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1923 Bentley 3 Litre    
Original 1922 Numbers
Chassis No. 148
Engine No. 151
Registration No. (Not available)

  This car - updated
Chassis No. 148
Engine No. 694
Registration No. Unregistered

(Updated with information from owner Kim Graves. - April 2018)
 
April 2018
 

Mona Nath: What do you know about the history of the car prior to your purchase in 1994?
Kim Graves: The belief is that the car came to Australia very early in its life, possibly from new and was bodied in Melbourne, Australia. It was once owned by an Australian explorer in South Australia. The car was broken up and I (and others) have been gathering pieces for many years.

Mona Nath: For Reg. no., you have indicated 'Unregistered'. I suppose it has an Australian reg plate?
Kim Graves: I do not have an original registration but I believe the registration in South Australia was 78 575.

Mona Nath: Re the engine fitted in the car: Michael Hay's 1997 book reports that it is "Much modified - 8 cylinder Buick engine fitted post-war." So is the engine no. 694 that Buick engine?
Kim Graves: Engine 694 is a 3 litre Bentley engine - originally being in chassis 685 (Michael Hay's 1997 book). My understanding is that when powered by the Buick engine the car was what would be described as a 'special', having been made in South Australia.

Mona Nath: Please send a few current photos of the car if possible and also older ones of course!
Kim Graves: I don't have any 'current photos', other than parts being refurbished but one day... As for old photos there are a couple in a Bentley Drivers Club (UK) Review (No 159 February 1986) that I have seen but I do not own such a review.

Kim Graves: The reference in Michael Hay's book to the first owner is now known to be incorrect, the first owner being J Grice of South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

 
     
     
  Source: Kim Graves (Owner)
Posted: Apr 04, 2018
 
     
1994
 

This car was purchased by Kim Graves in 1994 and resides in Victoria, Australia presently.

 
     
     
  Source: Kim Graves (Owner)
Posted: Apr 03, 2018
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. 148
Engine No. 151
Registration No. (Australia)
Date of Delivery: Sep 1922
Type of Body: No info
Coachbuilder: No info
Type of Car: S
   
First Owner: F. Massey Burnside*
 
     
  More Info: Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Was 4 seater. Much modified - 8 cylinder Buick engine fitted post-war. Broken up - engine and other parts extant."  
     
  "Engine 694, a 3 litre Bentley engine, was originally in chassis 685 (Michael Hay's 1997 book)." - Kim Graves (Owner), Apr 4, 2018  
     
  *"The reference in Michael Hay's book to the first owner is now known to be incorrect, the first owner being J Grice of South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia." - Kim Graves (Owner), Apr 4, 2018  
     
  Posted: Mar 01, 2007  
     
 
 
 
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147
Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651
Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg for his Chassis No. KL3590
Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207
Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165
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