A 3 Litre Speed Model retaining its original numbered components as fitted by the Bentley works at Cricklewood and passed off final test on the 16th March 1926. With continuous history from new and a beautifully documented history file.
A delightful Speed Model. Driving extremely well and very well maintained.
The above gives a summary, the following, should you choose to read it, is provided for your information, or if you prefer your entertainment and hopefully your enjoyment.
The 3 Litre Speed model was commercially the most successful for the Bentley company. Five hundred and thirteen were produced and as the model did not particularly lend itself to saloon coachwork, less than ten percent of production was bodied as such. Changing fashions of the period and the overt sporting nature of the model has reduced the surviving number of saloons to a grand total of two.
Chassis number AH 1489, was one of those few Speed Models fitted with saloon coachwork by HJ Mulliner and retained this coachwork until the late 1940s where it was replaced by a sporting two-seater body whilst in the hands of its sixth recorded owner Stuart Hassall who writes “I purchased it from an ex RAF type in Bexley”. That ex RAF type was A.R. Maxwell- Kelly and we know this because all owners of AH 1489 are on record from new to the present day.
Stuart Hassall had taken the Bentley with him to Kenya and was driving his son to college in 1961 when the roar of the engine attracted the attention of a young student named David Gaul. The son of an engineer, David was smitten with the Bentley and asked Mr. Hassall if he would sell it. Stuart Hassall was about to be sent to South Africa for work and so the princely sum of fifty pounds was agreed for the sale. The fact that David possessed neither a driving licence, nor fifty pounds was remedied with parental assistance and Gaul senior drove it home. The extensive history file shows correspondence relating to this, including the condition from Stuart Hassall that David would take good care of the Bentley. And so he did. For the next four decades.
The comprehensive and charming history file charts David’s return to England with the now disassembled Bentley following him in packing cases. Dispatched from Mombasa, with the dispatch note informing us that Gaul senior “tipped driver,” our Bentley arrived in May 1964 to Gringley On The Hill in Nottinghamshire. Copious correspondence charts the rebuilding, repainting and rebodying again of AH 1489 until finally man and machine were comfortably settled in England for a new life together.
….Until 1967. The lure of Kenya’s tea plantations was too strong to resist and so brokers for the British India Steam Navg. Co. Ltd. were paid £68.00 3.4d and the Bentley, now in wonderful order, was loaded onboard the S.S. Kenya bound for Mombasa arriving on the 26th March, having celebrated its fortieth birthday just ten days before. And so, once again our intrepid traveller and his cherished Bentley were settled.
….. Until 1972. The 5th of January saw AH 1489 loaded on board “Karanja” from Mombasa to Durban and on 13th March boarded the S.A. Oranje for Southampton. However, Rhodesia came calling and if that were not enough David had by this time been notified of an abandoned 6½ Litre in the docks at Entebbe. This was purchased as a project to be completed when time permitted and thus was subjected to the full travelling experience (in boxes). It comes as no surprise that David met the woman he was to marry on board a ship.
Feeling unnerved by the situation at that time in Rhodesia, the Gauls drove their Bentley the thousand miles to Natal in South Africa, (the 6½ followed in boxes) in 1975 where once again the Bentley continued to give sterling service, with small mechanical parts shipped over as required. Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Gaul and their Bentley were settled.
…. Until 1986.
AH 1489 (along with the 6½ in boxes) returned to England and settled at the family home in Norwich. With time, more money and seemingly the wanderlust conquered. David Gaul set about restoring the Bentley as you see her today. As a qualified engineer he was able to collaborate knowledgably with Bentley specialists across the UK to carry out the restoration to a high standard, including the fitment of the favoured Vanden Plas style coachwork by noted coach builders H&H.
All invoices and detailed works are on file and the quality of workmanship, is clearly visible today.
Having relinquished ownership in, the later part of the last century to continue another Bentley project (the 6 ½ in boxes), David Gaul continued to maintain AH 1489 for the next owner and the invoices for his services are again on file.
In the last twenty-seven years AH 1489 has had two keepers, the latter of whom is an extremely experienced vintage Bentley owner who has covered huge distances competitively in a 4 ½ litre over the last thirty years. Having also owned other Cricklewood Bentleys during that period he was attracted to AH 1489 by its history and condition and has continued to maintain it to his usual high standard. This shines through on the road, with a very slick gearbox and excellent road manners.
Offered for sale due to space requirement for a recent very exciting Bentley purchase this is a 3 Litre Speed model which should be viewed by anybody considering buying Bentley’s best seller.
Call 01923 220370 to make an appointment to view.
