Topic: SAC#1060 :Bentley overdrive 1940 ( rebodied by S.Gilmore ?)

[nicanary]

Sidney Gilmore did build the Hall Bentley replica , I am told it is not a faithful copy of the Hall car

It was possibly the special that AllanL saw racing at Silverstone. 

[Lol774]

Ok only just seen this…but as the owner of FYH535 see the color picture I feel qualified to comment.

The vehicle in question B135MX was originally bodied by Park Wark and sold to Frank? Moore of Moore & Wright Sheffield Ltd, the sale was through Jack Barclay Ltd London, as were B125MX, FYH535 and B201MX FYH536. It has a similar body to these. At some point in the early 1960’s it was re-bodied with the new saloon body from the photos and possibly fitted with independent front suspension, however this is only a deduction from the front on photos. It was sold in this condition by specialist dealer Frank Dale (here it will be worth asking them for their records) in this condition and eventually acquired in a sorry state by Mr S Gilmore (of Belfast) in 1994 whom set about making a copy of the E R Hall car, however this car had to my knowledge three different body configurations during its racing life, apparently Mr Gilmore has chosen the Tourist Trophy specifications, see the model held in Wroxton. Apparently this work is finished, although no contemporary photos are yet evident. However recorded as seen by Bernard King in 2009. Do have a look at similar conversion also a re-body B180MR.

[nicanary]

Wow, great new information. I have the last known address of the Gilmore family in Belfast and have always intended to visit the house to enquire and possibly obtain a photo of the car as it now is.

We still don't know who built the modern body in the 1950s/60s - as you suggest, maybe Frank Dale's records go back that far. I was kind of hoping the Gilmores might know. However, what with the pandemic and the current high infection rate in NI I am loath to start knocking on doors.

[nicanary]

I have e-mailed Frank Dale's. Please  - nobody else do so, or they may get annoyed  .

PS very fast response - unfortunately their files before 1970 were destroyed in a flood. Their online archive does not give any relevant information.

[nicanary]

I have spoken with Mr Gilmore's son and he confirms that the bodywork in the puzzle photo was on the car when purchased. He doesn't know the name of the coachbuilder but apparently parts of the body are still in their possession in a workshop/lockup complex in Belfast and he has promised to check for any sign of a coachbuilder's plate attached to it.

The car no longer exists. The front suspension was from a Mark 6 Bentley, the chassis was extensively lightened and altogether Mr Gilmore reckons the original car had been butchered. Sidney Gilmore has another 3.5 litre Bentley and the special seen racing in the 60s was built from this car and parts of the puzzle car. The engine gearbox and transmission from the puzzle car was sold to someone in Oxford and he has built a special from these parts and it retains the registration of the puzzle car, although the Gilmore family retain the chassis plate.

I have been promised additional photos of the car as seen in "our" photo.

[Lol774]

Interesting how this time of year allows one to look at things!

Did you ever get to see the additional photos?

FYH537 (the Oxford car with the VRM) according to the DVLA is a Green “Bentley” which was first registered in November 1993, (I suspect when Mr S Gilmore purchased it) stating year of manufacturing is 1940, with a Registration document last issued on 17/7/2014. It has not been taxed since 1/8/2016 and there are no MOT records!

Big point the engine is listed as 2940cc which if true is not a Bentley likely Ford V6 if cc correct or a BMW straight 6, thus the only Bentley bit could be the gearbox and rear axle! However a conversation plate would have to be made to mate them together much more likely that the transmission is from the engine manufacture.

So would appear sadly the only thing in reality left is the registration number which should really be with the chassis.

A sad demise. Which stops the ambition to photo FYH535, 6, 7, 8 and Composer Lloyd-Webber’s FYH539 (a mkV) together!

[nicanary]

Sadly I haven't heard any further from the Gilmore family. IMHO there's always a limit to how far you can intrude into people's lives and not become a nuisance. I have decided to leave things as they are and if I hear any more it will be a bonus.