VSCC Silverstone - Saturday 13th April 2019

Sold as of Mar 15, 2018
Found on NDR Limited website on March 15, 2018

1929 3/4½ Litre Le Mans To Highest Specification.
Vintage Bentleys engender affection and admiration in the onlooker and owner in equal measure. This example possesses just that charisma and should be viewed by anybody contemplating the purchase of a vintage Bentley. With continuous history from new this matching numbered example has the enhancement of her original 3 Litre engine to 4½ litres as per the practice established by the works in 1927. With Phoenix crankshaft and connecting rods and the fitment of an overdrive for unstressed long distance touring this vintage Bentley is to full 4½ Le Mans specification and represents excellent value.

Bentley 3-4½ Le Mans, 1929. Bought from Stanley Mann in 2012.

Owned by Mikael Bender as of July 2016.

"So, HT1650 started life as a late long chassis 3 Litre with a Harrison Landaulette body. When it was in my custody, it had a Gurney Nutting tourer body. The radiator had the patina of decades of polishing. It was at the inaugural Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, having been driven there from Western MA and was driven out there several more times in succeeding years.

I kept it for a little over a decade, selling it in the late 80s. It went to the UK, was converted to a 4½, with a cycle fendered touring body and was pictured in a BDC Review. It next came to my attention in an ad on the Stanley Mann website, represented as a matching number LeMans spec 4½. OK - The chassis is still HT1650, engine lower end DN1727, reg WW9886. But still, certainly not what it was for most of its life, a nice 3 Litre. It certainly looks the part of a "real" LeMans 4½ and I am sure goes very well.

But even though it is probably more "valuable" in its present guise, it is sad that its 3 Litre identity has been cast into the dustbin of history."

"This photograph was taken at St Jean Cap Ferrat Car Show on 25th September, 2015. The car is owned by a Swedish gentleman."

The following advertisement text by Stanley Mann was found on the Stanley Mann Racing website on Jun 25, 2011:

1929 BENTLEY LE MANS
Registration Number: WW 9886 ~ Chassis Number: HT 1650 ~ Engine Number: DN 1727

"NOW ITS ABOUT TIME THAT THOSE WHO regularly read my ads require a Vintage Bentley which could be a bargain. Now here your chance.

This Bentley has her Engine uprated to 4 ½ltr Racing/Touring specification. This full matching numbered car with servo brakes in full Le Mans strip. Fitted with overdrive.

Looks amazing. So please come in and make me an offer. All I know is this could be the sale of the century.

Price: Very negotiable"

Nov 30, 2012: Sold

Bentley Rally, Aberystwyth, Wales 2008.

1928 Bentley Tourer — 3 Litre
Equipped with the 4-cylinder engine with single overhead camshaft operating four valves per cylinder, the car gives good performance and gas mileage. The four speed gearbox adds to the performance. the body was constructed by Duff and Adlington of 10 Upper St. Martin's Lane, London. It uses a split windscreen which has each side individually adjustable. Before the car was brought to the United States in the summer of 1967, the entire body and fenders were stripped down to bare metal and repainted British Racing Green with black fenders. New top and upholstery were also installed. Body is a 5-passenger, four door with folding top and full set of side curtains in black canvas. The new upholstery is of green hide with matching green rugs. The car carries six wire wheels with four 5.25 x 21 tires. the twelve volt electrics operate standard lighting and ignition equipment.