Found on Robert Glover Ltd. website on March 23, 2017

1924 Bentley 3/4½-Litre "Red Label" Short-Chassis Speed Model Tourer

Original coachwork by Vanden Plas
Chassis No. 849
Engine No. 851
Body No. 1100
Registration No. NL 8498

If it’s the shiny green ones that float your boat, then may we kindly suggest that you avert your eyes now? If, on the other hand, you wish to be the coolest cat in town and arrive at events in one of the least shiny and least green Bentleys around then please read on...

Offered for sale here is a rare opportunity to acquire an original Vanden Plas bodied 3-Litre Speed Model with its original “matching numbers” engine recently uprated to 4½-Litre specification.

Factory service records on file indicate that this original 3-Litre Speed Model, chassis no. 849 was completed in December 1924, fitted with engine no. 851 and supplied via Hodgsons Garage of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to a J. Kennedy of Gosforth. The Bentley was registered NL 8498 and a Cambridge thermometer listed as an extra. The service records note an accident in 1925 with “one front axle sent to Grimshaw Leather Co.” Whether or not the front axle was replaced at this stage is not known. In 1926 the service records list slow running SU carburettors fitted, a feature that ‘NL 8498’ retains to this day.

The first change owner is listed as a Mr. Leroy of London in 1927. During his ownership the car suffered another minor prang and the service records indicate a front axle change at this stage. The next ownership change is also listed as 1927 with three subsequent owners and the works they had carried out all listed in the works service records up until 1937. The works records always end by 1939 when the service department closed down. There is the usual gap in the ownership trail during the war years.

As an interesting aside, in 1932, H. C. Martineau purchased ‘NL 8498’. Martineau had also owned the Ex-Showroom demonstrator 4½-Litre tourer, Chassis No. ST 3006, Registration No. YT 8262, that is also currently residing in the same stable.

In 1957 The Bentley Drivers Club, recorded the ‘NL 8498’, as being registered to W.H.W. Howes and by early 1960s a Mr. De Villiers, who restored the car and attended a number of Bentley Drivers’ Club events with it. In 1964 ‘NL 8498’ was sold, via London dealer, Peter Suckling to Alan Radcliff in America. In his amusing book on car collecting and concours, Adventures of a Vintage Car Collector, Radcliffe describes how he had stumbled across and purchased the “NL 8498’ whilst sourcing a Bentley Speed Six in the UK. The 3-Litre had been reserved for the actor Tony Curtis, but when Curtis appeared not to want to proceed with the deal the broker sold ‘NL 8498’ to Radcliffe. Having been re-upholstered in vinyl in the early 60s, Radcliffe re-upholstered this 3-Litre in a “tough grained black cowhide” and showed it at various American concours events, landing himself in trouble for chroming certain parts of the car rather than nickel plating them. From Radcliffe the car passed to Rick Carrol and then Roger Quinsinberry of Florida. Between c.1972 and 2007 ‘NL 8498’ was retired to a barn until it was discovered Bill Perretti also of Florida and a collector of highly original examples of prewar motorcars and motorcycles. Despite the previous restoration, ‘NL 8498’ was in wonderfully patinated condition, and crucially retained its original engine, gearbox, instruments, and Vanden Plas Body, No. 1100, with every floorboard numbered accordingly – a particularly rare feature.

Purchased by the current owner in 2008, chassis no. 849 was returned to the UK. A respected engineer and a fierce competitor in pre-war and historic racing events, the current custodian decided to leave the car’s cosmetic condition alone, but embarked upon a total engine rebuild (invoices on file) and conversion to 4½-Litre capacity. Utilizing the original 3-Litre sump, crankcase, magneto turret, valve chest and rocker cover the conversion included the fitment of a new 4½-Litre cylinder block, a new crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and valve gear. The original 3-Litre cylinder block, crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons have been retained and are offered with the car. Further works included a service of the radiator and a total re-wire by Winston Teague with the option for spotlights to be fitted to the front. A brand new set of four 21” wheelbase wheels shod with Blockley tyres have also been fitted. The hood and tonneau material have been replaced and the side-screens restored with fitted travel cases. Invoices for the works carried out are on file.

Just circa 500 miles have been completed since the works were completed, the current owner using the vintage Bentley simply as family transport to and from VSCC events and the pub with a child seat fitted in the rear.

A fantastic highly patinated original Vanden Plas bodied Short Chassis Speed Model, with the desirable upgrade to 4½-Litre power; this car will make an ideal endurance rally weapon as well as family transport to the pub. Inspection of the car and accompanying history file is welcome by appointment but please don’t bring your oily rag; you’ll only get it dirty!

This car is for sale as of March 23, 2017.

"Geraint Owen communicated to VintageBentleys.org on Feb 1, 2017 that the BDC has erroneously recorded the engine number for this car as 845. In fact, it is the steering box number that is 845."

"Hi, I thought you might like some current autumnal photos of chassis 849 to update your chassis register.

Keep up the good work."

Source: Factory records
1924- J.Kennedy
1927 - Leroy
1927 - Martin
1928 - J.Kent
1930 - N.C. Piper
1932 - C.Martineau
1932 - Lionel Knight until at least 1937

~~

Source: BDC records
1960- 1961 - P.T.R. De Villiers
Around this time it was restored
Attended Kensington Gardens concours in 1962
1963 - P.Suckling

~~

Source: Radcliff's book
1964: The car was for sale in a London dealer when the actor Tony Curtis decided to buy it. He then changed his mind and it was bought by Alan L. Radcliff (also an American).

Radcliff took the car back to the USA, had it repainted and re-trimmed (the early 60s re-upholstery in red vinyl wasn't to his tastes).

