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1926 Bentley 3 Litre    
Original 1925 Numbers
Chassis No. 1123
Engine No. 1115
Registration No. YK 5740

  This car - updated
Chassis No. 1123
Engine No. 1115
Registration No. YK 5740

(Updated with information from PreWarCar. - January 2015)
 
October 2017
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Race Day, Shuttleworth Trust, Old Warden, October 2017

 
     
     
  Source: Flickr, posted by user 'rac819'
Posted: Oct 18, 2017
 
     
January 2015
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Sold: Sep 28, 2015

Bentley 3/4½ Litre – “Old Mother Gun” Sports 1925

Location: Australia
Price: GBP 289500

The Bentley motor car company was founded back in 1919 by brothers W.O. and H.M. Bentley. The Bentley brothers were involved in the motor industry having acquired the agency to sell French built DFP (Doriot, Flandrin & Parant) cars in 1912, however, they desperately wanted to build their own cars. So that they did and the first Bentley motor car, being just a chassis with a dummy engine, was shown at the 1919 London Motor Show and in late 1921 the first production Bentleys were built and delivered to their new owners.

Bentley got the formula right and their cars proved to be luxurious, reliable and fast thus attracting buyers from the elite of society in period. The cars were also incredibly successful on the race track with Bentley achieving the ultimate success winning Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

The difficult economic times in the late 1920’s had a major impact on Bentley and they stopped motor racing soon after winning Le Mans in 1930 and ultimately fell into receivership in 1931. Rolls Royce acquired the assets of Bentley in late 1931.

In this period Bentley produced some fabulous motor cars including the 3 Litre, 4½ Litre, ‘Blower Bentley’, 6½ Litre and 8 Litre models that are all today highly sought after by enthusiast and collectors all over the world.

Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer this stunning Bentley 3 Litre/4½ Litre “Old Mother Gun” recreation. This particular car is chassis number 1123, engine number 1115 and it was originally a standard 3 Litre model that was delivered new with Gurney Nutting four-seat coachwork to its first owner, Commander R V Eyre, on July 25th 1925. It was registered in the UK as ‘YK 5740’. This Bentley is understood to be one of 171 cars built on the 10’ 10” chassis that year.

The car was found in a barn of Blackhouse Farms Ltd in Bristol in the UK where it had sat for many years. It was purchased by its current owner in 2007 and immediately sent to Australia. When the car arrived in Sydney it was decided to restore the original car as a recreation of the famous winner of the 1928 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, “Old Mother Gun”.

This painstaking, detailed and much researched rebuild was undertaken by the highly respected Vintage Motor Garage on the Central Coast of New South Wales in Australia.

The original engine, number 1115, was enlarged to 4 ½ litres and a new body of Australian coachwood constructed. This body has been panelled in aluminium and covered in automotive exterior vinyl, painted in the correct Napier Green, matching the original “Old Mother Gun”. The seats and interior are trimmed in Connolly hide and other “Old Mother Gun” features include the brake adjustment lever on the floor, taller radiator, oil reservoir under the dashboard with filler pipe routed through the bonnet and fuel tank capacity increased from 12 to 35 gallons. Blockley Vintage tyres were chosen as these have a deep tread typical of endurance racing of the late 1920s. The car has three types of windscreen: a full screen finished in wire mesh as those of 1920s competition cars, a second of toughened glass, and a third comprising two aero screens. Only one of the latter is fitted to the car, in keeping with “Old Mother Gun” specifications. A large central 13” Marchal driving light complements the standard lighting as fitted by the ‘Bentley Boys’.

This true W.O. Bentley rebuilt and rebodied to an exacting standard is in freshly restored condition with less than 100 miles covered since its completion. It is considered by many to be one of the finest recreations of “Old Mother Gun” in its 1928 guise, and most importantly with work carried out in the correct fashion on the correct model and chassis.

Interestingly the car has been registered in Queensland with its original number plate YK 5740 and is original cast iron number plates YK 5740 will accompanying the car.

A unique opportunity.

 
     
     
  Source: PreWarCar
Posted: Jan 21, 2015
 
     
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"1925 3 litre Bentley
Owner's name: Chris Mc Girl
Year: 1925
Chassis no: 1123
Engine no: 1115
Registration no: YK 5740
Asking price: Aus $ 520 000

This car has been rebuilt as Old Mother Gun by the Vintage Motor Garage in NSW in 2009 and has little use since then. Please refer to the car's history on this page. I am selling this car on behalf of Chris as he cannot drive due to bad knees. The car is located at my home in Tamborine Village Qld."

