1l7CcRC

Mr Sheppard sold the car in January 1953 and its next recordedowner, from October 1955, was a Major A Gregson followedby Guy Shoosmith from 1962. According to the accompanyingdetailed report by Michael Hay, compiled in 2001: ‘It seemslikely that Shoosmith removed and scrapped the original GurneyNutting saloon body, possibly following an accident... By May1964, when the car appeared at a BDC sprint event in Antwerp,GK 8450 had been rebuilt in its present form on a shortenedchassis with an open four-seater body.’ In the course of therebuild, the original chassis was replaced with ‘BR2357’, whichwas shortened to a wheelbase of 11’ 6” and over-stamped withthe original number, ‘HM2865’.At the same time a new body was constructed along the lines ofthose made by Vanden Plas for the legendary Le Mans-winningBentley team cars. Hay notes that the car had been fitted withhydraulic brakes and the D Type close-ratio gearbox from a4½-Litre, while retaining its original differential casing and variousother original parts, including the steering column. ‘GK 8450’ ispictured in Hay’s Bentley: The Vintage Years in its original form andas it now is in Bentley: 50 Years of the Marque by Johnny Green.Shoosmith kept the Speed Six until 1999, during which timeit made many appearances at major events at Silverstoneincluding the 1969 British Grand Prix parade with W O Bentleyhimself as passenger. ‘GK 8450’ was next owned by DutchBentley Collectors’ Paul Veenhuijzen and then Dirk Lindenbergh,and is currently registered in Holland. Offered with a historyfile containing copies of correspondence, rebuild notes, presscuttings and factory records, this magnificent Bentley Speed Sixhas to be the ideal acquisition for the enthusiast driver wishingto undertake long-distance rallies and touring events in trueVintage style.£680,000 - 780,000€840,000 - 960,000Motor Cars | 187