Old photos of 1923 3 Litre Bentley Chassis No. 563

 

"I can ID the Mr Oscar William Hindley Cooke in the photo below. He purchased the car in June 1927. He worked for The De Havilland Aircraft Co at Stag Lane Airfield Edgeware Middlesex. He was the publicity manager. His job was to make the most through the media at the time to show the world which famous people were buying planes at the time. He did mingle with some Bentley known names at the time, Mr Ivor McClure for one of the directors of the A A (??). He and Mr Oliver Tapper flew on the 11/06/27 to France in his D.H. 60 Moth reg G-EBRU to assist the Bentley team racing that weekend. Also flying at the same time was Capt Eric Hayes in his Moth reg No. G-EBQW. His passenger was W O Bentley.

 

The picture shows Mr Cooke collecting petrol for a long trip. I also note the car has a G.B. badge on the back to confirm it had been abroad. I'd love to think it was being driven to Le Mans. The Bentley sevice record shows a large engine rebuild in February 1927 and clutch adjust on the 9 June 1927. Mr Cooke served in WW2 as a Flight Liuetenant in the R.A.F. until 1948."