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This Bentley Speed Six is believed to be one of just five Speed Sixes with original coachwork - and the only Grafton Coupe left in the world. It was actually the second Grafton Coupe bought by textile manufacturer Henry Turner, who was one of W.O.'s best customers, ordering seven Bentleys between 1928 and 1930. The fashionable Freestone & Webb coachwork is strikingly handsome with its close-coupled body and helmeted fenders accentuating the car's sporting style. ('Close-coupled' means the footwells in the rear extend under the front seats.) It was restored in England a few years ago and prepared for use as a long-distance touring car. The interior was carefully preserved, proudly displaying the marvelous patina acquired from over 90 years of driving. Its current owner bought the car in 2013 and drove it on the Bentley tour of California in 2018.
The Bentley Speed Six was confidently extolled by the factory as the 'World's Greatest Sporting Car,' which was engraved on a silver plaque affixed to the front cover of the sales brochure. The Speed Six brought W.O. Bentley his most significant victories and won the company many hard-fought fights. It was a quality product that delivered great performance without sacrificing comfort. It remained impressively fast and agile even with the most luxurious of coachwork. The Speed Six was both a popular motorcar and an exclusive purchase; they were a statement of taste and stature.
In total, just 182 examples were built, with the number of unique bodies nearly identical. Some examples were given sporting open coachwork, while others received formal closed saloon bodies. One of the most popular body style on the Speed Six was the coupe. It offered comfort for the driver and passengers while allowing coachbuilders to implement weight-saving techniques. Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston, both were Le Mans winners and integral Bentley Boys, had Speed Six Coupes specially ordered as their personal cars.
Chassis number FR2630
This coupe is known as the Grafton Coupe built by Freestone & Webb of London. They were one of London's finest coachbuilders and clothed nearly 20 examples of the Speed Six. Just two of these chassis were given the Grafton Coupe. Another Grafton Coupe was built on a Blower chassis, which was displayed at the Olympia Motor Show.
The sister car to this example is BA2591. The body was rexine fabric over an ash frame, which saved weight. The body sat low and covered the chassis rails. In the front and rear were helmeted fenders with a trunk and a rear spare fitted in the back. There is a small rear-quarter window, accentuated by faux landau irons.
Inside was quartered veneering on the dash and door panels. The Grafton Coupe includes a fold-down ashtray for the rear right-hand seat. When folded up has a metal liner and chute allowing for ash to drop out by the back wheel.
Invoiced to Anglo-Scottish Textiles Ltd., the car was intended for the firm's director, Henry C. Turner. Part of the purchase included a trade-in of a Victor Broom-bodied 4.5 Litre. This was the second of two Grafton Coupes bought in mid-1929 by Turner, the first of which, chassis BA2591, no longer exists.
Mr. Turner kept the car for only a short time before selling it to Dr. Joseph Le Fleming Burrow in September of 1930. At the time, the car had just under 12,000 miles. Service records indicate the replacement of the cylinder block in December of 1930 and minimal repair after a minor accident in June of 1932. In October of 1934, the Grafton Coupe was fitted with Lucas P100 headlamps, which are still with the car in modern times. The car was also fitted with a reconditioned front axle bed, which also remains on the car.
Dr. Le Fleming Burrow retained the car until 1949 if not longer. By 1974 the Speed Six was in the ownership of Sir Jack Stewart Clark. In 1984, the Grafton Coupe passed to Mervyn Frankel. The car changed hands more recently, coming into the care of its current caretaker.
This Speed Six is the only Grafton coupe extant, and one of just five original-bodied, matching-numbers Speed Six Coupes. It is one of approximately 25 cars that make that claim.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013
In total, just 182 examples were built, with the number of unique bodies nearly identical. Some examples were given sporting open coachwork, while others received formal closed saloon bodies. One of the most popular body style on the Speed Six was the coupe. It offered comfort for the driver and passengers while allowing coachbuilders to implement weight-saving techniques. Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston, both were Le Mans winners and integral Bentley Boys, had Speed Six Coupes specially ordered as their personal cars.
Chassis number FR2630
This coupe is known as the Grafton Coupe built by Freestone & Webb of London. They were one of London's finest coachbuilders and clothed nearly 20 examples of the Speed Six. Just two of these chassis were given the Grafton Coupe. Another Grafton Coupe was built on a Blower chassis, which was displayed at the Olympia Motor Show.
