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Details
1926 BENTLEY 3 LITRE FOUR SEATER SPORTS TOURER
COACHWORK BY VANDEN PLAS OF KINGSBURY, LONDON (Body No.1245)
Registration No. YM 83
Chassis No. PH1462
Engine No. PH 1459
Green with green leather interior
Engine: four cylinder in-line, four valves per cylinder, 2,996cc c.86bhp at 3500rpm; Gearbox: four speed; Suspension: semi-elliptic springs to front and rear, Hartford friction shock absorbers; Brakes: four wheel drum, servo-assisted. Right hand drive.
Among 3 litre Bentleys, this car is probably unique; it is perhaps the only 3 litre built by Bentley Motors as a Le Mans replica. After the 1925 Le Mans race, Hillstead, Bentley Motors' salesman took over the Works 3 Litre, raced as No. 10, as a demonstrator. Hillstead later said 'I had quite a lot of fun with No. 10, and so far as the real enthusiast was concerned I could not have had a better machine. The very fact of having stone guards to the radiator, head-lamps, sump and petrol tank, coupled with a heavy bonnet strap and the faint outline of the racing numerals still showing on either side, put the potential buyer in a receptive frame of mind even before the engine was started.' Clearly C R Robinson fell under the spell of the Le Mans Bentley, as late in 1925 he ordered a new 3 Litre chassis, to be built and bodied as a replica of No. 10.
The service record for chassis PH1462 lists the options ordered by Robinson; the 18 gallon long range 3 Litre petrol tank, in place of the standard 11 gallon tank, pressure and Autovac petrol feed - the 3 Litre Le Mans cars were all fitted with pressure feed - Cambridge thermometer, AT rev-counter, corded road springs and Duralumin valve rockers. W O Bentley designed the dural rockers in 1925 to extract more performance from the 3 Litre engine; road springs were corded on the Works 3 Litres to stiffen up the suspension and improve the handling.
Robinson's meticulous care over the specification of his car extended to the details of the coachwork. The body was, of course, built by Vanden Plas; Vanden Plas built the bodies on all the official Bentley Works entries at Le Mans between 1925 and 1930. The body is the classic four-seater style, but of narrower guage Le Mans construction and fitted with special Le Mans style lightweight bucket seats. The blade wings were special offer, lighter and more aerodynamic then the fully-valanced standard wings. The running boards are fitted with special tool and battery boxer, again copied from the 1925 Le Mans 3 Litre. The Vanden Plas body records note that the paint and leather colour were chosen to match the Works Bentley; the finished car left Vanden Plas' works on 3rd March 1926, with an invoice for £177; Robinson took delivery from Bentleys a week later.
The Bentley Motors Service Record for chassis PH 1462 notes the fitting of a brake servo in August 1932. The star entry, though, dates from 15th March 1934: 'Car tested. Max speed 92 (3500revs). Max temp 70.' No better confirmation of the exceptional specification and performance of this Cricklewood Bentley could be asked for.
In one ownership for many years after the war, and in a noted private collection before being acquired by the present owner - a past owner of both 4½ and 8 litre Bentleys - this remarkable Bentley remains in exceptionally original conditon. Still wearing its original registration number - YM 83 - this Bentley importantly retains its original engine and chassis components. The body remains in extraordinary condition, with its original panelling and much of its original trim.
A handsome, unique and very charming sporting Bentley.
COACHWORK BY VANDEN PLAS OF KINGSBURY, LONDON (Body No.1245)
Registration No. YM 83
Chassis No. PH1462
Engine No. PH 1459
Green with green leather interior
Engine: four cylinder in-line, four valves per cylinder, 2,996cc c.86bhp at 3500rpm; Gearbox: four speed; Suspension: semi-elliptic springs to front and rear, Hartford friction shock absorbers; Brakes: four wheel drum, servo-assisted. Right hand drive.
Among 3 litre Bentleys, this car is probably unique; it is perhaps the only 3 litre built by Bentley Motors as a Le Mans replica. After the 1925 Le Mans race, Hillstead, Bentley Motors' salesman took over the Works 3 Litre, raced as No. 10, as a demonstrator. Hillstead later said 'I had quite a lot of fun with No. 10, and so far as the real enthusiast was concerned I could not have had a better machine. The very fact of having stone guards to the radiator, head-lamps, sump and petrol tank, coupled with a heavy bonnet strap and the faint outline of the racing numerals still showing on either side, put the potential buyer in a receptive frame of mind even before the engine was started.' Clearly C R Robinson fell under the spell of the Le Mans Bentley, as late in 1925 he ordered a new 3 Litre chassis, to be built and bodied as a replica of No. 10.
The service record for chassis PH1462 lists the options ordered by Robinson; the 18 gallon long range 3 Litre petrol tank, in place of the standard 11 gallon tank, pressure and Autovac petrol feed - the 3 Litre Le Mans cars were all fitted with pressure feed - Cambridge thermometer, AT rev-counter, corded road springs and Duralumin valve rockers. W O Bentley designed the dural rockers in 1925 to extract more performance from the 3 Litre engine; road springs were corded on the Works 3 Litres to stiffen up the suspension and improve the handling.
Robinson's meticulous care over the specification of his car extended to the details of the coachwork. The body was, of course, built by Vanden Plas; Vanden Plas built the bodies on all the official Bentley Works entries at Le Mans between 1925 and 1930. The body is the classic four-seater style, but of narrower guage Le Mans construction and fitted with special Le Mans style lightweight bucket seats. The blade wings were special offer, lighter and more aerodynamic then the fully-valanced standard wings. The running boards are fitted with special tool and battery boxer, again copied from the 1925 Le Mans 3 Litre. The Vanden Plas body records note that the paint and leather colour were chosen to match the Works Bentley; the finished car left Vanden Plas' works on 3rd March 1926, with an invoice for £177; Robinson took delivery from Bentleys a week later.
The Bentley Motors Service Record for chassis PH 1462 notes the fitting of a brake servo in August 1932. The star entry, though, dates from 15th March 1934: 'Car tested. Max speed 92 (3500revs). Max temp 70.' No better confirmation of the exceptional specification and performance of this Cricklewood Bentley could be asked for.
In one ownership for many years after the war, and in a noted private collection before being acquired by the present owner - a past owner of both 4½ and 8 litre Bentleys - this remarkable Bentley remains in exceptionally original conditon. Still wearing its original registration number - YM 83 - this Bentley importantly retains its original engine and chassis components. The body remains in extraordinary condition, with its original panelling and much of its original trim.
A handsome, unique and very charming sporting Bentley.