The 69th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 2019.

North American Vintage Bentley Meet at OHTM, May 2014

This car was purchased by Rob Kauffman in 2013.

"Greenwich Concours d'Elegance 2013; Most Outstanding Automobile pre-1932."

Chassis MF3153 at the Amelia Island auction.

Sold at Amelia Island auction on March 8, 2013 for $2,750,000

This 1928 Bentley 4½ litre Semi-Le Mans Tourer is being offered at Gooding's March 8, 2013 sale in conjunction with the Amelia Island Concours. Interestingly, this vehicle was originally delivered to a dealership in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but returned to the UK a year later. Purchased by someone close to "Bentley Boy" Captain Henry "Tim" Birkin whose company developed the factory's racing cars, MF3153 soon received a rare upgrade to Le Mans specs: magnesium "blower" crankcase, heavy-duty crankshaft, higher-capacity Le Mans fuel tank, large diameter tachometer, etc. No, it isn't an iconic "Blower Bentley" model, nor does it have a documented racing provenance, but then the $2,000,000-$2,500,000 pre-sale estimate is a perhaps half or less than the cost of one of those very desirable vehicles. This Bentley 4½ was awarded Best of Show at the Bentley Drivers Club Concours in 2005, which suggests that its condition matches its authenticity.

(Photos by Mathieu Hertault courtesy Gooding & Company)

Formerly the Property of Gerald T.S. Bevan and Anthony Bevan

1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Semi-Le Mans Tourer
Coachwork by Vanden Plas

CHASSIS NO. MF3153
ENGINE NO. SM3905
Registration No. UV 6520
Body No. 1457

Asking price: $2,000,000 - $2,500,000

- Exceedingly Rare Original-Bodied Example
- Boasting Many Original Le Mans-Specifications Components
- Exceptional Provenance with Prominent Bentley Owners
- Recent and Exacting Restoration by Noted Marque Specialists Graham Moss and Richard Cresswell
- 2005 BDC Concours Best of Show
- Documented by Bentley Historian Clare Hay
- Ideal International Event Entrant
- An Important, Highly Regarded, and Desirable Vintage Bentley
- One of the Finest Vintage Bentleys Extant

- 4,398 CC SOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
- Twin SU “Sloper” Carburetors
- Estimated 130 HP
- 4-Speed Non-Synchromesh D-Type Gearbox
- 4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
- Semi-Elliptical Leaf-Spring Suspension with Friction-Plate Shock Absorbers

2012 Colorado Grand
1928 4½-Liter VDP, chassis MF3153, Paul Hageman
Built in 1928, chassis MF3153 has a handsome 4-seater sports tourer body by Vanden Plas. Three cars were built to this specification with specially extended chrome windscreen pillars. The factory sold the car to its first owner in the U.K., Gerald T.S. Beven, with a full five-year guarantee! Bevan and his son Anthony had a keen interest in racing and had close links to the Bentley factory and to the H.R.S. Birkins shop run by Captain Henry Birkin, one of the victorious "Bentley Boys" Le Mans team drivers. In November 1930, Bevan senior decided to have his own sports tourer uprated to full Le Mans spec by the factory and the shop. The car was fitted with a special 4.5-liter engine with rare magnesium-alloy crankcase, still under the factory's guarantee, or at least until Birkins fitted the racing pistons, Le Mans fuel tank, large racing snap fuel filler, racing instruments, cycle wings, and wing irons. Very few cars were ever modified by the factory or Birkins to Le Mans spec, and this is the only one known to have had some of the modification carried out that way. Presumably eyeing the looming guarantee window closing, Bevan reinstalled the road-going pistons and sold the car with a newly reinstated guarantee. This is probably the most complete and authentic Original Le Mans Replica, and we welcome Paul and David with this beautiful Bentley.

This Bentley 4 1/2-Litre Tourer has twice represented the Vintage Sports Car Club in the Angl-American Rally, driven by T. P. Breen.

London, 1957.

Edinburgh Rally, 1954.

1954 Anglo-American Rally, England.

Photograph was taken for program for Anglo-American Vintage Car Rally from Edinburgh to Goodwood.

More Info: Parts of the original Chassis No. HF3187 have been found in Chassis No. MF3153." should also be put with Reg. No. 6520.

Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "D/7058. Vanden Plas body no. 1477. Eng SE 3 fitted 12/30 - eng numbered (S?) M 3905. This engine thought to be light crank engine fitted as dummy to Supercharged 4½ Litre ch. SM 3902 for 1929 Motor show."