They've owned four Triumph Stags at various times, and it was searching for a Stag that led to their acquiring the Bentley. Richard wanted a nice, long-legged convertible for summer when he heard this car was for sale in Christchurch.
A club member checked it out, they flew down and found various bits of wear and damage but bought it anyway. The hood was a bad 1970s replacement and damaged, so had a replacement made using Mercedes fabric in the original blue colour.
They had the leather upholstery redone, and restuffed; plus a full engine recon, electric steering added and the front skirt of this aluminium body replaced. There's been some rechroming and revarnishing, as the old girl's worth looking after.
Sitting in the garage is also a 1929 Studebaker President limo, a 1948 Triumph Bergerac Roadster and a 1930 Rolls-Royce Laundelet. Now it's time for a drive and Lois eases the Bentley out - there are scant centimetres of clearance - and I'm soon ensconced in the back, admiring expanses of hand-turned wood, the hand-stitched wool roof lining, and the massive steering wheel as the pair get comfy up front.
Three dials on the steering wheel adjust suspension - hard or soft - the idle and what Lois says is effectively a choke.
The instruments are all original, though there's a USB music player hidden behind the radio.
There's no synchro on first gear - Richard suggests Lois not bother using it - and then we're off, the car effortlessly wafting over the hills and corners of this rural road.
There's a retro-fit indicator, Lois says, "All of us find that because no one is looking for hand signals, people don't know what they're for, so nowadays most will fit large indicators."
The car uses a 4.5-litre straight six engine, with hydraulic brakes, relined but original, with the original suspension using an oiling system from a central pedal - you pump it and as the pedal rises it sucks oil into the componentry, then uses metred dripping to take it to the right spot.
They've driven her round the South Island twice, as far as Gore, though not as much lately thanks to indifferent health.
That said, the Rolls and Bentley are used almost more than the more modern cars, as they're the easiest to get into.
It's proving tricky to stay on topic, but the diversions are interesting. Like the time Richard ended up with three Mk5 Jags, in theory to build up a good one. Lois referred to them as "a sheeted-up pile of junk" which was eventually advertised and in exchange they were offered money and a 1953 MG TD.
Then there's Lois recalling the family trip to Taranaki in an Austin, over Mt Messenger, and her father having to walk for water.
And the Bentley "spats" debate. Men like to cut a rear wheel arch to ease tyre changes, women like the spats. Lois had the whole fitting well lubed just in case it has to come off, but he says the spats can stay only if she'll change the tyre.
"Easy," she says, and triumphantly slaps her phone, AA and credit cards down.
The hood's automatic, and simple to do, indeed the whole car is designed for effortless motoring. After all, as the Hadfields point out, it's "a gentleman's carriage".
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