Heinz ... that last sentence is so true ... and that's because you're a 'car guy' and not a 'money guy' ... same as a 'guitar guy' wouldn't touch the dodgy Les Paul with a ten foot pole ... they say "you can't cheat an honest man" .... in a way it's good to see these 'investors' getting their karma ... they're ignorant about the cars they buy and see them as just another commodity to increase their bank balance ... serves them right for failing to do Due Diligence and being souless cash-vampires! 🙂

K

K, as best I can remember the ordinary man in the street looked upon old cars as just bangers in the 50`s and 60`s until the Classic press emerged in the 70`s and began to hype the market, up till then my pals and I used to enjoy dragging the occasional old Jag out of a garden. I have vivid memories of bringing a Jensen CV8 back to life that was found in a garage at the back of an old house, but then that is just another story from a misspent yoof..(-:

Another perhaps worthy of a mention was that of a Bugatti Royal being found, covered in many years of dust in a garage just a bit more than a stones throw from here in the 90`s I think...That`s one we missed... (-:

I care not a jot about investors, I suspect many a machine that would have gone to the crusher was saved as the result of the increase in market interest..? The hope is that they protect their investments till their value drops at which time just a chance I might get to trade my +8 for something truly vintage with a bit of power, and which these days more suit my reduced annual open sports car mileage.. Though in truth I suspect the Mog still fits most of that demand, which suits ME just fine..

Well here it is, in all its pristine newness. Snapped by me at Goodwood this morning...

I almost misread that as "snapped up by you" Ian!

Thanks for posting the pic Ian, gotta ask....is the drip tray original..? Though given there is no drip in it that I can see the next question is... Is there any oil in the engine or is it that it is never fired up..? Still, it is rather special is it not..?

No, it's an exact replica of Tim Birkin's 1928 drip tray.

It would be interesting to know how the pre war Bentley community feels about such fakes. Of course, the usual conversion, a Le Mans body on a sedan chassis is also a falsification, but at least the frame, engine and transmission still have a history. The thing is then originally old and not as new as the Dacia in the car dealership next door.

I have some clients with big old Bentleys.

One was very rude about another, dismissing this other's Bentley with the words "you do know it's a repro don't you?" after I'd mentioned how lovely it was.
It is rebodied.
So I think there's a fair amount of snobbery in there
Nick

Yes - you won't find that in the Spitfire world I don't think as there is no other way than a partial or total rebuild for a real bit of important history in action .

There are some classic Morgan three wheeler owners who won't even speak to 5 speeder owners...very sad !