Vandalised to highly prized: Bentley restoration is hit
Leicestershire-based Flying Spares, the world’s largest independent supplier of Rolls-Royce and Bentley parts, has scored a social media hit with the uplifting story of a battered 1962 Bentley being restored to its former glory by one passionate classic car enthusiast – West Sussex-based printing machine engineer, Peter Richardson.
When offered for sale by auctioneer Bonhams in 2012, the once-magnificent S3 Saloon was described as having “suffered at the hands of vandals”, including having the F-word crudely sprayed across the front wing. Six years later, Flying Spares acquired it and displayed it on their stand at the 2018 Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club Annual Rally, at Burghley House in Lincolnshire. That’s where Peter saw it and decided he had to fully restore it.
“I’ve loved classic cars since I was a kid,” he said. “I started with a Morris Minor and worked my way up to a 1967 RR Silver Shadow. If I didn’t do all the work myself there’s no way I could afford it. The S3 has taken years. It needed new front suspension, all the brake cylinders had to be stripped and rebuilt, the underside of the body had to be resealed, there were electrical issues, and then I tackled the rust patch under the spare wheel. That turned out to be attached to the body mount, which was also rusting. On closer inspection, the lower part of the rear wing was not up to my standard either, so I ended up replacing that as well. The job really snowballed and Flying Spares have been so helpful, suppling everything from parts and panels right down to the wool cloth for the parcel shelf.
“I discovered some interesting things about the car’s history in the paperwork too. It was originally a demonstrator vehicle for Jack Barclay Bentley in Mayfair, with the number plate JB1. It was bought by Noel Gay Music Company on Denmark Street in 1963, so was right at the heart of the Swinging Sixties. Other notable owners include Nathan Clarke, designer of the original desert boot, and Bernie Ecclestone’s Spencer’s car dealership in Bexleyheath. I’m very proud to have given this beautiful car a new lease of life and now I’m on to my next project – a very early Bentley T1, which also needs quite a bit of work!”
Neil Arman, Director of Flying Spares, commented: “There are projects and projects, and this Bentley S3 was definitely the latter! Hats off to Peter for restoring it to such a high standard. We posted before and after pictures on our social media and it went crazy – getting thousands of reposts and hundreds of comments. People clearly recognised his skill and commitment, and the quality of finish. We thank him for letting us share his restoration journey and look forward to helping him with the T1.”