Vehicle Description
Despite all of the inimitable road and racing motorcars to come out
of W.O. Bentley's Cricklewood workshops, Bentley Motors often
struggled with a severe shortage of cash. W.O. Bentley's
perfectionism resulted in lengthy and expensive development periods
as well as constant and costly refinement of production models.
Were it not for a much-needed investment courtesy of "Bentley Boy"
Woolf Barnato; the firm may not have survived past 1925. Once
stabilized, Bentley continued to develop some of the finest,
fastest, and toughest motorcars in the world, moving from the
3-litre to the 4 �, and through to the ultimate "Vintage Bentley" -
the mighty 8-litre. Even with the public sporting success at places
like Le Mans, Bentley Motors began to struggle again. By 1931, the
debts were too massive for even a wealthy playboy like Barnato to
handle, and the firm went into receivership, eventually being sold
off to an anonymous holding company that was only later revealed to
be a front for Bentley's chief rival, Rolls-Royce. Nobby Clarke,
the long-time head of Hendon-based Works Service was a stalwart of
Bentley Motors and an integral part of their motorsport success. He
was a loyal Bentley man and remained so even after the Rolls-Royce
takeover, still tending to owners who preferred to work with "the
old guard." Following the sale to Rolls-Royce and revamping of the
Bentley lineup, a number of new components for 3-litre and 4
�-litre cars remained in stock at Bentley's Works Service
Department, well after the main production moved to Derby. To use
those remaining stocks, Clarke first took in four pre-owned 3-litre
cars and thoroughly reconditioned them using as many new components
as possible. Each of those was renumbered with the "RC" prefix (for
ReConditioned) and sold to new clients. In addition, Clarke and his
team built six complete 4 � - litre cars, which shared the same
chassis prefix despite being entirely new from the ground up. The
six "RC" 4 � litre cars were built using the latest and best
components available. Each one received the latest heavy-gauge
chassis, a D-Type gearbox, six-litre rear axle, and 12:1 ratio
steering box. Five of the cars were fitted with Vanden Plas tourer
coachwork (much in the style of the contemporary Derby cars), while
the sixth received a Corsica-built saloon body. The RC series is a
fascinating footnote in the history of Bentley Motors, and given
that they were built by Bentley employees using Cricklewood made
parts, they are recognized and welcomed by the Bentley Driver's
Club as true Vintage Bentleys, and therefore eligible for their
events. Chassis number RC44 is the fourth of the six RC-series
built under the supervision of Nobby Clarke. It is a marvelous car,
with just five owners and well-documented history back to new.
Documents show that Mr. Charles Clare Regnart was the first
caretaker of RC44, taking delivery in September 1936. According to
the original English VE60 registration booklet, it was assigned the
registration number EMF 115. Regnart owned RC44 through 1959 when
Ralph Denby of Sussex acquired it. Interestingly, we learned that
it was not Mr. Denby's first encounter with RC44. According to a
letter from Mr. Denby dated 1960, he owned a PB series 4 � litre in
1935 which he brought to the works service department at Hendon.
Nobby Clarke had pulled him aside to have a look at the new cars he
was building, proudly proclaiming all of the improvements the
vehicles will feature. It turned out that one was still available,
though Mr. Denby sadly had to accept that it was just a bit too far
out of his reach. About two years later, Denby found himself a bit
more financially secure and managed to extract the names of the
owners of the RC-series cars from Clarke. Coincidentally, the one
car that he had interest in was RC44, Mr. Regnert's car and the
very same one he saw at Hendon two years prior. Denby reached out
to Regnert inquiring if the Bentley was for sale, receiving a
polite response that it was his favorite of his many automobiles
and that he hoped to keep it for the rest of his life. One more
attempt was made after WWII, and with the same reply, the Bentley
was largely forgotten. In the spring of 1959, Mr. Denby was
perusing The Autocar when he spotted an ad for a one-owner,
RC-series Bentley with open four-seat touring coachwork by Vanden
Plas. He knew right away that it was RC44, and immediately arranged
to purchase it. Mr. Denby re-registered the car as "AK 13" - his
lucky number plate - and would continue to care for the Bentley
into the mid-1970s, with numerous receipts showing the level of
care he lavished on it well into his stewardship. In approximately
1975, the Bentley was sold to Albert George Sparrowhawk, whose name
is the last to appear on the original VE60. It seems the car was
re-registered in 1981 as AS6000, and a stack of receipts, tax
discs, and MOT certificates document its progress through the 80s
and into the late 1990s. Around 2000, RC44 was sold to Roy Perler
of Connecticut. Mr. Perler was responsible for the concours-quality
restoration done in England by L. Sykes Ltd. It is not known what
became of the original coachwork, but invoices show current
lightweight Vanden Plas-style body was crafted by the
highly-respected Roger Wing Coachbuilders, with additional
components and full weather equipment coming from James E. Pearce.
In 2004, RC44 was acquired by its most recent owner; a passionate
American collector who continued to care for it regardless of cost,
and regularly used it in its natural environment on tours and
rallies. It has been maintained in top mechanical and cosmetic
condition and presents in near-concours condition, with gorgeous
brightwork, finely finished traditional dark green paint and
exquisite detailing. As a testament to the strength of the original
components chosen by Nobby Clarke, this car retains its original
engine, front axle, rear axle, and steering box. The engine has
been updated with Arias 7.8:1 pistons, bumping it to 150
horsepower. The original Carl Zeiss headlamps wear custom stone
guards, and subtle turn signals have been integrated for safe
touring on today's roads. The most recent owner added additional
storage in the form of a lovely upholstered trunk in the rear, and
a pair of locking toolboxes affixed to the chassis. A selection of
road spares and emergency tools will be included. Now returned to
its original registration of EMF115, this outstanding automobile
has been cherished by each of its five owners, and presents in
truly outstanding condition. It is CCCA registered and recognized
by the RROC and Bentley Driver's Club, making it a prime candidate
for any number of domestic or international events. Finely sorted
and proven on numerous events, RC44 is ready for its next keeper to
experience the particular joys that come from motoring in a Vintage
Bentley.