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Sold:
October 8, 2014
Damian Jones
of H&H Classics Limited wrote
(Oct 2, 2014):
"Dear Mr McLellan, please find
attached a photo of Chassis 340. Our
website has more images of the car.
The 3 Litre will be offered for sale
by public auction on Wednesday, October
8th 2014. It has been in the current
ownership since 1959."
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"Sale Date: 8th October 2014
1923 Bentley 3 Litre Tourer
Current ownership since 1959 and
matching chassis / engine numbers
Estimate: (£) 80,000 - 120,000
Reg Number: PD 7014
Chassis Number: 340
Engine Number: 341
Cc: 2996
Body Colour: Dark Green / Red
Trim Colour: Red
MOT ExpiryDate: Exempt
"It was not the means whereby
the 3-Litre Bentley performed, but
the manner in which it did it, that
endeared the car to sportsmen who
took pride in their driving. The engine
was remarkably flexible, strong and
reliable, the gear ratios admirably
chosen, the handling excellent and
the quality unremittingly high. So,
also, was the price, but an ever-growing
reputation, augmented by striking
racing victories - including the Le
Mans 24 hours of 1924 and 1927 - ensured
its success" ('Classic Sports
Cars' by Cyril Posthumus and David
Hodges).
One of just 765 Bentley 3 Litres to
be built on the Long Standard wheelbase
(10ft 10in), chassis 340 was bodied
as an extravagant Two-Seater plus
Dickey by Park Ward. Supplied new
to J.D. Botterell Esq of Browns, Effingham,
Surrey on August 28th 1923, it returned
to the Cricklewood Works some twelve
months later to be fitted with front
wheel brakes. Acquired by J. Stableford
Esq of Upper Brook St, London W1 after
7,000 miles or so in 1928, the Bentley
is known to have subsequently belonged
to A.B. Stenhouse Esq of Greencroft
Gardens, London NW6, John Washbourn
Eyre Esq of Portland Place, London
W1 and Major W. Hamilton of Kingston-upon-Thames
before migrating northwards and into
the care of D. Edwards Esq, D.H. Shaw
Esq, A.A. Beard Esq, Captain Hill,
Edward Gibson Esq. and the vendor
who spotted it for sale in the Manchester
Evening News during 1959!
Upgraded to somewhere near `Speed
Model' specification with a new camshaft,
re-bored block (enlarged to 81mm),
high compression pistons and twin
SU carburettors in 1933-1934, the
3 Litre still retained its original
- albeit dilapidated - bodywork into
the 1960s. Concerned at the condition
of the wings and dickey seat compartment,
the present owner commissioned a Cheadle-based
coachbuilder to extend the main Park
Ward tub aft of the doors but ahead
of the bulkhead so as to create a
Four-Seater Tourer. He also had a
revised windscreen and bespoke petrol
tank installed together with simpler
cycle wings and adjustable aeroscreens
etc. New gears were fitted to the
steering box in a successful attempt
to reduce the effort involved in low-speed
manoeuvres (though, the originals
accompany the car should a new owner
wish to reinstate them), while previous
keepers had seen fit to modify the
dashboard, chrome-plate various fittings,
uprate the headlamps and add Andre
Hartford Telecontrol shock absorbers.
Pleasingly retaining its original
engine crankcase (number 341) and
a proportion of its original Park
Ward coachwork, chassis 340 has not
possessed a valid tax disc since 31st
October 1995. Not driven for at least
a decade due to the vendor's poor
eyesight, the Bentley will require
careful recommissioning / overhauling
prior to road use. Seemingly complete,
the 3 Litre sports a red enamel radiator
badge, Autovac fuel feed, twin ML
Type CG4 magnetos and two spare wheels.
The number `340' is visible to the
front chassis cross member and a dumb
iron inner face, while the steering
box is numbered as `337'. Unfortunately
the vendor has lost the Bentley's
paperwork. However, a new UK V5C Registration
Document has been applied for (which
will be forwarded to the new owner)
and Alan Bodfish of the Bentley Drivers'
Club has provided copies of the 3
Litre's factory service record together
with a black and white photo depicting
it in 1956.
Coming to market for the first time
in fifty-five years, this venerable
Bentley 3 Litre has the makings of
an exciting project and is offered
for sale with what the vendor believes
to be the support brackets for its
original wings." |
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