This Bentley Was Rebuilt From Spare Parts Around A Man's Home... And Is Now Worth £800,000

A vintage Bentley originally bought for just £280 is now worth an astonishing £800,000 - after it was restored to its former glory from parts scattered around the former owner’s house.

The dismantled 1928 4.5-litre Drop Head UP2100 was discovered at a three-storey Richmond, London, town house after its owner Stuart Wallace died last year, aged 75.

Parts of the 87-year-old rare motor - of which only eight were ever made - had been gathering dust at the property for more than 50 years.

Mr Wallace had bought the classic car for just £280 in 1962, but couldn’t afford to run it because he was student. He refused to sell his pride and joy, however.

But with nowhere to store it, he took apart the components and kept them at his home where they remained for 58 years.

The former English teacher even kept a log of every part, complete with photographs.

Some parts were even stored in jars of oil in the hope that one day the vehicle would be brought back to life.

It was only after his death that Stuart’s wish came true when his daughter Bea Wallace-Hartstone called in a specialist Bentley dealership.

Experts said they were stunned to enter the house and find car parts along the stairs, hidden under the bed and inside cupboards.

A team of 12 specialists from the Medcalf Collection then spent 10 months painstakingly putting the pieces together to make it fully driveable again.

The Bentley is now on display in the dealership showroom, who are selling it on the family’s behalf.

William Medcalf, head of the Medcalf Collection, said: “I walked into the house and sure enough on the bare entrance hall floorboards was a Bentley cylinder block.

"I saw a clutch on the stairs, then the conrods. There were literally bits everywhere and throughout the three-storey house.”

Mr Medcalf said that the car had, back in the day, cost Stuart less than half the price of a Mini but added that he hadn’t banked on the cost of running the car.

“During its reassembly, the team added several new sections of wood to ensure the car was solid, but that was the extent of the new materials,“ he said.

"The rest is all original. It still has its original lead seals in place and its original wire wheels and tires. Incredibly, not a single nut and bolt anywhere on the car has been replaced,” he added.

The value of the car is debatable. But Mr Medcalf said that a four-seater model recently went for £800,000.

“This is a two-seater model. It’s only got 39,000 miles on the clock, so it’s in great condition. As with all classic and vintage cars, it’s the price the prospective buyer puts on their passion,” he said.

Mrs Wallace-Hartstone added: “My dad was always messing around with cars and storing old parts and spares everywhere.

"He kept a dismantled AC Cobra in my bedroom. He was crazy about cars.”

(Pictures credited to News Team International)