1929 Bentley Speed Six Weymann Saloon by Freestone & Webb
- Engine
- 6.5L inline-six, uprated to 180 bhp
- Colour
- Black
A 1929/1930 Bentley Speed Six on the 11'6" wheelbase chassis, fitted with a 180 bhp engine and distinctive lightweight Weymann fabric-panelled saloon coachwork by Freestone & Webb — one of only two such bodies known to survive on this chassis type. First owned in Surrey, the car was exported to New Zealand in 1935 by RAF Group Captain Keith Caldwell and spent decades there and in Australia, accumulating an unusually intact history. It retains its original chassis, engine sump, gearbox, body stampings, instruments, and what is believed to be its 1935 black paintwork, earning description as a remarkable piece of automotive archaeology.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate £800,000 – £1,300,000
- → 1930Acquisition unknownRootes Ltd.partial documentation
Acting as dealer, the firm advertised the car for sale in a June 1930 automotive publication prior to first private ownership.
- 1930 → 1931-06-01Private saleS.B. Peekpartial documentation
First private owner, based in Headley, Surrey; registered the car as PL817. Sold it upon upgrading to a newer Bentley model.
- 1931-06-01 →Private saleMajor J M J Evanspartial documentation
Acquired the car at 12,496 miles; continued with regular factory servicing including minor repairs in late 1931 and mid-1932.
- 1934 →Private saleRAF Group Captain Keith Caldwellpartial documentation
Reportedly acquired via Sir Malcolm Campbell from dealer Jack Barclay; exported the car to New Zealand in early 1935. Had the lower body repanelled in metal to address sun damage to the original fabric coachwork. The car was featured in a New Zealand newspaper in October 1939.
- 1955 → 1986Acquisition unknownD M Nathanpartial documentation
Kept the car in New Zealand for over three decades.
- 1986 →Acquisition unknownJim Nilsonpartial documentation
Relocated the car from New Zealand to Australia, where it remained largely unaltered into the early 2000s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownUK-based caretakerpartial documentation
Imported the car back to Britain and undertook sympathetic preservation work to the chassis and bodywork; also commissioned new front seats to protect the originals.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1931ServiceBentley factory service
Minor repairs carried out as part of regular factory servicing programme during the autumn.
Undertaken during the ownership of Major J M J Evans.
- 1932ServiceBentley factory service
Further minor repairs performed as part of ongoing factory servicing during the summer.
Undertaken during the ownership of Major J M J Evans.
- 1935Bodywork
The lower section of the Weymann fabric body was repanelled in metal below the beltline moulding, a common period remedy for sun damage to such fabric construction.
Carried out in New Zealand during Group Captain Keith Caldwell's ownership.
- —Restoration
Careful preservation work was undertaken on the chassis and body following repatriation to the United Kingdom, with a strong emphasis on retaining original materials and finishes.
Only the headliner required replacement; original woodwork, trim, and instruments were preserved.
- —Engine rebuildKingsbury Racing
A complete engine rebuild was performed by a recognised Bentley specialist; supporting invoices are retained in the history file.
Work carried out by Ewen Getley of Kingsbury Racing.
- —Maintenance
New front seats were made by a master upholsterer for regular driving use, allowing the original seat material to be conserved separately.
Commissioned by the consignor.
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