics, indeed.

A P S Kimberley · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:12 pm Post subject:

This isn't a topic which I understand fully, so please forgive me if I'm in error.
While collecting my (more modern) car from Royce Service, I saw this 'special', which they said was a Harry Rose 'tub'.

http://www.royceservice.co.uk/inventory/bentley-mkvi-special-4-5ltr/

I don't know whether it's one you've counted already, or whether it doesn't count, for some reason. I'm sure the experts will explain.

Adam K.

(I tried to 'upload' a couple of my own pictures, but the 'send' button didn't respond).

Robert Zannetti · Guest

The car that you saw at Royce Engineering is the beloved special that once belonged to the late Dr. Denis Potter.

Mark Taxis · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 9:44 pm Post subject:

PKR 854 sporting new paint, mudguards and interior

_________________
Mark Taxis
Sunshine Coast
Queensland 4560

Simon Philip Kelleway

Evening everyone. We have been Bentley folk for a while (WO and Mk VI) and have just bought another Mk VI project.

We race pre-war cars and I am planning to use some pre-war style in this Mk VI build, and hence my question....

As regards the rear spring hangers for the rear springs, is there a reason why Specials Builders do not simply use a single cross piece at the back end of the chassis to tie the chassis arms together, go through the chassis box section and out at the other side where they are turned down to accept the rear end spring hangers? On the photos in this thread there are some lovely looking cars, but they appear not to do this, instead having a separate cross bar further back.

This means that the rear end of the chassis remains visible and to my mind is less efficient.

Have I missed something here and is there a reason why people don't adopt this approach, please? Does anyone know?

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2020 10:22 pm Post subject:

Not a MKVI, but here's the rear end of my very much stalled R Type Special project, with no apologies for the accumulating grime. That's a bit of seamless tube across the back, and I made up those shapely ends to the truncated chassis rails.

It could be argued that by far the biggest challenge facing a special builder is actually finishing the car. You will note that, as well as having the original rear cross-member in place, the other common feature of the cars in this thread is that they got finished.

It's great that we have finally got the forum photographs working again. I would have been less hesitant about renewing my club membership if I'd known.

Anyone know when it happened?

John Murch · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 10:27 am Post subject:

Back in 1973/4 I bought a Harry Rose body to go on a 1932 Alvis speed 20 chassis I sort of rebuilt, a subsequent owner removed the body, I have no idea where it went!

Part finished, for its first road test! 45 years ago, how time flies.

John Murch · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 7:16 am Post subject:

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26109/lot/88

Another one up for auction. 4.9ltr engine too.

Stephen Blakey · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:49 am Post subject:

Thanks for the heads-up. That looks like fun although the low condition score may put people off. Maybe it's just got a very honest owner? The reserve is lower than we have got used to seeing.

A bit off-topic, so is the reserve on this;

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/42-1926-Bentley-3-Litre-Speed-Model-Tourer/?lot=4142&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=329&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=48&pn=1&g=1

BTW, Love the Alvis. I wonder if that body is now on a Bentley?

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:54 pm Post subject:

Interesting BHP figures, gross or net?