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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7139
Location: Derby
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 Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 11:23 am Post subject: Too posh to push? |
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https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1940160
The quality is sublime. The styling superb. The price is right...but somehow I am intimidated by the prestige.
I tend to recoil from the Rolls Royce brand because it is such a strong image statement of class and privilege. Yet, somehow, what is basically the same car; but with a Bentley radiator, seems to invite me in to adore the quality of it's engineering.
This magnificent and extremely rare example of an aluminium Hooper bodied Bentley Mark V1 does, however, intimidate me. I would be totally embarrassed if it broke down!
The standard steel bodied cars were introduced after WW2 in an attempt to attract the owner driver but some chassis went to traditional coach builders regardless. This bumped the price up considerably.
Hooper were among the very best... for example, the shut lines of this "Empress" model are as good today as when it left the showroom.
Is it just me or would anyone else here be intimidated? Whereas the Standard Steel car is nice but relatively classless, I wonder if one requires a title and a Country Estate to do justice to such a beautiful car as this?
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Last edited by Ray White on Fri Sep 19, 2025 10:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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badhuis
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1469
Location: Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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Must be a lot of work to get it in or out of that garage. No power steering I think...
"Cheap" because the leather is near its end?
Beautiful car but too big to actually use it (for me)
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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7139
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| badhuis wrote: | Must be a lot of work to get it in or out of that garage. No power steering I think...
"Cheap" because the leather is near its end?
Beautiful car but too big to actually use it (for me) |
I have been unable to ascertain the exact length of the Hooper bodied Mark V1. One of the main reasons why I would consider a Standard Steel bodied Mark V1 is that it measures exactly 16 feet...
I have put a limit of 16 feet on any car that I buy ...so that eliminates the later R type Bentley and most other luxury saloon cars! |
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bjacko
Joined: 28 Oct 2013
Posts: 527
Location: Melbourne Australia
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| Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2025 7:49 am Post subject: Rolls and Bentley |
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Might be a bit big for the co-op car park eh?
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7139
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2025 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Rolls and Bentley |
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| bjacko wrote: | | Might be a bit big for the co-op car park eh? |
As I mentioned, I have not been able to establish the overall length of the Hooper bodied cars. At 16 feet, the Standard Steel Mark V1 is shorter than most Jaguars.
I suspect, however, you are right and the coach built car has a longer tail. As Badhuis mentioned, heavy steering at low speeds is the biggest drawback; although PAS could be retro fitted ... at a price! |
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norustplease
Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Posts: 825
Location: Lancashire
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| Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 8:41 am Post subject: |
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The only intimidation factor for me would be the cost of repairs when it inevitably broke down!!
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7139
Location: Derby
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2025 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| norustplease wrote: | | The only intimidation factor for me would be the cost of repairs when it inevitably broke down!! |
I think the prices charged for replacement Bentley parts are way more expensive than they need be.
One of the most common faults with these cars is how - after very high mileages - the rear wheel bearings fail. If the bearing has been rotating in it's housing it can spell big trouble. 
Because the engineering is so robust, these cars keep on going even when they are completely knackered.! If you end up with one that has been driven into the ground; but tarted up for a quick sale, it can be a financial black hole.
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Crashbox
Joined: 30 Apr 2021
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 9:49 am Post subject: Re: Rolls and Bentley |
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| bjacko wrote: | | Might be a bit big for the co-op car park eh? |
Waitrose it is, then. 
My 1932 Morris Minor fits in one corner of a Waitrose car parking space. 
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1989 2CV
1932 Morris Minor S.V. Two-Seater |
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alastairq
Joined: 14 Oct 2016
Posts: 2121
Location: East Yorkshire
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 11:38 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | My 1932 Morris Minor fits in one corner of a Waitrose car parking space. Very Happy |
I quite like those trolley shelters.....My Dellow fits nicely inside one of those when it's raining...
[If full of trolleys, worth piling them all into a car parking space, then using the shelter....]
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
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Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4866
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2025 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Back in the days when there was an after hours period at super markets I had a couple of locations where I could get pupils to do the reverse park into trolley shelters. It really made them conscious of where the corners of the car and the space were, because they were so tight we couldn't have exited the vehicle.
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