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1925 BENTLEY 3 LITER FOUR SEATER TOURER

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1925 BENTLEY 3 LITER FOUR SEATER TOURER
Sold for US$ 462,000 Including Commission
Bonham's Auction, Amelia island, Florida 2015
Coachwork by Vanden Plas
Chassis no. 1009
Engine no. 1007
Body No. 1125
Former UK Registration no. MH 4796
2,996cc SOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine - 4 Overhead Valves Per Cylinder
80bhp at 3,500rpm
4-Speed Close-ratio Gearbox
Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
Four-Wheel Drum Brakes with Perrot shaft actuation
*Rare original matching numbers car with original Vanden Plas Sports Coachwork
*Offered from long term ownership
*Meticulously researched history
*Great looking Vintage Bentley, eligible for many road touring events
THE BENTLEY 3 LITER
The genre of the sporting Vintage Bentley dates from the earliest days of Walter Owen Bentley's founding of the firm that bore his name and the partnership of his chassis and coachwork which was provided by local coachbuilder Vanden Plas. Between them they created a style that remained with the company throughout its first era of production: that of a compact sports car with lightweight open four seater touring bodywork. It was in this same guise that virtually all of the famed Le Mans campaigns were undertaken. Even when the 4-cylinder cars were usurped by their 6-cylinder models, the most sporting examples were still built in this guise. The legend of the 'Bentley Boys', Tim Birkin and their Le Mans successes, created the spirit and character of the brand that perpetuates today, particularly since its reinvigoration from the early 2000s. It is for this reason that the iconic Bentley 3 Liter Speed Model with Vanden Plas coachwork is such an important part of the Bentley story.
W.O. Bentley had proudly unveiled his new 3 Liter car on Stand 126 at the 1919 Olympia Motor Exhibition—the prototype engine having fired up for the first time just a few weeks earlier. Bentley's 4-cylinder 'fixed head' engine incorporated a single overhead camshaft, 4-valves per cylinder and a bore/stroke of 80x149mm. Twin ML magnetos provided the ignition, and power was transmitted via a 4-speed gearbox with right-hand change. The pressed-steel chassis started off with a wheelbase of 9' 9½" then adopted dimensions of 10' 10" ('Standard Long') in 1923, the shorter frame being reserved for the TT Replica and subsequent Speed Model. Rear wheel brakes only were employed up to 1924 when 4-wheel Perrot-types were introduced.
Early success in the 1922 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, where Bentleys finished second, fourth, and fifth and took the Team Prize, led to the introduction of the TT Replica (later known as the Speed Model) on the existing 9' 9½" wheelbase, short standard chassis. Identified by the Red Label on its radiator, the Speed Model differed by having twin SU 'sloper' carburetors, a higher compression ratio, different camshaft, and the close-ratio A-type gearbox, the latter being standard equipment prior to 1927 when the C-type gearbox was adopted. These engine changes increased maximum power from the standard 70 to 80bhp and raised the top speed to an impressive 90mph. Other enhancements included the larger (11-gallon) fuel tank and (usually) Andre Hartford shock absorbers.
The 3 Liter was by far the most popular model of Vintage Bentley production, with some 1613 chassis built, however of those only a third were the short chassis Speed models. By the very nature of their racing association the privateers that bought these cars in the Roaring Twenties were keen to push these cars to their limits. A cursory glance through a few of the period service records show many returns to the factory following accident damage, making the actual survival statistics for all 3 Liters less than half of the original production. Because these cars were rather reliable work horses, it was common for them to continue their lives in more rudimentary work, particularly during the war; in the UK many turned into farm 'hacks', shooting brakes, or tow vehicles. For all of these reasons, the actual number of surviving examples of what is undeniably the iconic Vintage Bentley look is rather modest, and they rarely appear for sale.
More Info Here: www.bonhams.com/auctions/22530/lot/160/?category=results&length=90&page=2
Robert Myrick Photography
Category
Kereta - Car
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