Registration No: NYF555P
Chassis No: SBH21042

• Formerly the property of renowned film maker and restaurant critic Michael Winner
• Rare and desirable flared wheelarch model
• Subject to over £25,000 worth of expenditure during the current ownership including a full respray by XK Engineering
• Original Dark Blue leather upholstery, refinished wood veneers, extensive history file
• Entered from a private collection

“I drive either a 1975 Bentley or a convertible 1992 Rolls-Royce Corniche. And I am driven in a 1966 Rolls-Royce Phantom, such as the Queen uses a lot” (Michael Winner, The Independent, February 2010)

Introduced in 1965, the Bentley T Series remained in production until 1976 by which time some 1,712 had been made. However, few of those featured the ‘flared wheelarches’ which were added during 1974 to accommodate a wider track and the use of superior radial tyres.

Originally finished in Silver Chalice with Dark Blue leather upholstery, chassis SBH21042 was supplied new by J.D. Barclay Ltd of Oxford to Peter Vaughan Esq, managing director of the international Chinese Art and Antiquities dealer John Sparks Ltd which held Royal Warrants from Queen Mary of Teck, King Gustaf VI of Sweden and Queen Mary, The Queen Mother. Thereafter, the Bentley passed to the High Sherriff of Oxfordshire, John Collins MBE. A decorated war hero, famous racehorse owner and chairman of both Morgan Grenfell Holdings and the Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Group, Mr Collins continued to have the T Series maintained by J.D. Barclay Ltd of Oxford. Purchased from the latter by Roger Dennis Rich Esq of Davies & Co at 35,410 miles on 19th October 1979 (accompanying paperwork includes a leaflet providing additional information on radial tyres with the typed addendum ‘Mr Rich. This really is important!!’), chassis SBH21042 was able to boast full main dealer service history when the renowned film director, producer and restaurant critic Michael Winner acquired it some six years later.

A syndicated journalist whilst still at school, Michael Winner later worked for the BBC and went onto make over thirty feature films starring the likes of: Orson Welles, Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, Faye Dunaway, Michael Caine, Robert Mitchum, Burt Lancaster, Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Irons, Oliver Reed and Charles Bronson. Bombastic, outspoken and self-deprecating, he was sufficiently moved by the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher in 1984 to set-up the Police Memorial Trust which has since erected over thirty memorials to those officers felled in the line of duty. Kept garaged at his London home, Woodland House in Holland Park which contained over 700 paintings and 89 telephones, the Bentley was often seen parked outside the Capital’s best restaurants and hotels. Bequeathed by Mr Winner to his chauffeur Steve Gallimore in 2013, the T Series entered the current ownership via Hurst Park Automobiles Ltd two years later.

Last serviced in Mr Winner’s care at 110,718 miles, chassis SBH21042 had always been well maintained with no fewer than three service books on file. Determined to make the Bentley as smart as the other cars in his impressive collection, the vendor despatched it to XK Engineering for a cosmetic makeover. Entrusted by several major manufacturers to paint their show cars, the Coventry-based firm re-sprayed the T Series in its initial Silver Chalice livery, re-waxoyled the underside, rejuvenated the brightwork and repolished the wood veneers at a cost of £21,126. Subsequently serviced by Bentley Leicester at 112,424 miles on 6th December 2016, chassis SBH21042 returned there for further maintenance during December 2017 and again the following year to have its rocker cover gaskets changed (the works totalling £4,637.29).

Having covered less than 100 miles since its last Bentley Leicester service, ‘NYF 555P’ started readily upon inspection. Pleasingly retaining its original Dark Blue leather upholstery, this decidedly rare ‘flared wheelarch’ T Series is in unusually good condition and has led a truly fascinating life. Offered for sale with original handbook pack, three service books, DVLA ownership trace and history file.