A stand out in the sea of cars at this year’s Gingin British Car Day was a very handsome black Bentley which has a famous history and quite a story. I was very fortunate to be able to spend time on the day with Peter Briggs the owner of the Bentley. Peter is a Perth entrepreneur and well known car collector who enjoys an annual visit to the Gingin Car day. Peter, with much charisma and enthusiasm, tells the wonderful story of how the Bentley came into his possession and the discovery of it’s famous past.
The car was owned by a little old lady who had bought it from the factory when it was new. She had Bernard dogs and wanted a “shooting brake” (contemporary
translation; a station wagon) she didn’t want a racing body.
The Bentley factory had a car, which was an old racing team car they had in the factory, they modified to suit the lady’s order by adding a shooting brake body on
it. 60 years later she died and the Bentley ended up with a well known motor-racing promotor in the UK motor Tom Wheatcroft.
Having a reputation for the love of Bentleys, Peter received a call from Tom, “There is an old Bentley here – you are into those funny cars – I don’t know what it is worth – but you can have it. I said ok I’ll buy it 4000 pounds.”
Not long after this conversation a journalist went up there from a magazine and checked the numbers out and discovered something quite amazing.
It was the 1923 inaugural Le Mans lap record holding Bentley. It went on to inspire one of the most legendary teams in motorsport history. The “Bentley Boys”
– a group of wealthy playboys who drove Bentley racing cars in major events across Europe.
Peter received another call from Tom, “You know that car, I rang you about, it is now worth millions.” For one reason or another a deal didn’t happen. Years later Tom called again, “You have a racing car you in your museum – I’ll swap you the Bentley for the racing car”.
Peter took the Bentley. He did his homework and discovered it is arguably the most valuable Bentley in the world. So inspired by its story, Peter commission a book on the car, “Chassis 141 The Story of the First Le Mans Bentley”. Already the book has become part of the libraries of several motoring identities including the chairman of Bentley Motors Franz-Josef Paefgen, British racing car driver Stirling Moss and American talk show host and motoring enthusiast Jay Leno.
The car has been completely restored to its race car glory – every single last nut and bolt. Today it could be worth as much as 10 million pounds. But even if you have that kind of money. I’m sorry it is not for sale. It is passion that drives Peter’s enthusiasm for cars. Peter shares, “5 years ago we were at Pebble beach, which is the haven for rare cars. Bentley motors were there and said we’ll give you 1.8m pounds. I said if you double it I might think about it. 2 years later I was back – they said we will double it $3.6m pounds. I said sorry I have decided I don’t want to sell it.”
Peter and his car travel the world at some of the most exclusive events and so it is wonderful to see Peter come to Gingin to show this magnificent car.
