Readers' requests

RRS Clarke of Hailsham, East Sussex, asks for the identity of the car in the accompanying photograph (S-8406). It was owned around 1925 by a Mr John Lloyds Bereton, “Fleetwood Mac’s” grandfather, who always took seven spare tubes with him when driving from Richmond, Surrey to Somerset. The problem defeats us, but the car may be Italian, as its lines resemble those of the Fiat racing voiturettes of 1922. It was registered in Edinburgh, probably in 1920, yet it had front-wheel brakes; could it be the very rare La Perle? And as our correspondent says, who is the girl? Cherchez la femme!

The owner of a 1928 41/2-litre Bentley (registration UV 6520, chassis MF 3153, engine KN3095, once worked on at Birkin & Couper’s) seeks its history, which the BDC has been unable to provide. It has original VdP body, a racing filler to the large rear fuel-tank and swept-forward screen-frame/ scuttle beading.

The original owner was Gerald TS Bevan, and though this is apparently not the car raced at Le Mans by Bevan and Couper in 1931, a Bentley was also raced at Brooklands long-distance events by an HL Bevan in 1931-32. The well-known bridge player Sir Guy Domville, Bt, seems to have owned the car in question late in 1931 (at a mileage of 38,500), and a Mr Edwards in 1932.

A Southampton reader wants to trace the deep red 1932 J2 MG (registration ALE 456) which he sold for £150 in 1954. He says the thought of it makes him cry in his beer! A Belfast reader owns a 1931 2.3 Zagato Alfa Romeo (registration AUL 488) which was imported in 1934 and was advertised for £450 by Cecil Kay Ltd of Birmingham, in 1938; he would like to contact the importer. WB