Yesteryear Collection - 1929 Bentley Le Mans

Few machines stir the imagination more than the ever-glorious 4½ litre Bentley, unrivalled symbol of power and dignity.
In the year 1929 Bentleys filled the first four places in the Le Mans Race and the winner covered a milage of 1767,070 miles at an average speed of 73,627 m.p.h.
The 4½ litre model was a standard production body with a 4398 c.c. engine and greatly enhanced British prestige abroad by its continued success.

The (Y5-1) Le Mans Bentley joined the range in 1956 and was the fifth model to be released that year. It was the first Yesteryear model to be fitted with black plastic tyres.

Livery: (Transfer)
A black '5' on a white disc on both sides, to rear of doors.

Variations: It was only painted in the one colour scheme - British racing green with a black chassis.
Only a few variantions to it but they are interesting.
Firstly the tonneau at the rear was painted in a thick grey paint and then dropped very quickly (probably another cost saving feature as this extra trim was all done by hand back then).
Any of the grey versions are rare issues being so limited.
The grille and radiator shell were silver to start with but changed to gold soon after and then even the grille was left out.
The last version is probably the hardest to find and on this one even the bare metal steering wheel was painted green.
The wheels were a rather odd looking filled in spoke pattern which were not as nice as some of the earlier types. These were unpainted metal which can be laquered on some of the later issues giving them a coppery colour.
Axles may be crimped or later, riveted.

The ones to look for are the grey folded roof versions or the green steering wheel as these are both hard to find.


1929 Bentley Le Mans	Grey folded down hood; Silver radiator; Unpainted silver steering wheel	Green folded down hood; Gold radiator; Unpainted silver steering wheel	Green folded down hood; British racing green steering wheel	Grey folded down hood on the left with British racing green folded down hood on the right. Both have Unpainted silver steering wheels

Information as from "The Yesteryear Book 1956-2002"
Issue	Year of Release	Colour	Tonneau	Folded Down Hood	Seats/ Interior	Grille	Radiator	Steering Wheel	Wheels	Petrol Tank Filler Cap	Axles	Baseplate	Rarity	Box
1	1958	British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	Grey	Red	Silver	Silver	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	Silver	Crimped	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND	R	A
2		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	Grey	Red	Green	Silver	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	Silver	Crimped	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND	R	A
3		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	Grey	Red	Green	Gold	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	Gold	Crimped	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND	R	A
4		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	British racing green	Red	Green	Gold	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	Gold	Crimped	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND		A/C
5		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	British racing green	Red	Green	British racing green	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	British racing green	Crimped	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND		A/C
6		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	British racing green	Red	Green	British racing green	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	British racing green	Riveted	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND		C/D1
7		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	British racing green	Red	Green	Gold	Unpainted silver	Unpainted solid	Gold	Riveted	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND		C/D1
8		British racing green body, black chassis	British racing green	British racing green	Red	Green	Gold	British racing green	Unpainted solid	Gold	Riveted	LESNEY No 5 ENGLAND	S	C/D1
Rarity: D - Difficult; S - Scarce; R - Rare; VR - Very Rare; ER - Extremely Rare
Box: A - Line drawing, black number on end flap; C - Red number and white lettering on end flap; D1 - Plain yellow background to front panel illustration