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1924 Bentley 3 Litre    
Original 1923 Numbers
Chassis No. 434
Engine No. 442
Registration No. NX 5589

  This car - updated
Chassis No. 434
Engine No. -
Registration No. NX 5589

(Updated with information from Drage Thompson, October 2016. Current owner / former owners, please come forward with further updates. - October 2016)
 
October 2016
  Oct 16 - Oct 28 2016
"Firstly I'd like to say what a fantastic website you have!

I'd like to help you out a little if I may? As the owner of Bentley 3 Litre 1923 Registration number NX 5589 I can tell you that the information you have on this vehicle is inaccurate. My father has owned this car since 1958. You need to refer to the Bentley Drivers Club archive department with reference to chassis 434 which will give you all the information required. Could you please amend your records accordingly?

I will send an attachment to you which is a copy of the records held by the Bentley Drivers Club. I will send a few pictures of the car when I get chance and a scan of the log book. (See below)

You will see the current information provided to you is totally incorrect. The years of ownership supplied to you are not correct and the car had never been 'stolen'! I personally like this comment the least as it certainly detracts from the car's history."
 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 01, 2016
 
     
Click on thumbnail for larger view
2011?
 
2013?
 
 

 

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 01, 2016
 
     
January 2011
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Document authored by W.B. Thompson (owner / former owner) dated January 21, 2011. It begins with: "The following notes are for the benefit of Clare Hay, other Bentley historians and students of shullduggery..."

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 01, 2016
 
     
2004
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"Letter from Bentley Drivers Club confirming the identity of the car in 2004."

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 01, 2016
 
     
September 1987
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"Letter from Bentley Drivers Club"

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 03, 2016
 
     
1958
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"Original purchase receipt from 1958."

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 01, 2016
 
     
1957-1959
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"Log book scan, showing incorrect dates, body colour, chassis number and date of first registration."

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 01, 2016
 
     
 

According to Technical Facts of the Vintage Bentley (at p.6) chassis No 434 is listed as a 'Speed' model with a 9' 9 1/2" wheelbase having been registered with the London County Council.

I bought the car with the registration YO 6129 but discovered from the LCC that this was not a number issued in 1926. Further research revealed that the car had been stolen during WW2 and that these were in fact false plates. With the agreement of the LCC the original registration of NX 5589 was restored.

Major Cammel had originally had a saloon body built for the car, but he replaced it, I think in 1929, with an open Vanden Plas aluminium body.

The car was a 3 lire when I had it with an Autovac fuel deliver device under the bonnet, two banks of plugs and BTH magneto ignition. It also had finned brake drums as fitted to the 6 litre. Headlamps were Lucas P100.

I bought it from a member of staff at the Outward Bound Centre in Cumbria and sold it to a buyer in Yorkshire.

I note that the car was still around in 2006 and would be most interested to be in touch with the present owner if it has survived.

It was certainly built like a camion, if not plus vite!

A modern "Morse" type Jaguar once reversed into it when it was parked and was impaled on the dumb irons of the Bentley's front axle. Bentley unscathed!

 
     
     
  Source: Professor Terence Morris (Former owner)
Posted: Apr 27, 2012
 
     
1956 - 1958
 

This car was owned by Professor Terence Morris from 1956 to 1958.

 
     
     
  Source: Professor Terence Morris (Former owner)
Posted: Apr 27, 2012
 
     
1956
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  Source: Erik Thomas
Posted: Apr 30, 2012
 
     
Click on thumbnail for larger view
 
 
 

 

 
     
     
  Source: Drage Thompson (Owner - son of W.B. Thompson)
Posted: Nov 03, 2016
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. 434
Engine No. 442
Registration No. NX 5589
Date of Delivery: Dec 1923
Type of Body: No info
Coachbuilder: Park Ward
Type of Car: SP
   
First Owner: CAMMEL Major
 
     
  More Info: Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "(1) 3 Litre Vanden Plas 4 seater reg YO 6129 eng RT1539 ex ch. RT1547. (2) Ch. 434/PL 3481, Vanden Plas 4 seater with 4½ Litre radiator, 4½ Litre engine, axle from ch. PL3481."  
     
     
  Posted: Sep 20, 2006  
     
 
 
 
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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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