"1925 Bentley 3 Litre
Chassis: 1131 ~ Engine: 1147 ~ Registration: UD803
Current Owner: Andrew Whittaker

History
This particular Bentley 3 Litre model was one of a total of 244 such cars dispatched from WO Bentley's North London Cricklewood works in 1925 as a standard 10' 10" chassis "Blue Label" model. It was supplied with coachwork by Harrisons who bodied around 200 Vintage Bentleys in total.

1925: It was purchased new in June 1925 by The Honorable Janet Elizabeth Bruce of Drystone Hill House, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 4HT, a granddaughter of the 8th Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899. She remained a spinster until she died aged 76, in November 1966, and owned the car for that time. The current Lord Elgin has verified her ownership by letter.

1970: Sometime in or around 1970 the car was advertised for sale from her estate as an accident damaged vehicle in Exchange and Mart and was intended to be bought by (the late) Michael Smith, professional vehicle dismantler and BDC member (see later) although for some reason, according to his widow, he only purchased the engine.

1986: The rolling chassis complete with front and rear axles (and damaged dumb-irons) was discovered on a farm by Jim Avery (car repairer and dealer) of Piddle Valley Garage, Piddlehinton, Dorset (tel 0755 290 4431), near Henstridge, Dorset, without any bodywork. It was purely a bare rolling chassis onto which a galvanised flat sheet bed had been bolted to form a basic farm trailer. Jim had heard village gossip that it had once been a Bentley and having inspected he realised what it was and bought the rolling chassis. Jim commissioned research of the history as above detailed in the vehicle papers which included the personal history of Miss Bruce which accompanied the vehicle in 2011. AW confirmed by phone.

1986: The bare rolling chassis sold by Jim Avery to BDC Club Member, Bill Woodward, Bryn Hafod, Bryn Hafod Drive, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1SG (tel 01691 654636). Bill was intending to build a circuit / sprint car and being a customer of Jim for some years supplied the necessary new parts to build a 3/4.5 two seat Bentley Special which he commissioned Jim to build. The chassis was restored somewhat and shortened by Jim to ‘Speed’ length 9’9”. A two-seater racing body was fabricated and painted, hydraulic brakes fitted, including shock absorbers, steering box and A type (le-mans) gearbox and most parts assembled with just the interior, wiring, gauges, engine with Phoenix crankshaft and gearbox remaining to be assembled and fitted. AW confirmed by phone.

2006: Project, still uncompleted, was sold to Ronald Coleman, 35 London Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1NF, a BDC Member who registered the car with the BDC and who appears owning the car in the 2006 Members Book. Unfortunately, work did not progress much further.

2009: Project sold on once again, this time to Bob Usher-Sparks, BDC Club Member, Long Day, Chapel Porth, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0NS (tel 07973 410358) u.s@btinternet.com. Bob completed some work but did not finish vehicle as retired from motorsport. Bob sold car on to Nick Benwell (see attached photograph). AW confirmed by phone.

2011: Nick Benwell, Phoenix Green Garage, Phoenix Green, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, RG27 8RT (tel01252 844112 or 07762 116129, info@phoenixgreengarage.com). Assembled some 4.5 engine parts together with other period parts but otherwise no further work done. Car sold to Tim Summers. AW confirmed by phone.

2011: Tim Summers, BDC Club Member, 29 Chiddingstone Street, London, SW6 3TQ, (tel 07767 640918) Director and Shareholder in Thornley - Kelham, (Classis Car Restoration Specialist) Drake House, Lakeside Business Park, Broadway Lane, South Cerney, Glos, GL7 5XL (tel01285 869791). Vehicle parts now under restoration on behalf of Tim Summers. Chassis had been strengthened and aligned on a jig. Tim had designed a special 2 seat racing body and had built a racing car buck, designed by 3D Design with the intention to take part in the Peking to Paris Rally. Virtually all period parts required to complete project had been sourced and were with the car to build it into a 3/4½ racer.

2014: Bentley 3 litre engine (no 1147) purchased by AW (Andrew Whittaker) from Carol Smith, BDC Club Member, (widow of Michael Smith) now residing at Old Hawthorn, West Lund Lane, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorks, YO62 6AJ. Carol states that the engine had been in Michael’s possession since the early 1970’s (see earlier).

