Vintage Bentley Special Cosmetics Advice

[KTMsm]

I'm still sorting through Dad's cars and this one is now getting some attention

Being a pleb I thought I'd ask before committing an unforgivable faux pas

I know it'll never win a concours but I'd like to improve it before trying to sell it







The front had hideous indicators I'm thinking about chrome motorcycle torpedo type but they won't cover the holes, classic Beetle wing indicators would...

I hate the silver rad - I was going the paint it black and (hopefully) buy a stainless grille but looking at pics some had black grilles which would be far cheaper

The back - not a fan of the indicators - apparently they used to be on the front so could be re fitted but they're not great IMO

Is the plate / lighting set up usual ? I think it would look better with the lights further out

The interior - I'm assuming carpet would be usual

The dash - I was thinking about buying some turned alloy and re making it but someone suggested hydro dipping could make it look like walnut

I'm not keen on the steering wheel - I have an alloy & wood moto lita

Any other suggestions welcome but the entire budget is below £5k

Edited by KTMsm on Tuesday 31st October 18:32

[swisstoni]

I’ve no idea what that’s worth but I’d be very careful about any improvements you’d be tempted to make without advice from a Bentley expert.
It may be worth more left untouched.

[KTMsm]

swisstoni said:

I’ve no idea what that’s worth but I’d be very careful about any improvements you’d be tempted to make without advice from a Bentley expert.
It may be worth more left untouched.

That's why I'm asking on here

I think it's a complete DIY job - I'm not criticizing it, in general he did a better job than I could but some of the details are decidedly low rent

I will say that after several years in a garage, it started with a jump and drove beautifully although without seat belts, I'm not comfortable to explore it's limits - that's another question...

Lap belts ?

[Louis Balfour]

KTMsm said:

That's why I'm asking on here

I think it's a complete DIY job - I'm not criticizing it, in general he did a better job than I could but some of the details are decidedly low rent

I will say that after several years in a garage, it started with a jump and drove beautifully although without seat belts, I'm not comfortable to explore it's limits - that's another question...

Lap belts ?

Have you tried the Bentley Driver's Club? Helpful bunch, on old stuff anyway.

[swisstoni]

There is a Bentley and Rolls sub-forum on here. Might be worth asking on there.

[GoodOlBoy]

It's not a vintage Bentley it's a Mk6 Bentley Special i.e. it started life as a Mk6 (or R type) saloon

Difficult to tell from the pictures but it's possibly a Harry Rose body. The bonnet will be alloy but the rear of the tub will be fibreglass - that may help you to identify it.

Personally I'd leave it to the next person to sort it out and put their own mark on it. I don't think you will add any value by changing bits here and there.

A nice project for someone though. Good luck.

[Roy C]

As it's a special it's probably worth more if you leave it exactly as it is now. Even leave the dirt on it. The next owner will want to make it look how he wants it, so any tidying up may reduce it's value. They may even like the "patina" that you are about to remove.

[KTMsm]

Sorry, but a lifetime of experience of my father dealing with classics tells me that you want someone to fall in love with it - dirty, worn rubber mats etc don't do that

I remember when I first saw my TVR Griffith shining in the sun on a Ford main dealer pitch, surrounded by the mundane

I thought if that starts, I'm buying it

[dontlookdown]

KTMsm said:

Sorry, but a lifetime of experience of my father dealing with classics tells me that you want someone to fall in love with it - dirty, worn rubber mats etc don't do that

I remember when I first saw my TVR Griffith shining in the sun on a Ford main dealer pitch, surrounded by the mundane

I thought if that starts, I'm buying it

You are right about that, but people fall in love with scruffy 'barn finds' (awful expression) all the time.

The car looks closer to that condition right now than to a shiny forecourt queen.

[AmyRichardson]

dontlookdown said:

You are right about that, but people fall in love with scruffy 'barn finds' (awful expression) all the time.

The car looks closer to that condition right now than to a shiny forecourt queen.

Yup, special rules for stuff like this.

Unless it's a A* finished example the punter will be looking at the potential of the underlying vehicle and what it could be X years and Y £££ down the road.

This applies especially to left-field specials like this, enthusiasts only - not investor territory or some rich boomer looking dabble (defaulting to a basic options like 20s Bentleys, Bugattis, AMs, E-Types, etc.)

