History
Founded in 1991 with a mysterious fax reading “The deed is done,” Wyles Hardy & Co. has grown into a leading name in the valuation and auction industry, renowned for handling prestigious cases from luxury supercars to high-profile asset sales with professionalism and integrity.
2004
Bentley 'Old Number 1'
Appointed to create and manage the worldwide marketing and sale of this legendary racing car.
Wyles Hardy & Co were honoured to be appointed by a major UK Bank, to create and manage the worldwide marketing and sale of this iconic British racing car.
‘Old Number one’ (chassis number LB2332) was a factory-built Bentley Speed Six race car that was victorious in the 1929 Le Mans 24Hr endurance race, driven by Capt. Woolf Barnato and Sir Henry (Tim) Birken. In 1930 Capt. Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston repeated the feat – making ‘Old Number One’ the first car to win the Le Mans 24 hr race twice. After a serious crash at Brooklands in 1932 the car was rebuilt and continued to be used by Woolf Barnato until c.1936.
In 1990 the car was contracted to be sold for £10M – making it arguably one of the most expensive cars in the world. The High Court case that followed the deal being resiled tainted the car’s provenance, despite the judgement finding that the car was rightfully ‘the authentic Old Number One’. The classic car market was by then in freefall.
Reaffirming & re-establishing the cars provenance was key. Worldwide targeted media and many promotional presentations with the car involving high profile individuals followed, culminating in WH&C commissioning a bespoke book by Micheal Hay to be published, specifically on this car. The car was successfully sold to an international collector and currently remains in the UK as prominent, tangible reminder, of the glory days of the ‘Bentley Boys’…
