Five epic drives for vintage car lovers

Vintage Bentley restorer William Medcalf’s obsession with cars started as a child after a 28,000-mile tour around the USA in his father’s 1926 Bentley Speed Six. From there, his 22-year professional career with the luxury British car brand has taken him from Peking to Paris and beyond in search of classic car drives. Here, he recalls some highlights from his life behind the wheel.

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Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Biysk, Russia

I drove this route non-stop for 66 hours with a good friend in a 1927 Bentley 3 4½ Litre as part of the 2007 Peking to Paris Rally. Driving across the Gobi Desert is like driving on the moon – going over the ruts and bumps makes your rib cage ache. And the desert is ink-black at night – we had only the stars and a compass.

Car of choice: 1927 Bentley 3 4½ Litre

Photo: Getty Images

Le Mans, France to London, UK

I’d looked after Car No 10 – a 1925 Bentley 3 Litre, raced at Le Mans by Bentley Boys, Bertie Kensington Moir and Dr J D Benjafield – for 15 years or so. Unfortunately the car ran out of fuel during the 1925 race, so we took it back to try again 91 years later. We raced it in the Le Mans Classic, before driving it back through France and across the Channel. We were flanked by 18 vintage Bentleys as we drove back into London’s Berkeley Square, the home of the Bentley Boys – a magical moment.

Car of choice: 1925 Bentley 3 Litre

Photo: William Medcalf

London to Land’s End to John O’Groats to London, UK

I’d passed my motorbike test only two weeks before I decided to ride from London to Land’s End to John O’Groats and back to London in a weekend – I wanted to show my family I was serious about riding motorbikes. I brought a postcard back from each place to prove I’d been there, but Scotland was the highlight. It’s lovely, but difficult to see on a bike as you’re always concentrating on the road.

Bike of choice: Honda CBR 400

Photo: Alamy

Miami to Key West, USA

This was part of a 28,000-mile adventure around the USA I did with my family as a kid in a Bentley 3 4½ Litre. It took nine months and we carried everything we needed in the car. The locals couldn’t believe we’d driven those distances. The clearest memory was the Florida Keys, where for the first time we saw oranges growing on trees.

Car of choice: 1924 Bentley 3 4½ Litre with coachwork by Sinclair

Photo: Gallery Stock

Tabriz, Iran to Palandöken, Turkey

This is a timed leg of the Peking to Paris Rally, over a mountain range between Iran and Turkey, with 1,000ft drops by the muddy gravel track. The road is effectively closed, but you can come across a stubborn farmer, so there’s no guarantee of a traffic-free range.

Car of choice: 1925 3 Litre Bentley Super Sports

Photo: William Medcalf

William Medcalf

Five epic drives for vintage car lovers

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Biysk, Russia

Le Mans, France to London, UK

London to Land’s End to John O’Groats to London, UK

Miami to Key West, USA

Tabriz, Iran to Palandöken, Turkey

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Biysk, Russia

Le Mans, France to London, UK

London to Land’s End to John O’Groats to London, UK

Miami to Key West, USA

Tabriz, Iran to Palandöken, Turkey

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