2014: Vehicle (original to engine 1147) tracked down via internet search and purchased by AW on 19.6.2014 from Tim Summers. AW commissioned Clare Hay to investigate and confirm complete vehicle history and verify all parts who discovered that vehicle was originally registered in Oxford as UD803. Chassis, Engine, Front and Rear Axles and Diff confirmed as original and matching numbers. Gearbox A Type Le-Mans unit. DVLA were contacted who confirmed original registration mark and accepted Clare Hay’s letter as proof of originality and then issued V5c Logbook. AW now rebuilding the vehicle.

2015: Due to the fact that the chassis had been shortened, the original engine badly damaged in the 1970 accident and that no original body parts were present AW decided to build car into a Birkin Blower replica special with a new engine.

2016: Birkin Blower Rep completed with following non-standard additions: 110mm large bore (8 litre type) block and 149mm special long stroke crank, rods and pistons from Neil Davies (NDR) now giving 5769cc. Chassis strengthened as per Birkin type with further recommendations from Neil Davies. Gearbox fitted with D type close ratio dog-gear set. Differential upgraded with new 4.5/3.3 ratio crown-wheel and pinion. Brakes converted to twin circuit hydraulic system with vacuum servo assistance. Electric power steering fitted together with 30 amp alternator. 100w halogen lamps. Twin 450 amp/hour 12v batteries.

Strange as it may seem - it would appear that AW is only the second driver/owner."

"Hi, I live in Ilkley and last Friday 07/04/17 a fantastic Vintage Bentley Reg UD 803 was parked in the Central Car Park. I took some photographs of the car, if you are interested I can send these to you. Here is the memorial plate photograph (above) which shows the plate attached to the car bonnet."

1925 Bentley 3 Litre
Chassis: 1131
Engine: 1147
Registration UD 803

History
This particular Bentley 3 Litre model was one of a total of 244 such cars dispatched from WO Bentley's North London Cricklewood works in 1925 as a standard 10' 10" (0.156" 5/32") chassis "Blue Label" model. It was supplied with coachwork by Harrisons who bodied around 200 Vintage Bentleys in total.

1925: It was purchased in June 1925 by The Honorable Janet Elizabeth Bruce of Drystone Hill House, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 4HT, a granddaughter of the 8th Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899. She remained a spinster until she died aged 76, in November 1966, and owned the car for that time.

1966 - 1986: It is not known what happened to the car from 1966 until 1986 however it fell into disrepair. Sometime in or around 1970 the car was intended to be bought by Michael Smith (professional vehicle dismantler and BDC member, see later) although for some reason at that time, he only purchased the engine. It is likely that the car was involved in an accident as the chassis was damaged to the front and required repair work and jig straightening later by Tim Summers.

1986: The rolling chassis complete with front and rear axles was discovered in a farm barn by Jim Avery of Piddle Valley Garage, Piddlehinton, Dorset (tel 0755 290 4431), near Henstridge, Dorset, without any bodywork, wiring, gauges, steering box or engine. It was purely a bare rolling chassis onto which a galvanised flat sheet bed had been fitted to form a basic farm/hay trailer. Jim had heard village gossip that it had once been a Bentley and having inspected he realised it was and bought the chassis which looked in a poor state. Jim commissioned research of the history as above detailed in the vehicle papers which included the personal history of Miss Bruce which accompanied the vehicle in 2011.

1986: Bare rolling chassis sold by Jim Avery to BDC Club Member, Bill Woodward, Bryn Hafod, Bryn Hafod Drive, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1SG (tel 01691 654636). Bill was intending to build a circuit / sprint car and being a customer of Jim for some years supplied the necessary new parts to build a 3/4.5 two seat Bentley Special which he commissioned Jim to build. The chassis was restored somewhat and shortened by Jim to 'Speed' length 9'9". A two-seater racing body was fabricated and painted, hydraulic brakes fitted, including shock absorbers, steering box and A type gearbox and most parts assembled with just the interior, wiring, gauges, engine with Phoenix crankshaft and gearbox remaining to be assembled and fitted.

2006: Project, still uncompleted, was sold to Ronald Coleman, 35 London Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1NF, a BDC Member who registered the car with the BDC and who appears owning the car in the 2006 Members Book. Unfortunately, work did not progress much further.

2009: Project sold on once again to Bob Usher-Sparks, BDC Club Member, Long Day, Chapel Porth, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0NS (tel 07973 410358) u.s@btinternet.com. Bob completed some work but did not finish vehicle as retired from motorsport. Sold on to Nick Benwell (see attached photograph).