As an analogy, think of a sprawling, run-down country pile - you won't improve the price by throwing in an mid-price kitchen and some engineered timber floors - again the buyer foresees the liability and envisages their personal (and presumably expensively in-keeping) version of the end product.

[aeropilot]

KTMsm said:

Sorry, but a lifetime of experience of my father dealing with classics tells me that you want someone to fall in love with it - dirty, worn rubber mats etc don't do that

I would agree with you if it was a factory spec model, but, with a special that won't be the case, as almost certainly the only buyers interested will be looking at it as a project only to turn into something else, or make it what they want it to be, so anything you do will be a waste of your time and money, and not do anything to help the sale.
As said already, leave it as it is, dirt and all.

Only thing I would say is when was it turned into a special, and what is it registered as on the V5 etc., as with the more strict nature of the DVLA now regarding specials and registration, that could have a much bigger impact on its saleability or otherwise, than buggering about with indicators and what colour the grille needs to be painted, which is utterly pointless.

Edited by aeropilot on Wednesday 1st November 14:51

[AmyRichardson]

As someone else mentioned, get onto whatever communities exist for vintage Bentleys.

Fish a little, ask questions, get you contacts out-there; these are very niche products but you could get a couple of guys who both want it, and you might do alright!

[CKY]

KTMsm said:

I'm not keen on the steering wheel - I have an alloy & wood moto lita

Any other suggestions welcome but the entire budget is below £5k

Edited by KTMsm on Tuesday 31st October 18:32

Agreed, Mountney steering wheels are disgusting and fit for the bin. Aside from that, i'd perhaps recommend a browse at someone like Blockley Tyres' offerings, whatever it is on currently just looks wrong and will probably get a few looks from the Bentley anoraks.

[davepen]

KTMsm said:

Is the plate / lighting set up usual ? I think it would look better with the lights further out.

Those D lights typically have a clear window on the side to provide illumination to the number plate, so need to be close the the number plate. If you move them, then you'd need to povide another light for the number-plate.

AmyRichardson said:

As someone else mentioned, get onto whatever communities exist for vintage Bentleys.

The IFS (coli springs) show it is a MKVI special, which can fetch more than the "standard steel" cars.

I'd get it running and MOT- able (lights working) and go for a blast.
Dad had a similar (AC 2 litre (?)) based special for a while, and a MKVI saloon.

Edit to add, I see there is a good write up of the car on the trader's site from a few years ago. May be give him a call and he could advise.

Edited by davepen on Wednesday 1st November 20:13

[KTMsm]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one

Here's one of his others, that I'm selling as a barn find - complete with expensive dust

[Louis Balfour]

KTMsm said:

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one

Here's one of his others, that I'm selling as a barn find - complete with expensive dust

What's that then?

[KTMsm]

Louis Balfour said:

What's that then?

I call it a noddy car

It's a Singer

[alfaspecial]

CKY said:

KTMsm said:

I'm not keen on the steering wheel - I have an alloy & wood moto lita

Any other suggestions welcome but the entire budget is below £5k

Edited by KTMsm on Tuesday 31st October 18:32

Agreed, Mountney steering wheels are disgusting and fit for the bin. Aside from that, i'd perhaps recommend a browse at someone like Blockley Tyres' offerings, whatever it is on currently just looks wrong and will probably get a few looks from the Bentley anoraks.

Suggestion: why not wrap the steering wheel with string (take a view on whether to remove the plastic/leather though).
Looks period on a Bentley...... and the cost..... well a ball of string isn't going to break the budget!






I believe the technical term is coxcombing
https://www.frayedknotarts.com/tutorials/coxcombin...






To tidy the dashboard, you could spray on black crinkle paint (MGB suppliers) or buy some very thin engine turned alloy.
This is the dash of my car

Edited by alfaspecial on Thursday 2nd November 15:47

[Dogwatch]

Think I’d just have it valeted and shiny for market. Was thinking of the Bentley but applies to both really if they are to be sold.

[GoodOlBoy]

The car is a project. Whoever buys it will have clear idea how to take it forward.

With all due respect, wrapping steering wheels, painting/polishing dashboards and moving lights around won't make the slightest difference to its saleability.

£5k spent on personalising the car to one's own taste will be £5k wasted IMHO. A 1960's motolita steering wheel on a 1930's replica is just one example - you may like it, I'd take it straight off.

What are the mechanics like ? Money spent on getting the car running and driving well would give a better return.