The sister car to this example is BA2591. The body was rexine fabric over an ash frame, which saved weight. The body sat low and covered the chassis rails. In the front and rear were helmeted fenders with a trunk and a rear spare fitted in the back. There is a small rear-quarter window, accentuated by faux landau irons.
Inside was quartered veneering on the dash and door panels. The Grafton Coupe includes a fold-down ashtray for the rear right-hand seat. When folded up has a metal liner and chute allowing for ash to drop out by the back wheel.
Invoiced to Anglo-Scottish Textiles Ltd., the car was intended for the firm's director, Henry C. Turner. Part of the purchase included a trade-in of a Victor Broom-bodied 4.5 Litre. This was the second of two Grafton Coupes bought in mid-1929 by Turner, the first of which, chassis BA2591, no longer exists.
Mr. Turner kept the car for only a short time before selling it to Dr. Joseph Le Fleming Burrow in September of 1930. At the time, the car had just under 12,000 miles. Service records indicate the replacement of the cylinder block in December of 1930 and minimal repair after a minor accident in June of 1932. In October of 1934, the Grafton Coupe was fitted with Lucas P100 headlamps, which are still with the car in modern times. The car was also fitted with a reconditioned front axle bed, which also remains on the car.
Dr. Le Fleming Burrow retained the car until 1949 if not longer. By 1974 the Speed Six was in the ownership of Sir Jack Stewart Clark. In 1984, the Grafton Coupe passed to Mervyn Frankel. The car changed hands more recently, coming into the care of its current caretaker.
This Speed Six is the only Grafton coupe extant, and one of just five original-bodied, matching-numbers Speed Six Coupes. It is one of approximately 25 cars that make that claim.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013
2013 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $3,000,000-USD $4,000,000
Sale Price :
USD $2,860,000
1929 Bentley 6½-Liter Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley 6½-Liter
(Data based on Model Year 1929 sales)
1929 Bentley 6½-Litre Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: KR2687 Sold for USD$480,256 2016 RM Sotheby's : London Sale | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six Grafton Coupe Chassis#: FR2630 Sold for USD$2,860,000 2013 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach | |
1929 Bentley 6½-Litre Speed Six tourer Chassis#: BA2580 Sold for USD$1,107,944 2013 Bonhams - Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1929 Bentley 6½/8-Litre Tourer Chassis#: FA2510 Sold for USD$739,144 2012 Bonhams - Paris, La Halle Freyssinet Motocars | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six 'Le Mans' Style Tourer Chassis#: FA 2518 Sold for USD$760,458 2011 RM Auctions - Salon Privé | |
1929 Bentley 6½-Liter Chassis#: WT2271 Sold for USD$561,000 2008 Gooding & Company | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six Dual Cowl Tourer Sold for USD$1,815,000 2006 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six Boat-Tail Two-Seater Chassis#: KF2400 Sold for USD$552,924 2004 Bonhams - The Goodwood Revival | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six 6 1/2-litre Le Mans-style Tourer Chassis#: KR 2677 Sold for USD$390,205 2003 Bonhams - The Edwin C. Jameson Jr. Collection |
Bentley 6½-Liters That Failed To Sell At Auction
1929 Bentley 6½-Liter's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1929 Bentley Speed Six Le Mans Replica Tourer | FR 2641 | 2024 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | $900,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six Le Mans Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas | BA2587 | 2023 RM Sothebys : London | |||
1929 BENTLEY SPEED SIX SPORTS SALOON | FR2644 | 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | $700,000 | $900,000 | |
1929 Bentley Speed Six Le Mans Replica Tourer | SB2751 | 2018 Bonhams : Goodwood | $800,000 | $1,000,000 | |
1929 Bentley 6½-Litre Sedanca de Ville by H.J. Mulliner | KR 2687 | 2013 RM Auctions VILLA ERBA | $540,000 | ||
1928 Bentley 6 1/2 Litre Coupe | WT2271 | 2011 Gooding and Company The Amelia Island Auction | $750,000 | $950,000 |
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1929 Bentley 6½-Liter
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