Flying Scotsman Rally, April 2019

Hi Mona
Here are accurate dates:

Jun 2006: Acquired Chassis 1236 (from Brian Baskerville, an ex-BDC regional chairman).
Sep 2013: Part exchanged Chassis 1236 for Chassis MR3376, John Ormiston being the vendor of Ch: MR3376.
Feb 2017: Sold Chassis MR3376 to Dr Roland Zettlel, a German based in Switzerland and a friend of the previous owner (and with a castle in Scotland)!

I wanted to buy MR3376 and the then owner, John Ormiston, wanted to sell. I believe that he needed some cash rather quickly so rather than wait for me to sell my car, 1236, and then buy his car from him for which I would have find quite a lot of further cash in addition to the proceeds of the sale of 1236, he took 1236 from me as part payment for MR3376 plus a substantial additional payment.

I believe that he subsequently sold 1236 into the trade and it was fitted with a 4 1/2 ltr engine before being re-sold but I know little of this as it was of none of my business. However, as it happens, this was the very outcome that I was trying to avoid when selling 1236; I felt that it should remain as a 3 ltr.

May 22, 2014: Sold

We are very proud to be able to offer this unique and charismatic 3 litre Speed Model. Matching numbers of course, this car is the only Jarvis-bodied 4-seater 3 litre in the World. Indeed, there are only two other Vintage Bentleys which survive with their original Jarvis coachwork: a very handsome 3 seater Boat-tail and a 4.5 litre 4-seater, both owned by very prominent collectors.

Chassis 1236, Engine AP 303 was built to Speed Model specification ( A Type gearbox, Sloper carburettors, high compression engine on the 9' 9" wheelbase ) for Sir A.D. Kleinwort. We have a complete list of owners from new. The car has been most carefully looked after by the highly regarded Bentley specialist, Tony Fabian, for several years and the car recently completed two very serious rallies in South Africa and New Zealand.

The car has been featured in both editions of Dr Clare Hay's book "Bentley-The Vintage Years" and more recently in Nick Walker's "Coachwork on Vintage Bentleys" and James Taylor's "Bentley-4 Cylinder Models in Detail".

We strongly recommend this unique 3 litre to the very discerning: £335,000

May 22, 2014: Sold

1926 Bentley 3.0 litre tourer red label speed with body by Jarvis and Sons

Year: 1926
Engine size: 3000
Transmission: Manual RHD
Price: £334,950

The 1926 3.0 litre Red Label Speed Tourer offered here at Hofmann’s is one of only four Jarvis bodied examples built and is believed to be the only remaining car in existence. Such was the respect for Jarvis and Sons, Malcolm Campbell used a Jarvis body on his 1927 land speed record vehicle, Bluebird. Originally commissioned for Sir Alexander Drake Kleinwort (of the banking dynasty) Chassis No 1236 was delivered to his Curzon Street home in February 1926. Having spent its entire life in the United Kingdom the car has passed through a number of owners including vintage Benltey specialist Stanley Mann. Stanley commented “it is like an old friend returning, she was always in my opinion the best looking 3.0 litre ever.” Finished in British Racing Green with Nickel brightwork this stunning example still retains all its original dials and fittings. The car is trimmed with rich Burgundy leather and matching carpets. The car is fitted with Nickel King Of The Road headlamps, Rear mounted spare wheel, Side driving lamp and Wet weather gear.

During Brian Baskerville’s (chairman of the south east region of the Bentley Drivers Club) period of ownership, chassis number 1236 underwent some considerable work carried out by Tony Fabian of Blackmore Engineering. This work included the supply and fitment of a Kenlow electric fan, new drum brakes all round, restoration of windscreen with re-wire, full engine rebuild, and new hood, and tonneau etc.

Most recently the car has been in the hands of Mr Terry Unwin, a respected Bentley Drivers Club member. During his seven years of ownership Mr Unwin has undertaken work totaling circa £20,000. This work included Perrot shafts overhauled and modified to later design, Radiator overhaul, Rear axle overhauled including fitting a new crown wheel and pinion with a higher ratio (3.53; 15/53) giving 28 mph per 1,000 revs in top gear, Both magnetos overhauled and re-wound, Autovac overhauled and reinstated, All four wings removed, repaired and repainted with refurbished tool and battery box, All five wheels restored and All shock absorbers overhauled. During Mr Unwin’s ownership the car has covered around 14,500 trouble free miles including 2,300 miles in South Africa and 2,200 in New Zealand.

