Doing it Continental style
out in the Bentley after its many months of absence was to the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court. Not to display, but merely to arrive within the spirit of the event and impress my passenger chum, who found it hard to believe that I had a car that actually worked.
Weather fine, traffic light, motor running sweetly, we swept into Esher High Street, conscious of the obvious pleasure that the sight of the magnificent HJ Mulliner fastback coachwork was giving fellow motorists and pedestrians. Then, as we came to a halt at a set of traffic lights, I was suddenly gripped by panic as a posse of Climate Change activists charged towards the car, unfurling a very long banner as they approached.
Now, I must admit, a couple of tons of gas-guzzling Bentley might not meet with universal approval among those of a Green persuasion. The thought flashed through my mind that a ‘spotter’ might have alerted the demonstrators to the approach of a likely candidate for a publicity stunt and I was about to be wrapped. Much to my relief, it transpired that they were merely rushing to get their banner across the road before the lights changed. A friend following behind had the presence of mind to grab a couple of shots on his phone – being an ex-Fleet Street smudger, he obviously hasn’t lost his instinct for a scoop.
The Bentley’s long lay-off was down to the fact that, when hot, it had graduated from difficult to start to impossible to start. Over time I had tried some of the more obvious remedies such as new points, coil, condenser and even a new electric fuel pump. Having been caught out in several embarrassing situations – stuck on an MoT test ramp being one – I decided to bite the bullet and let a pro have a go.
Fortunately, within the reach of a gallon of gas are the premises of classic Bentley specialist, A&S Engineering of Alton. Stressing that ‘I’m not a millionaire’ despite apparent appearances, I left the R-Type with the simple instruction to get it to start when hot. Almost inevitably, I soon received the dreaded phone call relating a few of the additional problems that had come to light. The most alarming of these was ‘brake failure’ when they took it for a test drive (fortunately on a quiet road), followed by blown exhaust and leaky radiator. Finally – and I thought at first it was a joke – the cooling fan had fallen off its shaft!
All have been remedied. New master cylinder, new radiator, carbs rebuilt and reset. And, yes, it starts when hot. I’m also hoping that, as it is now in factory tune, I may even get an extra mile or two to the gallon so that I can claim to the environmentalists thatIamtryingtodomybit, however small.
Clockwise, from top left
Climate protestors encountered en route to Concours of Elegance; poor hot starting and other maladies were sorted at A&S Engineering.