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Bentley’s Flagship London Dealership Hosts James Bond Exhibition
Jack Barclay Bentley, the world’s oldest Bentley dealership, is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the iconic fictional character James Bond in London’ upscale Mayfair district next week.
On display at the exhibition will be first ever Bond cars, a Bentley 4.5-litre Blower and a Bentley Mark VI, from the early Ian Fleming novels.
They will be joined by a number of other Bond artefacts, including a first edition presentation copy of the Casino Royale book – marking the first ever appearance of James Bond – signed by Ian Fleming himself.
Pom Harrington, owner of Peter Harrington Rare Books, co-hosts of the exhibition, said: "Bond has been at the forefront of book collecting concerns for decades now, and a large part of that fascination stems from quite how intriguing a man Fleming was in his own right.
"A lot of the character and quirk that Bond is known for in the novels relates directly to the author himself, and it's impossible to ignore comparisons between the two, not only in the way he thought of himself, the world and the people in it, but in his pursuits and preferred luxuries.
"Bentley is a prime example of the latter, and we're delighted to be collaborating with Jack Barclay Bentley for this exhibition."
Jack Barclay Bentley has a unique connection to the Bentley brand, with its namesake considered one of the original ‘Bentley Boys’.
Indeed, Jack Barclay himself drove a Bentley 4.5-litre to victory in the 1929 edition of the prestigious Brooklands 500 competition.
The James Bond exhibition will run from 11-16 June.