51 BENTLEY

When the 35 Rolls-Royce project was completed, I started looking for a Phantom II to work on. I ran across a Park Ward limosene that was living in a warehouse behind the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach and went to see it. It drove fine although it had some body damage to the right fenders. But Carolyn thought the car was just too big. In the warehouse was a "Big-Bore, Small-Boot" '51 Bentley standard steel saloon. It had a dingy sitting on it upside down. The car and dingy were pretty much painted white from the accumulation of the droppings of pigeons that inhabited the warehouse. The timing gears for the car were lying on the concrete floor in front of it. The price was right ($1,500 delivered) so we got it. As it turned out, the rear fenders were a collection of old beer cans and Bondo. But that was made right by Marcel DeLey with all new steel and the engine was overhauled and the exterior cosmetics were attended to with new chrome and paint. The chassis was also repainted with the body off. It runs very strong although it will not tolerate hot days or hills without overheating. Although the radiator had been dunked, it is a honeycomb core type and is still probably mostly full of the crud from years of plain water for coolant. The car was reportedly brought into the country by Trini Lopez of band fame and player in "The Dirty Dozen".