Bentley schleps a thousand parts across the US on a nine city road trip
The Bentley Heritage Roadshow

Only Bentley Motors Limited could get away with something like this. Can you imagine Chevrolet trying to attract buyers in Beverly Hills, Palm Beach or Miami by dragging a truck full of spare parts around the country? We think not.
Chevys, however, are not Bentleys. According to Steve O’Hara, Bentley Motors Limited Director for After-Sales, “Nearly 80 per cent of all the Bentleys ever built are still in existence. They have been cherished by generations of owners and are often considered a part of the family. In many cases these classic cars are still being driven and enjoyed, rather than living in museums, and our task is to continue to provide these passionate owners and drivers with the service and parts they need.”
A genesis

The idea for the Roadshow had its beginnings when Bentley decided to briefly allow owners to visit its parts and accessories facility in Crewe last year (Bentley doesn’t refer to it as a “warehouse”, in all probability because it more closely resembles the reading room of the Library of Congress than it does a parts depot).

According to Mr. O’Hara, “We received a flood of e-mail and telephone enquiries last year as well as several visitors from the United States, who flew in just to attend the Parts Warehouse open day. We felt it was important to respond to this enthusiasm and come to the United States.”
A really big shew

With apologies to the late Ed Sullivan, this “really big shewwww” consists of a consignment of 1,000 parts and accessories – everything from a complete V8 engine block to original owner manuals (printed to US specs and in their original, branded “wrappings”). All are offered for sale with a three-year manufacturer guarantee “if fitted by an approved Bentley dealership” (reasoning, we assume, that if you can afford the part, you certainly have the wherewithal to have a dealer install it for you).

Coming to select Bentley dealers

The Bentley Heritage Roadshow will be coming to a Bentley dealer near you only if you happen to live in one of nine cities in one of six states. The opening event was held, fittingly, at Bentley Beverly Hills – a dealership possessing a zip code just one shy of Aaron Spelling’s favorite (90211), while the remainder of Bentley's interpretation of a traveling salvation show will adhere to the following schedule:

18 September – Bentley Pasadena, California
22-23 September – Bentley Parsippany, New Jersey
25 September – Bentley Bethesda, Maryland
2 October – Bentley High Point, North Carolina
13 October – Bentley Dallas, Texas
16 October – Bentley Houston, Texas
21 October – Bentley Palm Beach, Florida
23 October – Bentley Miami, Florida