Andrew Whittaker's 1925 3 Litre Bentley - Chassis 1131

 

1925 Bentley 3 Litre

Chassis: 1131 ~ Engine: 1147 ~ Registration: UD803

 

History
This particular Bentley 3 Litre model was one of a total of 244 such cars dispatched from WO Bentley's North London Cricklewood works in 1925 as a standard 10' 10" chassis "Blue Label" model. It was supplied with coachwork by Harrisons who bodied around 200 Vintage Bentleys in total.

 

1925: It was purchased new in June 1925 by The Honorable Janet Elizabeth Bruce of Drystone Hill House, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 4HT, a granddaughter of the 8th Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899. She remained a spinster until she died aged 76, in November 1966, and owned the car for that time. The current Lord Elgin has verified her ownership by letter.

 

 

1970: Sometime in or around 1970 the car was advertised for sale from her estate as an accident damaged vehicle in Exchange and Mart and was intended to be bought by (the late) Michael Smith, professional vehicle dismantler and BDC member (see later) although for some reason, according to his widow, he only purchased the engine.

 

1986: The rolling chassis complete with front and rear axles (and damaged dumb-irons) was discovered on a farm by Jim Avery (car repairer and dealer) of Piddle Valley Garage, Piddlehinton, Dorset (Tel 0755 290 4431), near Henstridge, Dorset, without any bodywork. It was purely a bare rolling chassis onto which a galvanised flat sheet bed had been bolted to form a basic farm trailer. Jim had heard village gossip that it had once been a Bentley and having inspected he realised what it was and bought the rolling chassis. Jim commissioned research of the history as above detailed in the vehicle papers which included the personal history of Miss Bruce which accompanied the vehicle in 2011. AW confirmed by phone.

 

 

1986: The bare rolling chassis sold by Jim Avery to BDC Club Member, Bill Woodward, Bryn Hafod, Bryn Hafod Drive, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1SG (tel 01691 654636). Bill was intending to build a circuit / sprint car and being a customer of Jim for some years supplied the necessary new parts to build a 3/4.5 two seat Bentley Special which he commissioned Jim to build. The chassis was restored somewhat and shortened by Jim to ‘Speed’ length 9’9”. A two-seater racing body was fabricated and painted, hydraulic brakes fitted, including shock absorbers, steering box and A type (Le Mans) gearbox and most parts assembled with just the interior, wiring, gauges, engine with Phoenix crankshaft and gearbox remaining to be assembled and fitted. AW confirmed by phone.

 

2006: Project, still uncompleted, was sold to Ronald Coleman, 35 London Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1NF, a BDC Member who registered the car with the BDC and who appears owning the car in the 2006 Members Book. Unfortunately, work did not progress much further.

 

 

2009: Project sold on once again, this time to Bob Usher-Sparks, BDC Club Member, Long Day, Chapel Porth, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0NS (Tel 07973 410358) u.s@btinternet.com. Bob completed some work but did not finish vehicle as retired from motorsport. Bob sold car on to Nick Benwell. AW confirmed by phone.

 

2011: Nick Benwell, Phoenix Green Garage, Phoenix Green, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, RG27 8RT (Tel 01252 844112 or 07762 116129, info@phoenixgreengarage.com). Assembled some 4.5 engine parts together with other period parts but otherwise no further work done. Car sold to Tim Summers. AW confirmed by phone.

 

2011: Tim Summers, BDC Club Member, 29 Chiddingstone Street, London, SW6 3TQ, (Tel 07767 640918) Director and Shareholder in Thornley - Kelham, (Classis Car Restoration Specialist) Drake House, Lakeside Business Park, Broadway Lane, South Cerney, Glos, GL7 5XL (Tel 01285 869791). Vehicle parts now under restoration on behalf of Tim Summers. Chassis had been strengthened and aligned on a jig. Tim had designed a special 2 seat racing body and had built a racing car buck, designed by 3D Design with the intention to take part in the Peking to Paris Rally. Virtually all period parts required to complete project had been sourced and were with the car to build it into a 3/4½ racer.

 

 

2014: Bentley 3 litre engine (no 1147) purchased by AW (Andrew Whittaker) from Carol Smith, BDC Club Member, (widow of Michael Smith) now residing at Old Hawthorn, West Lund Lane, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorks, YO62 6AJ. Carol states that the engine had been in Michael’s possession since the early 1970s (see earlier).

 

2014: Vehicle (original to engine 1147) tracked down via internet search and purchased by AW on 19.6.2014 from Tim Summers. AW commissioned Clare Hay to investigate and confirm complete vehicle history and verify all parts who discovered that vehicle was originally registered in Oxford as UD803. Chassis, Engine, Front and Rear Axles and Diff confirmed as original and matching numbers. Gearbox A Type Le-Mans unit. DVLA were contacted who confirmed original registration mark and accepted Clare Hay’s letter as proof of originality and then issued V5c Logbook. AW now rebuilding the vehicle.

 

 

2015: Due to the fact that the chassis had been shortened, the original engine badly damaged in the 1970 accident and that no original body parts were present AW decided to build car into a Birkin Blower replica special with a new engine.

 

 

2016: Birkin Blower Rep completed with following non-standard additions: 110mm large bore (8 litre type) block and 149mm special long stroke crank, rods and pistons from Neil Davies (NDR) now giving 5769cc. Chassis strengthened as per Birkin type with further recommendations from Neil Davies. Gearbox fitted with D type close ratio dog-gear set. Differential upgraded with new 4.5/3.3 ratio crown-wheel and pinion. Brakes converted to twin circuit hydraulic system with vacuum servo assistance. Electric power steering fitted together with 30 amp alternator. 100w halogen lamps. Twin 450 amp/hour 12v batteries.

 

 

Strange as it may seem -- it would appear that AW is only the second driver/owner.