Flying Scotsman Rally, April 2019

"We are very proud to be able to offer this unique and charismatic 3 litre Speed Model. Matching numbers of course, this car is the only Jarvis-bodied 4-seater 3 litre in the World. Indeed, there are only two other Vintage Bentleys which survive with their original Jarvis coachwork: a very handsome 3 seater Boat-tail and a 4.5 litre 4-seater, both owned by very prominent collectors.

 

"Chassis No. 1236, engine No. AP303 [factory matching] with unique Jarvis of Wimbledon 4-seater sports coachwork. This superb car, recently celebrated in Nick Walker's excellent book, "Coachwork on Vintage Bentleys", has a Tony Fabian rebuilt engine, "A" box and sloper carburettors - a top grade Bentley for the very discerning."

Bought by Terry Unwin in May 2006

Photographs were taken at Bentley Drivers Club Driving Tests at Brooklands in 2005.

In England in 2003 / Owned by a BDC member

"My dad took this photograph in 1957/58 when the vehicle belonged to a colleague of his who, worked at a company Mirrlees and would give my Dad a lift home from work in it. The owner at the time was a gentleman called Dick Bickerton of Chelford Road, Broken Cross, Macclesfield. My dad says the car was painted black back then."

1926 3-litre BENTLEY SPEED MODEL Tourer
COACHWORK BY JARVIS AND SONS
Reg No: PM 5028; Chassis No: 1236; Engine No: AP304

The 3-litre Bentley is one of Britain's most sought after sports cars but this example has the added kudos of retaining its original four seater touring body.

Bentley Motors announced its 3-litre at the 1919 Motor Show though deliveries did not begin until 1921. It was powered by a rugged 2996 cc four cylinder overhead camshaft fixed head engine, with four valves per cylinder, which gave the model of a top speed of about 80 mph. As reliability was a cornerstone of W.O. Bentley's design philosophy, the 3-litre laid the foundations of the marque's success in the Le Mans 24 hour race, examples of the model being placed fourth in the inaugural 1923 event and first in both 1924 and 1927.

This one of 513 Speed Model 3-litres built between 1924 and 1929, with a 9 ft 9.5 in wheelbase. Jarvis and Sons, the Wimbledon coachbuilders which built this car's body was, as the quotation at the beginning of this entry indicates, renowned for its light, sporting bodywork, which incorporated practices inherited from the aircraft industry. Jarvis bodied just four Bentley 3-litre chassis.

PM 5028 was delivered new, in February 1926, to Sir Alexander Drake Kleinwort, a member of the merchant bankers Kleinwort and Sons, who gave his address as 30, Curzon Street, Mayfair, which was one of his four homes.

Today this car is listed in Michael Hay's book as having its "original body still fitted" though its slightly arched Jarvis wings have been replaced by those of the flatter Vanden Plas type. It has green bodywork with a red interior and has been in the present owner's possession for about two years. It is described as being in good, working order and will have an MOT certificate by the time of the sale.

Hi Mona
Here are accurate dates: