Bespoke – Grant Thornton

‘Each is different.
Some are more
powerful, some
are smoother –
but Inever pick
favourites’
RICHARD FORD is going to have to
live with the fact that he’s named after
the wrong breed of car; quartered in the
garage of his Warwickshire home are six
gleaming vintage Bentleys, five deep
green and one blue, which he cherishes
like the thoroughbred racers they are.
‘I’ve been interested in Bentleys since
Iwas achild but could never find the
time or money for one. Then 13 years
ago [he’s 63] Ifinally bought my first.’
Richard says he’s not an emotional
man. Still, he repairs Bentleys as ahobby
–and spending 7,000 hours (‘with abit
of help from friends’) on one vehicle
sounds like alabour of love to me.
True Bentleys are those made between
1919 and 1931, when Rolls-Royce took
over the firm. The cars have apoignant,
Brideshead Revisited feel, long-bodied,
with muscular rising fenders. Do they
have personalities? ‘Each is different.
Some are more powerful, some are
smoother –but Inever pick favourites.’
These cars were made to chew up the
open road. Richard unleashes his on
international tours which the Bentley
Drivers Club organises. So far, he’s taken
them to the States, Australia, New
Zealand and South Africa. Do they like
the terrain? ‘Well, you have to be careful
driving through hills and mountains, keep
watching the temperature gauge. They
often run better in the rain. But since they
don’t have hoods, you tend to get wet.’
Said so jovially, this is clearly no deterrent.
And how easy is the driving?
‘Technically, it’s exceptionally tricky.
Without synchromesh gears, you have to
get the timing right. But though it’sabig,
heavy car, once called the fastest racing
lorry in the world, it isn’tphysically hard.’
Richard’s wife Jenny might disagree. On
last year’s tour of New Zealand, with her
husband in the passenger seat following
an operation, she drove the 3,000-mile
round trip. ‘They’re very physical cars,’
she laughs. ‘By the end of the day, you
definitely feel it in your shoulders.’
The motor’s often overlooked racing
history is most impressive. Walter Owen
(WO) Bentley was 31 when, in 1919, he
fired up the first of what would be a
legendary marque, in amews off Baker
Street. Prototypes went straight into
competition, winning at Brooklands,
Indianapolis and Le Mans. Richard has
taken his turn at racing the cars, and
putting them through their paces is
encouraged. (Says aDrivers Club
commentator, keeping one unused is
like keeping agreyhound in abox.)
An exquisite piece of engineering, the
parts were made to be in motion.
‘That’s itexactly,’ says Richard.
‘I mean, you drive acar like this with
care and concern, you always have a
certain amount of worry that everything
stays in tune. You’re listening to the
engine.’ His brow uncreases. ‘But
that long-stroke Bentley engine –
what asweet, fantastic sound.’