The photo from eBay below shows the car after the repaint and retrim, and was taken by the restorers in 1965.

Radcliff wrote up his time with the car in a book "Adventures of a Vintage Car Collector" (ISBN 0-912458-18-6). In the book he explains how he was disqualified from concours events as he had rechromed various parts of the car (not nickel).

He soon after sold the car to Rick Carrol

~~

Source: Bill Perretti
1971: Roger Quisinberry, Florida. The car was laid up soon after and not used until being discovered by Bill Perretti in 2007.

2008: Bill Perretti

2010: Geraint Owen

The car was returned to the UK in 2010 and remains in very original condition, still with its original 3 door aluminium skinned body and original chassis parts/engine.

This car is presently owned by Geraint Owen.

This car is owned by Bill Perretti.

Every so often an old car emerges from long term hibernation, its storage seemingly having done little but to preserve its appearance. Often times an auctioneer's phone rings with 'a remarkable discovery', only to find that the reality is that the car is somewhat 'humdrum' and not of great interest, and then there are cars like this extraordinary 3-Liter Bentley! Not only is the car one of the more desirable Speed Models, which Bentley Motors built on their sporting shorter 9ft 9in wheelbase, but it carries original coachwork by the master coachbuilders of Vanden Plas, whose narrow gauged sports tourers not only looked the epitome of sporting genre of the day but were also sturdy yet svelte enough to be chosen by the company for almost all of their competition cars from Le Mans to Brooklands and the Tourist Trophy. Better still that coachwork, takes the unusual form of a 3-door sports tourer, a style which tended to be preferred by the works for their racing endeavors.

Offered between 1924 and 1929, 3-Liter Speed Model production reached just 831 units. Even in the marque's most prolific years during the 1920s, total Bentley production rarely exceeded 400 chassis annually. Reportedly, buyers often endured a two-year waiting list to obtain their 3-Liter car.

Built on a shortened chassis, the Speed Model was powered by a special dual-carbureted engine. This higher-performance edition would be known as the red-label Bentley, as the background of its winged radiator badge was filled with that color. (The 120-inch wheelbase standard 3-Liter chassis with single carburetor had a blue badge background.)

Copies of the original records from Vanden Plas from historian Tim Houlding confirm it to have been supplied in the form it takes today, while Bentley records confirm that the car was supplied late in 1924 finished in blue and black livery and sold to J. Kennedy of Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK. They go on to chart the car through the vintage period. Typically, when one escorts oneself back to the roaring Twenties and imagines the original Bentley Boy racer behind the wheel, the records denote the odd minor scrape, incident and the like and chassis 849 is no exception to this rule, its service record including replacement braked front axle fitted at one point. When inspected today these service records tally with the car in the mettle, that later replacement axle bearing the number AH 1451 a later 3-liter unit that never corresponded to a car and so must have been a works spare, the back axle carries the same number.

Through the 1930s the car's history is listed on the build sheets, then by 1957 it was with a W.H.W. Howes still in the UK. Around 1963 it is known to have arrived in the USA, changing hands just twice more to P.Suckling and A.L.Radcliff before arriving with the present owner. It is thought to have benefited from a cosmetic refurbishment most probably in the Suckling ownership, but even that work now shows some age. A cursory glance around the car today shows how authentic and correct the car is, its bodywork is stamped with the Vanden Plas body number as would be expected. The paint is flaking in places, and a few of the period details that these cars are known for seem to have been lost over time, but nevertheless, the car remains a very handsome sporting tourer. On close inspection, its numbers tally correctly, the chassis being very clearly stamped in the front dumb iron 'knuckle', hood, gearbox, front and back axles (as listed above) etc. An 'S' is stamped on the car's engine number, which denotes that this would have been a factory replacement unit at some time.

Strangely despite the authenticity of this article, and perhaps owing to its disappearance from British Bentley circles many years ago, today a second car using this identity that has been built up in recent times in the UK. However there can be little doubt that from stem to stern this is an authentic, unmolested 3-liter and its known history confirms it to have had an unbroken chain of ownership history.

Bonhams discovery of the car was unveiled at our recent Quail Lodge auction, where the car drew considerable interest from the car savvy crowd. It has been mechanically freshened in recent times and is certainly usable as it is. In fact, department specialists covered a good few miles last month in 849 and can attest to a good turn of speed matched by good engine pressure and brakes. Whether left alone or restored these charming Bentleys are always coveted and it will be great to see this one returning to the road and public life, where it would prove a suitable mount for a multitude of tours for which it is eligible.

This car was for sale as of September 10, 2009.

We recently received information from the new owner of a Vintage Bentley. The seller states that he has owned the car for 35 years, but the car is listed in the BDC Directories for 2003 and 2006 as having been owned by two different owners, neither of whom is the seller. The car is Chassis No. 849, Reg. No. NL 8498. We would like to resolve the problem. Efforts to contact the owner listed in the 2006 BDC Directory have not been successful. Can anyone help us figure this out? — www.VintageBentleys.org

Chassis No. 849 was rediscovered in Palm Beach, Florida. Previous owner was for 35 years. Numbers matching. Carries original Vanden Plas body.

Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or Dijon 2007

NL8498 Bentley 3/4½
A well known racer, this car has enjoyed a number of successes across Europe, taking podium class positions, an outright victory at Donington and is regularly placed in the top 4 despite competing against decade younger rivals. (the time when this was written is indeterminate — VintageBentleys.org)

Le Mans Classic 2006

At some point in the 90s, a car was built in the UK using a new chassis and claimed the identity of 849 / NL8498. This car, painted green, was widely used at BDC, VSCC and Benjafield events from 1998 to 2010. This car now carries different numbers and all the photos of the green car being used in competition are not of the real 849. — VintageBentleys.org