Correct Mascot

Nicholas Simons · Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 8:07 pm Post subject: Correct Mascot

Is there a correct mascot to use on a 1924 3 litre? I've seen the B with wings on the 8 litre cars but most 3 litre cars have no mascot. Of course, if the owner has made it into a le Mans replica it will have a quick release cap so cannot be fitted with a mascot, but back in the day did owners fit a mascot and if so, of which design did WO approve for the early cars?

John Murch · Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:57 am Post subject:

My first reaction to your question was to say that 3ltr cars (certainly in the earlier years) seemed to be delivered with a radiator cap which had a straight bar on the top.
However looking at a photo of my car in 1924 being delivered new without a body to Melbourne Australia, it seems to be fitted with a temperature gauge in the radiator cap, perhaps an extra for hotter climates.
I’m sure that you could have whatever you wanted, I don’t recall reading anywhere of WO having a preference.

Nicholas Simons · Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 9:26 am Post subject:

My car is chassis 664 and the photo on the Vintage Bentley website shows it with a circular flat radiator cap, which it appears to have to this day, so no T bar. I was just wondering if it was the done thing to fit a mascot. Obviously, I would fit a town cap when parking in public.

John Murch · Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 3:33 pm Post subject:

On the vintagebentleys.org web site, I note that your car (with the saloon body fitted) is sporting a BDC badge, I’m no expert on the club badges, but suspect that it is probably post war, so it may not be its original rad cap.
The caps with the straight bar are surprisingly complicated, being adjustable to ensure that the bar is straight across. Due to the number of these one sees on 3ltrs, they may the default fitting. One sees other caps and a variety of mascots, I can’t imagine anyone would take offence at something individual being fitted!

Robert Clifford-Wing · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 12:54 pm Post subject:

Our 3 litre YO6755 (SR1416) has a bar radiator cap. There is a photo of it from the 20's clearly showing the cap.

Robert Clifford-Wing · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 12:58 pm Post subject:

Our car YO6755 (SR1416) has a straight bas cap. On vintagebentley.org thee is a peiod photo that clearly shows it fitte to the radiator.

Nicholas Simons · Posted: Fri Dec 20, 2019 3:13 pm Post subject:

After doing some research I have found out that the Flying B was introduced in 1923 and made available until 1931. Two sizes were made, a 6" wingspan for the 3 and 4 1/2 litre and an 8" wingspan for the 6 1/2 and 8 litre cars.
There appears to be a misunderstanding of what exactly is a mascot. Correspondence with a well-known modern day supplier of WO parts resulted in a reply advising that they could supply a T bar cap, whereas I had specifically asked about mascots! This same supplier has both size Flying B's on their new parts lists. A further enquiry has resulted in no reply, so they clearly have no interest in making a sale.
It appears, therefore, that it is quite acceptable for the owner of a 3 litre to fit the 6" Flying B, or even an 8" one. These sometimes appear on a well-known online auction site.

Robert Clifford-Wing · Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2019 1:23 pm Post subject:

Our 3 litre YO6755 - SR1416 had a straight bas cap. It can be seen in a period photograph.