2011: Nick Benwell, Phoenix Green Garage, Phoenix Green, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, RG27 8RT (tel01252 844112 or 07762 116129, info@phoenixgreengarage.com). Assembled some 4.5 engine parts together with other period parts but otherwise no further work done.

2011: Tim Summers, BDC Club Member, 29 Chiddingstone Street, London, SW6 3TQ, (tel 07767 640918) Director and Shareholder in Thornley - Kelham, (Classis Car Restoration Specialist) Drake House, Lakeside Business Park, Broadway Lane, South Cerney, Glos, GL7 5XL (tel01285 869791). Vehicle parts now under restoration on behalf of Tim Summers. Chassis had been strengthened and aligned on a jig. Tim had designed a special 2 seat racing body and had built a racing car buck, designed by 3D Design with the intention to take part in the Peking to Paris Rally. Virtually all period parts required to complete project had been sourced and were with the car to build it into a 3/4½ racer.

2014: Bentley 3 litre engine (no 1174) purchased by Andrew Whittaker (BDC Member) from Carol Smith, BDC Club Member, widow of Michael Smith now residing at Old Hawthorn, West Lund Lane, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorks, YO62 6AJ. Carol states that the engine had been in Michael's possession since the early 1970's.

2014: Vehicle (original to engine 1174) tracked down and purchased by Andrew Whittaker on 19.6.2014 from Tim Summers. Whittaker commissioned Clare Hay to investigate and confirm vehicle history who discovered that vehicle was originally registered in Oxford as UD803. DVLA were contacted who confirmed original registration mark and accepted Clare Hay's letter as proof of originality and then issued V5c Logbook. Whittaker is now rebuilding the vehicle.

"Chassis no: 1131 ~ Engine no: 1147 ~ Registration no: UD 803
Vehicle bought from Tim Summers in 2014 and currently under full restoration. Original registered number secured via DVLA from original records and service history."

This car was purchased by Andrew Whittaker in 2014.

"I have located and purchased the original 3 litre engine (1147) to this car from Carol Smith (BDC Member) whose late husband had owned the unit since about 1970. I then have purchased the rest of the car from Tim Summers. I have traced the car's history all the way back to it being built. My intention at this stage is not certain, I do like the work Tim Summers has done on the racer project, however my wife and family, and all BDC Members I have spoken to insist on putting the car back into an original state. I am looking to find details of original registration number."

Restoration project by Thornley Kelham Ltd.
Bentley chassis no. 1131

1925 Vintage Bentley 3/4½ Litre Racer
This particular Bentley 3 Litre model (Chassis No. 1131) was one of a total of 304 cars dispatched from WO Bentley's North London Cricklewood works in 1925 as a standard 10' 10" chassis "Blue Label" model. It was supplied with coachwork by Harrisons who bodied around 200 Vintage Bentleys in total.

It was purchased in June 1925 by The Honorable Janet Elizabeth Bruce, a granddaughter of the 8th Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899. She remained a spinster until she died aged 76, in November 1966, and owned the car for all that time. The car was then sold and during the 1960s the chassis was shortened to "Speed Model" 9' 9" length. The original Harrisons coachwork, was like so many, discarded due to the dilapidated condition and lack of specialised restoration firms to restore it during the 1960s.

'1131' was purchased by a client of ours last year as a largely mechanically complete project but missing a body. Given its history is ideally suited to being rebuilt to racing specifications which is exactly what we are in the process of doing. So far we have disassembled the rolling chassis including the removal of the axles and suspension, gearbox, engine and prop-shaft etc. The chassis has been stripped back to bare metal and all the rivets have been checked and replaced where necessary. The chassis has been further strengthened by replacing the internal bracing and boxing-in the front dumb irons. The chassis has had an initial coat of epoxy primer.

Prior to dismantling the rolling chassis 3D-Engineers took careful measurements, and an in-house bespoke body has been designed with the owner that is rather like the early outer circuit racers constructed during the 1920s. The buck is now in our workshops and construction of the body in our metalwork department will commence during winter. Watch this space for further photographs as the project progresses in coming months.

This chassis is currently owned by Tim Summers.

"...a 3 litre (originally a Harrison saloon) which is in chassis/axle form only now sadly — am building it up as a vintage Bentley race car over the coming period."