Mille Miglia, 2017

1923 Bentley 3 Litre with Dutch plates driven by Mark Hulsbergen and Hans Hulsbergen.

Concours d'Elegance Paleis Het Loo, 2016

Bonhams Quail Lodge Pre-show, August 2015

Sold: for US$ 451,000 inc. on August 14, 2015 at Bonhams auction.

Quail Lodge Auction
14 Aug 2015 11:00 PDT
Long term American ownership, offered from a Private Collection

1923 Bentley 3 liter Speed Model Four Seater Tourer

US$ 450,000 - 550,000

Coachwork by Chalmer & Hoyer
Chassis no. 409
Engine no. SE12
Former UK Registration no. XP 8058

- 2,996cc SOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
- 4 Valves Per Cylinder
- 80bhp at 3,500rpm
- 4-Speed Close-ratio Gearbox
- Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
- 4-Wheel Drum Brakes with Perrot shaft actuation

*Original bodied sporting Speed Model Vintage Bentley
*Long term American ownership, offered from a Private Collection
*Completed restored and recently refreshed by D.L. George Coachworks
*Eligible for many road touring events, including North American Vintage Bentley Club

Vintage Bentley motorcars are fortunately well charted, perhaps helpfully because their charismatic style and 'boy racer' looks rest in people's minds so that they can fondly record tales of former ownership, but for the more technically minded those souvenirs are supported by the existence of Bentley's own delivery and service records from their early days and sometimes throughout the pre-war era.

In the case of chassis 409, almost all of its life is recorded. We know that it was delivered new in November 1923 and that the original owner was one T. Bennett. As delivered it was fitted with the very coachwork that it still wears today, a skimpy touring body by Chalmer and Hoyer Ltd. a London based coachbuilder operational in the early to mid 1920s only. In all they would provide coachwork for a mere 6 Bentleys in this time, all of which were 3 liters, not all were touring cars such as this, and this may well be the sole surviving example in this form.

As recorded in a feature in the Bentley Drivers Club Bulletin, 409 passed to the grandfather of Ruaraidh Hilleary in 1926 and was kept by him for a year, photos of which during his family's ownership depict the car as it is today, albeit with a side mounted spare tire and long fenders. From him it passed to C R Henderson Jessop, then moved to Ireland to become the property of Trevor McCella of Belfast, before migrating into Scottish ownership with the Hon. J. D. Carngie (perhaps Carnegie) in Angus, Scotland. As late as 1937 on factory service records parts were sent to a garage in Antibes in the South of France, perhaps while the car was being used on tour, and by 1938 more parts were supplied to a London garage. Somewhere along this journey and clearly quit early on in its life like so many of these cars it received a braked front axle.

It is understood that by the time that World War II arrived the car was the property of John Brocklebank, a shareholder in Cunard Steamship Lines, which is said to account for the next intriguing part of its history in which its 3 liter motor was replaced by a Perkins P6 diesel unit, it is suggested to take advantage of the availability of diesel to Mr. Brocklebank from his shipping connection, being far preferable to the narrow supply of petrol in the post war rationing era and ensuring that he could use his treasured Bentley.

The Bentley remained in Brocklebank's possession until it was purchased from him by a friend Daniel Murphy later of Gladwyne, Pennslvania, who would in turn keep the car for an incredible 39 years.

At that point it was pried from him by noted Rolls-Royce and Bentley collector, Bill Ford, who would subsequently embark on a thorough restoration at the hands of noted restorer David George of Cochranville, Pennsylvania. Over the course of its near 4 decades of ownership the car had seen modest use, and was still under diesel power, so the first task was to source a correct engine. George was able to find a 3 Liter power unit through the Bentley Drivers Club in the U.K. the motor proving to be one of the original 'Service Engine' replacement units that the Cricklewood works would have exchanged with owners while they worked on client's cars, this being designated 'S.E. 12'. Seemingly the twelfth of those so used, the is a late, large sump unit which as part of the restoration was rebuilt to Speed Model specifications.

Another earlier modification had been to enlarge the main passenger side door, using David George's team's considerable resources and skill in coachwork, this aspect was faithfully returned to its small proportions. Over the course of three years, the car was completely refurbished, with new upholstery trimmed by noted craftsman Nelson Coe then in George's employ, and then the whole car repainted in a deep 'British Racing Green' hue.

The finished car would make its debut at the North American Vintage Bentley meet at Old Deerfield, Massachusetts, where its immaculate presentation was probably a little worn in at the end of the 600 miles of the tour, but that was precisely what Bill Ford wanted, a good looking nicely presented, usable car.

Some 15 years ago, the current owner acquired the Bentley from Ford, and has kept it with similar aims in mind, enjoying it yet maintaining its highly presentable order. Testament to its usability it was run on the Colorado Grand in 2013.

Over the course of his ownership, further research has been carried out and a series of period images of the car in use in the UK emerged, reconfirming the authenticity of its original and extremely rare Chalmer and Hoyer open touring coachwork.

Today, the car has once again benefited from a freshening at D.L. George coachworks and comes to the auction having recently charmed spectators at the Elegance at Hershey back in June. During this weekend's festivities the cataloger had the opportunity to exercise the Bentley and found it to be driving well and offering a very comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Photographs were taken during 2006 tech session at David George's Coachworks.

Photograph was taken during 2003 tech session at David George's shop

Castle Hill Concours d'Elegance, 2002

For Sale advertisement, 1997

Vintage Bentley 3 Litre (409)
"1924 Chalmers & Hoyer tourer. Alloy 4-seater, restored 1995 body-off, eng. no. SE1 2 (Company's service engine); axle ratio 3:533, very fast; was feature car 1 995 Grand Prix, Philadelphia, PA; priced under my cost. $175,000. Bill Ford, 1335 Dell Rd., Norristown, PA 19403 610-584-1240."