1929 Bentley Speed Six Grafton Coupe

1929 Bentley Speed Six Grafton Coupe
SOLD $2,860,000 Including Commission
The Speed Six as the "World's Greatest Sporting Car," which was simply engraved on a silver plaque affixed to the front cover of the sales brochure. Freestone & Webb was one of London's finest coachbuilders--in total, the firm clothed nearly 20 Speed Six chassis. Just two of these chassis, however, were fitted with the handsome Grafton Coupe. Another Grafton Coupe was built on a Blower chassis, which was displayed at the Olympia Motor Show. The body itself was rexine fabric over an ash frame, which saved weight. The body sat low and enveloped the chassis rails, giving the car a more modern appearance. Desirably helmeted fenders were fixed front and rear and a very tidy trunk with a rear spare were fitted aft. The fenders, in conjunction with a profile void of spare wheels, elongated the car and enhanced the overall proportions. In detail, a small triangular rear-quarter window was added, accentuated by faux landau irons. Freestone & Webb's interiors matched the era's styling with quartered veneering on the dash and door panels. The cars were generally well appointed with premium materials and passenger amenities. For example, the Grafton Coupe includes a fold-down ashtray for the rear right-hand seat, which was generally the gentleman's position, and when folded up has a metal liner and chute allowing for ash to drop out by the back wheel. This was the second of two Grafton Coupes bought in mid-1929 by Turner Between 1928 and 1930, Turner had purchased seven new Bentleys of which three were 4 1/2 Litre models, and the remaining four were Speed Six variants. Chassis prices for the Speed Six neared £2,000 new, putting a completed car at £4,500 if not more. Having seven Bentleys in just three short years was no doubt a luxurious expenditure, and certainly one few could afford. Interestingly enough, in 1931, Turner and three others were remanded in an alleged conspiracy to defraud Lloyds Bank. Turner alone was charged with 120 counts of fraud to the amount of £51,519. Prior to these allegations, however, the Grafton Coupe was sold to Dr. Joseph Le Fleming Burrow in September 1930 with service records indicating just under 12,000 miles. Dr. Le Fleming Burrow of Leeds, a doctor in the field of neurological psychopathology, was noted for his research on tabes dorsalis, also known as syphilitic myelopathy. The service records for FR2630 document the doctor's regular use of the Speed Six and consistent maintenance through 1934.In October 1934, the Grafton Coupe was fitted with Lucas P100 headlamps, which still remain on the car.Today, the Grafton Coupe presents as an incredibly pure and unique example of the venerable Speed Six. Furthermore, inspection of the car's chassis leads one to believe that this is a low-mileage example, which has never suffered from disassembly or poor repair practices. The coachwork is also extraordinarily correct, retaining its wonderfully patinated, yet very well-cared-for, original interior. Even the interior woodwork is original and emblematic of the period craftsmanship of Freestone & Webb. Additionally, the Bentley retains its original instrumentation, generally a sign of long-term care, or rather, an indication contrary to the car having fallen upon hard times. As one would expect, some renewing was undertaken, including the carpeting, but the interior has a genuinely inviting feel, which cannot otherwise be replicated. With the understated black finish of the exterior, the coupe is a proper looking Speed Six, with an elegantly powerful appearance. Most recently, Graham Moss, of noted R.C. Moss Ltd., has prepared the Grafton Coupe for use as a long-distance touring car, suitable for events such as the Flying Scotsman Rally, which the car completed this past year. Furthermore, conservation work was conducted on the interior and engine compartment. Upon completion of the work, Moss found the car a joy to drive and "one of the most original examples of the Speed Six Bentley we have had the pleasure to work on." The Speed Six presented here remains the only Grafton Coupe extant, and one of just five original-bodied, matching-numbers Speed Six Coupes. For that matter, this is one of an approximate and scarce 25 cars that can make any such claim. As with any Vintage Bentley model, a significant portion had been lost by the end of WWII, but more unfortunately, a vast majority of Speed Sixes failed to survive the butchering of cars to make Specials and Le Mans replicas. FR2630 can be counted amongst the finest remaining examples of the marque. Its contemporaries have found ownership in the greatest collections the world over, and the opportunity to acquire such a pedigreed example is few and far between. This is an opportunity worth considering, and a car deserving of the attention. The Grafton Coupe is an exceptionally genuine example of the legendary Speed Six.

Robert Myrick Photography