Hello McCarthyMR, your little Y-5(A) Bentley is fairly standard (apart from the grille surround). It was the Worlds first commercially available model of the 4.5 Litre car and introduced by Lesney during 1956. The model is based on a 4.5 Litre car, effectionately known as a 'Blower' Bentley simply because of the Amhurst Villiers Supercharger installed at the front, just ahead of the grille.
The 'Le Mans' tag name comes from the fact that 'Blower' Bentley cars did race in the famous 'Le Mans' racing event, but without any wins, 3 Litre and 6.5 Litre cars were far more successful in the same event.
Your particular example does not have it's original tyres, but is unusual in not having a silver or gold painted grille surround and while I can see it is very 'Play Worn' it is still presentable and displayable.
There is no real monetary value with these models as there are so many in existance and if this were at a toy fair, in this condition, I would expect to pay no more than £2 or £3.
Thank's for showing it here,
GHOSTHUNTER.
P.S. Have a look at some of mine in here...
http://theghostclubuk.webs.com/ ...just click on the "Matchbox" tab.
