Photographs were taken at the NAVBM 2014

This 3 litre has just sold — $254,500.00 including buyers premium.

These photographs were taken at the preview on June, 2012.

1924 Bentley 3 Litre 4/5 Seat Open Tourer
Coachwork by Park Ward
Reg. No. NR 5212; Chassis No. 792; Engine No. 801

Engine: Four cylinder, overhead camshaft, water-cooled monobloc, bore 80mm, stroke 149mm, capacity 2996 c.c. Four speed 'B' type gearbox; 13/55 rear axel; semi-elliptic springs front and rear; wheelbase 10ft 10ins.

The throb of the 4 cylinder Bentley engine was first heard in the garage of a mews off Baker Street in 1919 and it was not long before the first works were under construction in Oxgate Lane, Cricklewood. The first production model was the 3 litre and some 1,624 chassis left the works before production ceased in 1929. W. O. Bentley was quick to realise the benefits of keen involvement in motor sport, both for development of more refined machinery and on a commercial basis, to obtain maximum publicity. The Bentley team effort in the 1922 T.T. and the Duff/Clement win at Le Mans in 1924 built the foundation of a reputation which has become a legend.

This example carries a 4/5 seat touring coachwork by Park Ward. It is the long chassis model and has been fitted with tein S.U. 'Sloper' carburettors. Restoration to the highest standards was carried out by Richard C Moss in 1971-73 with particular attention to retaining originality. Since restoration this car has been used and maintained to a high standard. Touring Bentleys restored to this standard are not common and this car represents the opportunity to acquire a family tourer with lively performance and the legend of the name 'Bentley'.

The car is offered with a Swansea V.5. Registration document.

This photograph is from an advertisement by Gerry Porter in "Thoroughbred & Classic Cars" magazine, January 1982

Text in ad reads: Bentley 3-Litre, 1924. Beautiful original Park Ward metal-bodied tourer, chassis number 792. Restored by Dick Moss; the coachwork is in burgundy with black wings, correct nickel radiator, bell headlamps, sidelamps. Features include Speed Model engine with twin slopers, and the whole engine bay and chassis are superbly detailed. The interior is in light tan leather, which is in lovely condition, and has matching carpets and the correct instruments. Extremely handsome early tourer, pleasing, quick, and light to... (text obliterated after this point)

This photograph is from an advertisement by Gerry Porter in "Thoroughbred & Classic Cars" magazine, December 1981.

Text in advt reads: Bentley 3 Litre tourer, with original Park Ward coachwork on the lone chassis, completely correct 1924 spec. including four-wheel brakes, slopers, and Speed Model engine. Maroon paint with tan leather interior.

Photograph was taken during Vintage Car Rally from Coventry to Birmingham in the 1980s.

Chassis 792 offered for sale by R. G. Toone in 1978.

Additional photo references (1973-76): BDC Review 110 p.274 & 277, 111 p.6, 121 p243.

This car was owned by R.G.Toone from 1958 to 1978.

"I still have a letter dated 6th March 1979 from a Geoffrey F Lomas, he bought the car from Oliver Batten the son of the second owner James Batten, a corn, coal and hay merchant of Leicester. Oliver batten ran it throughout the second world war. He then purchased from W.O.Bentley his eight litre saloon. The three litre then languished in one of his barns. He sold it to one of his friends, the above mentioned Geoffrey F.Lomas during 1945.for the sum of £17.10 shillings (or in modern money £17.50) The saloon body was taken off the body is described as a Weyman straight backed saloon. The chassis was transported from Sussex to Dundee for the sum of £9.

Mr Lomas managed to purchase another long chassis 3Ltitre tourer from a breaker at Motherwell for £15. this was transported by rail to Dundee for £2.10 shillings. He took the body from this chassis and fitted to 792, stating that even the bolt holes were all in the correct position. Mr Lomas purchased from his breaker friend the rear seat from a Wolesley saloon an a front seat from an Alvis tourer.

The body is the one 792 still carries and the seats are believed to be those mentioned. Mr Lomas then purchased the manifold with the twin S.U. carburettors for the sum of £6. He sold the remains of the second chassis for £8. In 1946 he had the opportunity to purchase a brand new MG TC, so the Bentley had to go. He sold it to a Geoffrey Walker for £210. Geoffrey Walker pranged it. It was then sold to a BDC member, name not known. By the way one of the items mentions a four and a half litre reax axle being fitted, I have no knowledge of this and I am sure Dick Moss would have pointed it out to me if it did have one.

In 1958 I purchased it from a garage in Pinner, Middlsex for £75. I engaged Dick Moss to strip it down to the bare chassis frame and then rebuild from the chassis up, this took some two years. I had to save the money to pay for each stage of the work. I ran it for some twenty years, went of the international rally to Harrogate and over to the lake district. During school term times I sometimes took most of the Bedford School cricket team to away matches, along with one of the school masters, David Poulton also a BDC man. Great times. If I find my original notes I made at the time of paying a visit to Colonel Berthon at the BDC club premises in Long Crendon, I will put any other information onto this site.

I trust the new owner drives and enjoys the car as much as my family and I did.

By the way the photo showing the car standing on a carpet was taken in 1973 at the Dorchester hotel, Park Lane, London on the occasion of the annual Dinner Dance. In those days a number of us (4 or 6) drove our cars, all winners of the various classes at the Kensington Gardens meeting. I was honoured at the Dorchester by driving Mrs W.O.Bentley across the ballroom floor at midnight. Great fun, they switched of the ballroom lights and then two of us switched on our headlights and drove across the ballroom floor."