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1923 Bentley 3 Litre    
Original 1922 Numbers
Chassis No. 113
Engine No. 113
Registration No. KU 631

  This car - updated
Chassis No. 113
Engine No. 113
Registration No. KU 631

(Updated with information from owner Steven Collins. - May 2016)
 
August 2019
Click on thumbnail for larger view
   
 
 

Found on NDR Limited website on August 7, 2019

1922 Bentley 3 Litre
With its original charming body by Harrison this 3 Litre is the earliest to survive in this form with its matching numbered components. As now this is a delightful example retaining its original unbraked axle and runs on beaded edged tyres. You may be forgiven for thinking that this vintage Bentley is therefore a museum piece to be taken on a trailer to and from shows and events and to be driven occasionally by the brave, but that is not Bentley motoring. Having recently been driven from Tel Aviv, across the Golan heights and covering 1,000 miles in six days on the Holy Land Tour this is a vintage Bentley to enjoy. We have been out and about in this one. In city traffic it is comfortable, keeps up with modern traffic, stops and steers surefootedly and its progress is enhanced by the courtesy of modern motorists who take great pleasure in being courteous. Simply wonderful.

The history file shows that she entered the Morecambe Road Speed trials in September 1923, that she was owned by the writer Richard Hughes in 1929, and was found abandoned, but entirely complete in a field by a Bentley Drivers Club member of notable enthusiasm in the 1950s. Since that time she has been preserved and enjoyed and long may that continue.

Jump in this vintage Bentley, drive anywhere and enjoy the full vintage Bentley experience.

This car is for sale as of August 7, 2019

 
     
     
  Source: NDR Limited
Posted: Aug 07, 2019
 
     
2018
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Holylands Tour, 2018

 
     
     
  Source: VBE Restorations
Posted: Jul 12, 2018
 
     
May 2016
 

This car has been recently purchased by Steven Collins.

 
     
     
  Source: Steven Collins (Owner)
Posted: May 05, 2016
 
     
April 2015
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Hamish Moffat found the car in a Welsh field in the 1950s
 
 

"The car has now been lightly restored and wings to the original style have been made and fitted. The original body has been found to be one manufactured by Harrison and is still on the car."

"Thanks for putting the effort in and hosting such an informative site. One of our reasons for updating the pictures is that my father is thinking of selling this car. If you know any one who might be interested.?"

 
     
     
  Source: Matthew Blake (Son of owner)
Updated: Apr 27, 2015
Updated: Apr 22, 2015
Posted: Apr 20, 2015
 
     
2010
 

This car was purchased by John Blake in 2010.

 
     
     
  Source: Matthew Blake (Son of owner)
Posted: Apr 20, 2015
 
     
2000
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Christies, London - 2000

 
     
     
  Source: Christies
Posted: Jul 14, 2010
 
     
2000
 
 

Mar. 27, 2000 - Chassis No. 113 was sold at auction by Christie's in London.

Below is a report From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Wednesday Mar. 8, 2000

Why this runabout will fetch £60,000
For sale: 1922 Bentley sports car, in excellent condition with two previous Bradford owners.

The three litre, two-seater sports car, was once a familiar sight on the highways and byways of Bradford, will go under the hammer at Christie's in London on March 27. And it is expected to fetch £55,000 to £60,000.

The blue model was number 113 to roll out of the Bentley factory in Cricklewood, London, in 1921 and was sold new to an enthusiast named Mr E W Knowles, of Charles Street, Bradford.

With its Bradford number plate, KU 631, it was sold within a year to a Mr R Smith, of Fieldhead Mills, Bradford, who looked after the motor for more than 50 years. And according to newspaper cuttings in the car's file, Mr Smith used his car for the purpose for which it was built — sport. He entered the car in speed trials on the Morecambe New Road during the Morecambe summer carnival of September 1923.

Simon Towle, executive director of the Bentley Drivers Club, said its first owner would have paid £1,050 for the chassis and engine, and an extra £450 for the seats and body.

"People who bought these cars were obviously well off, probably rich mill owners. And no doubt they'd cause trouble at t'mill if they pulled up in one of these," he said.

"It's a lovely little motor and the new owner will have lots of fun. It's nice to see a car that's been sympathetically restored. It has the original style wheels and it would appear it has the original body and still has the front wheel brakes. The early Bentleys were built with front wheel brakes but a lot of others have had them fitted since for safety reasons. The engine also has a very early carburettor set-up that's been retained."

He said there were about 1,600 classic Bentleys in the world, about 1,000 of which are in Britain. "But a lot of them are a bit of one car and a bit of another. This one is quite unusual."

Colin Warrington, motor expert at Christie's said: "Initially it's quite a special car. It's almost one of the very first built by Bentley Motors and it appears to have the original body. It had long-term ownership in the north of England and ran in a very early motor sport event driven by a resident of Bradford. Obviously there are risks with this kind of sport but the car seems to have survived."

The car has the original chassis, engine, steering box and bonnet with matching numbers. After its Bradford links the car moved to Dorset and was then sold on to the current vendor in London.

It is ready for road use and has a current MoT.

 
     
     
  Source: "Telegraph and Argus" newspaper archives
Posted: Jul 17, 2007
 
     
1929
 
 

Owner, 1929-1945 - Richard Hughes

One of the early owners of Chassis No. 113 was Richard Hughes, the famous author who wrote High Wind in Jamaica. He died in Wales in 1975. He bought the car on Oct. 26, 1929 and paid 150 UK pounds. He bought it at Boyd Carpenter, 47 West End Lane, Kilburn, NW6, London.

 
     
     
  Source: Anthony Vilela, Historian
Posted: Jul 17, 2007
 
     
1928
 
 

Owner in 1928 - G. R. Sketon, Harrogate, Yorkshire

 
     
     
  Source: Anthony Vilela, Historian
Posted: Jul 17, 2007
 
     
1927
 
 

Owner in 1927 - Pamela Ash, Harrogate, Yorkshire

 
     
     
  Source: Anthony Vilela, Historian
Posted: Jul 17, 2007
 
     
1925
 
 

Owner in 1925 - Ronald Smith, Bradford, Yorkshire - According to newspaper cuttings in the car's file, Mr Smith used his car for the purpose for which it was built — sport. He entered the car in speed trials on the Morecambe New Road during the Morecambe summer carnival of September 1923.

 
     
     
  Source: "Telegraph and Argus" newspaper archives
Posted: Jul 17, 2007
 
     
1922
 
 

Owner in 1922 - E. W. Knowles
The car was delivered to the first owner on July 7, 1922. According to an article in the "Telegraph and Argus" newspaper, the first owner was E. W. Knowles, of Charles Street, Bradford.

 
     
     
  Source: "Telegraph and Argus" newspaper archives
Posted: Jul 17, 2007
 
     
 
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. 113
Engine No. 113
Registration No. KU 631
Date of Delivery: Jul 1922
Type of Body: No info
Coachbuilder: No info
Type of Car: S
   
First Owner: KNOWLES E W
 
     
  More Info: Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Now 2 seater."  
     
     
  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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