Bentley Series III 1963 - Chinese Eye 2dr Fixed Head Coupe BC42XB

A good, clean example, nicely finished in soft white with good chrome plating and pale grey leather interior, and specified when new with 'Sundym' rear screen and rear side windows, which are indeed still in place to this day. Unusually, and appealingly, the car is fitted with a Tudor-Webasto fabric sunroof, complete with identifying tags, as shown in one of the photos. We have prepared the car for sale, work which included attention to brake hydraulics and servo, power steering, etc, as well as a full service. Running nicely, driving well, and we have just been successful in reinstating the original registration number, which is pleasing. Chassis No. BC42XB Reg. No. 702 GLR Snippets: Military Cross, PoW & Racing TeamJohn (known as Jack) Sidney Durlacher 1913/88 was a grandson Henry Durlacher, who in 1843 founded Durlacher Bros (art dealers) their offerings included furniture, works of art and porcelain. In 1920 they opened the New York City branch which cater for clients such as J. Pierpont Morgans, Sir R. Wallace, the Sachs, Wideners & also the Frick, Fogg & Cleveland Museums. Henry & Adelaide Durlacher had 10 children with the 7th child being Neville who was the father of Jack. When Henry died in 1902 his estate was in excess of £100,000 today that would be circa £15m! During WWII Jack Durlacher served with the Royal Artillery and on the 20th of May 1940 whilst defending Calais, for which he received the Military Cross, he was captured and imprisoned at Oflag VII-C Laufen in South eastern Bavaria. After the war ended Jack joined his father in The City and in due course so did his son, Nicholas. The Durlacher family were keen sportsmen, his mother Ruth Dyas was a national lawn tennis player and his father Neville a keen golfer & tennis player with Jack and his siblings taking up skiing during their younger days. Jack was 50years old when he took delivery of BC42XB, (a birthday gift perhaps?) and a few years later he went into partnership with the Johnnie Walker heir Rob Walker when they bought a Cosworth powered Lotus 49. That same year the team won the British Grand Prix with Siffert as their driver, it was the last win that Rob Walker had. The second owner of BC42XB was Donald Louis Nicholas who had a lifelong fascination with the Stuart history, Donald also served his country during WWII with the 70th H.A.A. Regiment and after the war ended he wrote several books on his Scottish heritage. His 1st wife, Evadne Chavasse was a scion of the Chavasse medical family & her Uncle Noel Godfrey Chavesse is one of three people to have been awarded the Victoria Cross twice, the other people were C. Upman & A. Martin-Leake. There were 4 members of the Chavesse family who were awarded the Military Cross during both World Wars.The 3rd name on the chassis cards is Denys Martyn of Triley Court, Abergavenny (he also owned a SCIII Chinese Eye Coupe) who studied at Cambridge alongside George Lascelles (Earl of Harewood). In 1947 Denys, George Lascelles & Patrick Hedley-Dent enjoyed a motoring holiday in Italy & I quote: wearing clothes that were too thick, failing to sleep in the hot weather, worrying about money. Denys & George remained friends for many years and often went on Operatic Expeditions together.