This car is for sale as of June 23, 2014.

 
     
     
  Source: Tery Hurst
Posted: Jun 23, 2014
 
     
2008 - 2009
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April 14, 2008
4.5L Bentley LeMans replica under construction.

April 22, 2008
The beginnings of the metalwork has come!
We have started making the difficult rear body shape of the 1927 Bentley LeMans replica. Also under construction is the creation of the special one-off "Mother Gun" fuel tank (different to all the other LeMans tanks).
The chassis and engine machining is continuing...

April 28, 2008
Here we have the Mother Gun fuel tank almost completed for the 1927 Bentley LeMans replica.


April 29, 2008
The doors are being built and strengthening metal brackets attached as per the original plans.

May 12, 2008
The specially made Mother Gun fuel tank for the 1928 Bentley LeMans replica is now complete.


May 30, 2008
Modified 4.5L Radiator is ready for the special oversize core!

May 30, 2008
Our coach builder is in the process of making trim boards for the 1927 Bentley replica.

July 14, 2008
Shaping final body lines and curving edge in preparation for body aluminium panels.

July 14, 2008
Black Sealer was applied to keep out any moisture and to prevent the timber from rotting.

July 14, 2008
The panels are in the process of being made and attached.
The body is starting to take its shape now!

September 11, 2008
The body was etched earlier this week to protect it from rust.
Wood work is almost finished with only a few minor areas being constructed, like the back lip [see photo].
The Trimers have now begun on the interior of the Bentley
as well as the exterior, which will be formed out of tough body fabric. The trimmers have their work cut out for them, and they are hitting the project hard.

September 11, 2008
Mudguard & Headlight Struts & Stays have all been made, soon to be painted etc.


December 10, 2008
Hood bows & hood mechanism complete


December 10, 2008
Here we have the trim on the way...

February 10, 2009
Body and fittings are being trial fitted to the chassis.

February 19, 2009
The dash for the Bentley is now being constructed.


April 1, 2009
Hood nearing completion.

April 30, 2009
Under tray coming together nicely.


May 13, 2009
The dash with all its gauges and switches.

May 21, 2009
The chassis is nearing completion.

May 21, 2009
SHE RUNS! Wiring is almost complete.

May 21, 2009
New sprung centre steering wheel manufactured by Vintage Motor Garage

June 2, 2009
Body now painted Green! Completion date getting ever closer.

June 10, 2009
The body has been bolted to the chassis, for good!

June 18, 2009
It's getting there...

July 14, 2009
Photo (1) of the Bentley Completed.

July 14, 2009
Photo (2) of the Bentley Completed.

July 14, 2009
Photo (3) of the Bentley Completed.

July 14, 2009
Photo (4) of the Bentley Completed.

July 14, 2009
Photo (5) of the Bentley Completed.
 
 

Project Date: July 14, 2009

"Originally a 1925 3 litre Bentley, reconstructed and restored as a replica of the 1927 prototype 4½ litre, Mother Gun as raced in the LeMans 24 hour race in 1928, which it won.

After 18 months of intensive work Vintage Motor Garage has completed rebuilding arguably the world's most accurate team car reconstructed."

 
     
     
  Source: Vintage Motor Garage
Posted: Jun 23, 2014
 
     
 

"I am told that this car was discovered in 2002 with its original Gurney Nutting body... Does anyone have a photo of the car, as discovered, with its original body? Few of those left..."

 
     
     
  Source: Jack Triplett
Posted: Mar 02, 2011
 
     
2009
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Now Mother Gun replica at Vintage Motor Garage, 2009. Chassis 1123 was rebodied to look like the original Mother Gun.

 
     
     
  Source: Photos from YouTube; information from Robert McLellan & reader contribution
Posted: Jul 27, 2010
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
Chassis No. 1123
Engine No. 1115
Registration No. YK 5740
Date of Delivery: Jul 1925
Type of Body: 4-seater
Coachbuilder: Gurney Nutting
Type of Car: ST
   
First Owner: EYRE Comm R V
 
     
     
     
     
  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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