PM5028 features extensively in Nick Walkers book “Coachwork On Vintage Bentleys” where it was described as “the epitome of a Vintage Bentley”.

This exceptional car will be supplied to its new owner with an extensive history file containing numerous invoices, MOTs and tax discs.

Prior to delivery the car will undergo a thorough pre sales inspection by one of our Vintage Bentley experienced technicians in preparation for potential Mille Miglia entry or other European club touring events.

"We are very proud to be able to offer this unique and charismatic 3 litre Speed Model. Matching numbers of course, this car is the only Jarvis-bodied 4-seater 3 litre in the World. Indeed, there are only two other Vintage Bentleys which survive with their original Jarvis coachwork: a very handsome 3 seater Boat-tail and a 4.5 litre 4-seater, both owned by very prominent collectors.

Chassis 1236, Engine AP 303 was built to Speed Model specification (A Type gearbox, Sloper carburettors, high compression engine on the 9' 9" wheelbase ) for Sir A.D. Kleinwort. We have a complete list of owners from new. The car has been most carefully looked after by the highly regarded Bentley specialist, Tony Fabian, for several years and the car recently completed two very serious rallies in South Africa and New Zealand.

The car has been featured in both editions of Dr Clare Hay's book "Bentley-The Vintage Years" and more recently in Nick Walker's "Coachwork on Vintage Bentleys" and James Taylor's "Bentley-4 Cylinder Models in Detail".

We strongly recommend this unique 3 litre to the very discerning: £335,000"

Bought by Terry Unwin in May 2006

"Chassis No. 1236, engine No. AP303 [factory matching] with unique Jarvis of Wimbledon 4-seater sports coachwork. This superb car, recently celebrated in Nick Walker's excellent book, "Coachwork on Vintage Bentleys", has a Tony Fabian rebuilt engine, "A" box and sloper carburettors - a top grade Bentley for the very discerning."

Photographs were taken at Bentley Drivers Club Driving Tests at Brooklands in 2005.

1926 3-litre BENTLEY SPEED MODEL Tourer
COACHWORK BY JARVIS AND SONS
Reg No: PM 5028; Chassis No: 1236; Engine No: AP304

The 3-litre Bentley is one of Britain's most sought after sports cars but this example has the added kudos of retaining its original four seater touring body.

Bentley Motors announced its 3-litre at the 1919 Motor Show though deliveries did not begin until 1921. It was powered by a rugged 2996 cc four cylinder overhead camshaft fixed head engine, with four valves per cylinder, which gave the model of a top speed of about 80 mph. As reliability was a cornerstone of W.O. Bentley's design philosophy, the 3-litre laid the foundations of the marque's success in the Le Mans 24 hour race, examples of the model being placed fourth in the inaugural 1923 event and first in both 1924 and 1927.

This one of 513 Speed Model 3-litres built between 1924 and 1929, with a 9 ft 9.5 in wheelbase. Jarvis and Sons, the Wimbledon coachbuilders which built this car's body was, as the quotation at the beginning of this entry indicates, renowned for its light, sporting bodywork, which incorporated practices inherited from the aircraft industry. Jarvis bodied just four Bentley 3-litre chassis.

PM 5028 was delivered new, in February 1926, to Sir Alexander Drake Kleinwort, a member of the merchant bankers Kleinwort and Sons, who gave his address as 30, Curzon Street, Mayfair, which was one of his four homes.

Today this car is listed in Michael Hay's book as having its "original body still fitted" though its slightly arched Jarvis wings have been replaced by those of the flatter Vanden Plas type. It has green bodywork with a red interior and has been in the present owner's possession for about two years. It is described as being in good, working order and will have an MOT certificate by the time of the sale.

"My dad took this photograph in 1957/58 when the vehicle belonged to a colleague of his who, worked at a company Mirrlees and would give my Dad a lift home from work in it. The owner at the time was a gentleman called Dick Bickerton of Chelford Road, Broken Cross, Macclesfield. My dad says the car was painted black back then."