Bentley

9001 Bentley 1927 3 litre Le Mans

February 1964 -1969

The 'Classics' were launched in 1964, designed more for display than to be played with. Initially catalogued as just 900 and issued in a thin card box with flaps with a tray inside on which the car was secured by an attachment to the exhaust, not always easy to release. The car is painted green with green mudguards and running board and RN 3 on the grille and rear box.

Later the 900 became the 9001 and was issued in a sturdy box with a lid and foam rubber protection inside.

There is a driver dressed completely in white apparel and most of these 900/9001 models have Union flag on the passenger door.

9002 Bentley 1927 3 Litre

February 1964 - 1969

Released at the same time as 9001, and also, confusingly, numbered 900 at first, 9002 is the red version of the Bentley 1927 3 Litre. This does not, however, have the Union flag on the passenger door, nor the RN3. It does, however, have the same all-white clad driver.

The 900/9002 model has red wheels and black mudguards and running board.

It was issued at first in the flimsy card box with a tray holding the model and then later in a sturdier card box with a lid.

Gift Set 40 The Avengers Steed's Bentley

January 1966 -1969

The Avengers Gift Set 40 included the same model but with a folded hood and Steed at the wheel. There were normally just two variations used in the set: a green model, another slightly different shade to either the 9001 or 9004 models, but distinguished mainly by having red wheels, and a red model with black mudguards and running board and steel wheels. Some red models had quite gold-colour wheels.

The Avengers edition had no Union flag or RN decals. A rare edition in green but with black mudguards and running board and brown interior - quite distinct from 9004 in both the green shade and interior colour - is also known to have been used in the set.

The ease with which hoods can be changed has meant that many green models with brown interior and steel wheels can be found with a folded hood and either no driver or Steed at the wheel. Some dealers also sell a Jeeves character painted grey as a replacement for Steed to further confuse people! It is also fairly easy to change the wheels so sellers may try to make a Steed Bentley from a 9001 model with 9002 wheels or a 9002 with 9001 wheels and changing the hood and driver.

Listed above, however, are the original actual models issued and careful examination should reveal those that have been created.

9004 Bentley 1927 3 Litre World of Wooster edition

February 1967 - 1969

The 'Classics' Bentley was issued in a slightly different shade of green and with black mudguards and rails and a much more red shade interior with Jeeves at the wheel and Berties Wooster standing by the side. This edition has a folded hood and steel-colour wheels. Many of these models have a distinctly gold colour to the radiator and lights.

The packaging is of the bubble-type with the model on a tray that can be slid out at the back.

No Union flag on the passenger door.