magazine - Bentley Drivers Club NSW

Bentley Boys....
The story of my Bentley's
by Don Reedman (a member living in the UK)
In between the S2 Continental and the Continental R
Mulliner I bought a beautiful 1947 MkVI coupe (B239AJ)
with Freestone and Webb coachwork. This is a one-off
coupe which has won the Louis Vuitton Concours in
1996 and was sent to Paris for the same event . It has
I remember going to Paradise
Garage in south London back
in 1989, just looking at all these
fantastic classic cars when a
Bentley S2 Continental by H J
Mulliner (BC20CZ) caught my
eye. I thought what a beautiful
coupe, wonderful build quality
and very elegant, yet sporty. It
had been the subject of a body
off restoration by P. & A. Wood
who are in my opinion the best
in the world at restoration of
these wonderful cars - so I
couldn't help myself and bought
it - I owned this car for 14 years. The car was previously
owned by Anthony Andrews, one of the principal actors in
'Brideshead Revisited'.
In my time of ownership of this car, I had the car retrimmed
by Bob Smith here in the UK and repainted by Nigel
Cooper a 'Velvet Green'. It really is a lovely car. In fact,
this car won the Bentley Drivers Club (U.K.) concours
and many other shows over the years. I loved that car but
was tempted with another, so I ended up selling it in 2003
when I had the opportunity to own the very last Bentley
Continental R Mulliner (Final Series) from the factory
(SCBZB26E73CH01871).
Don standing next to the MkVI Freestone & Webb at the Ashe Park
Concours where his Bentley won 'Best Coachbuilt Car'
also won the Bentley Drivers Club (UK) and Rolls Royce
Enthusiasts Club (UK) concours as well as a very special
event at Ashe Park where it won 'Best Coachbuilt British
Car' in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales. On this
occasion I had given my sister Suzanne a trip to England
and amongst other things, had invited her to this special
event. So when I found out that my car had won, I asked
the organiser's would it be ok if the award was presented to
my sister. They obliged, and HRH presented it to Suzanne
.. a real treat for her ...she's a lovely girl.
I specified this car very similar to the S2 Continental....in
'Midnight Emerald' - a beautiful deep green paint which is
a metallic version of Velvet Green. The interior is 'oatmeal'
leather. It is a truly wonderful car and I believe it will become
a future classic. Its lines are quiet stunning. I entered it in
the Bentley Drivers Club (UK) concours and I am pleased
to say it won. Its so refined and a true joy to drive . I intend
to keep it forever!
10
Don's sister (Suzanne) having received a bottle of Veuve Clicquot
from HRH The Prince of Wales (wearing Polo attire)