1926 Bentley 3 litre with Vanden Plas Style Body.



Chassis number: 1155

Engine Number: 1170

Registration number: YM4224



Under the present family ownership for 82 years!!!! We are selling this car on behalf of the grand daughter of the man who bought it in 1937 no less. She has enjoyed the car & very ably driven it during the last decade or so but now wishes to pass it on to its next custodian.



This 3 litre Bentley represnts Bentley motoring in its purest form. Light powerful & responsive are the words I would use to describe it with a "Go anywhere" feel to it. The car benefitted from a full overhaul some years ago leaving the engine in fine running order. To drive an early 3 litre Bentley is to experience the marque in its purest form which became lost as the cars grew bigger & heavier.



The car is all matching numbers with the exception of the steering box which was swapped for an earlier one decades ago during the years when these cars were used as daily transport & owners were more hung up on being able to use the car as opposed to making sure their numbers all matched. Thus the car has its original engine, A type gear box, chassis & axles etc, The radiator is the original unit from the Galley Radiator company; the instruments the originals as supplied to the car when new.



The car was rebodied many years ago & comes with an original Bentley red print set of plans from which the body was constructed. Indeed a beautiful job was done on the ash framing matching exactly to the original Bentley Prints dating back to 1925 which come with the car. Also a 1929 pattern drilled split skirt piston comes from the car which was removed during the engine rebuild when new pistons were fitted.



The real beauty of this car is the used & patinated feel it has to it. It has clearly been loved, cherished & used as its maker intended. The car starts readily & displays 17lbs or so of oil pressure at all times. Temperature from the Boyce Motometer on the radiator stays well in the green at all times.



A faded black hood is fitted in very serviceable condition. A similarly faded full split tonneau cover also comes with the car. There is a removable rear rack & luggage box along with a full set of side screens that stow in front of the luggage box.



The car comes with a massive history file with correspondence dating back to the 1950's. We will photograph this in due course aftre it arrives from the onwer who is making copies of it due it being such a part of the family history.



Originally a Weyman saloon, the car suffered an accident in the 1930's with damage to the rear quarter. The grandfather of the current owner purchased the car & fitted a saloon body from a Talbot to it & the car then provided fast family transport for many years before the current VDP body was painstakingly constructed using a traditional ash frame. The body is covered in maroon rexine fabric with the original wings painted black.



A large & mellifluous klaxon is fitted to the running board ready to bray out ones arrival. The front number plate we notice is loosely attached to the fornt crossmember & has a habit of blowing back close to horizontal when at speed; an earley attempt at speed camera avoidance perhaps??? The car is fitted with 21" beaded edge rims & tyres to the front which helps account for the light direct steering. Delightful period details abound such as the original rev counter coupling coming our of the back of the engine.

A gallery of large high-resolution pictures may be viewed on our website.

Office 01375 379719
Richard Biddulph 07967 260673
Christoff Cowens 07772188037

We accept Credit/Debit Cards.
Part Exchange welcome.
Weekend & evening viewings OK.
Viewings by appointment :


Prestige House.
9 Globe Industrial Estate,
Grays, Essex, RM17 6ST