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1923 Bentley 3 Litre ? Tourer
Chassis No. 246
Engine No. 246
Registration No. MF 1900
August 16, 2019
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Pebble Beach Concours, August 2019
Source: Flickr, posted by user 'Jay'
Posted: Jul 30, 2020
2007
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246 was a BentleyTeam car, raced by Frank Clement in the George Boillot Cup in Boulogne in September 1923 (No 25). Frank Clement's racing notes record the car as averaging 92.31 mph over half a mile under test, but during the race the experimental magnesium alloy pistons burnt out during the second lap. Frank Clement was also the car's first registered owner (MFI900) and in December 1923 the car was fitted by Vanden Plas with a new tourer body (which survives on the car today) and used by the Experimental Department and as a Works Demonstrator through to 1925 it had full Speed model specs including SU carburettors and four-wheel brakes.
It was featured in 'The Motor" road test of March 3, 1925, driven by Clive Gallop, when it was reported to have done 23,000 miles.
In 1929, 246 was exported to Australia and after several owners passed in 1959 into the ownership of Robin Ritchie (who also owned Graeme Miller's Speed Six).
In 2001, forty years later, Suzanne bought the car from Robin and had the engine completely rebuilt by Simon Elliot, increasing the compression ratio to 6.7:1, so that now, eighty-four year on, it can better Frank Clement's 1923 test results.
Source: Program for "6th International Vintage Bentley Tour of South Africa", 2007
Posted: Nov 29, 2007
2007
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Source: Kurt Furger & Matt Sysak
Posted: Nov 5, 2007
2006
Posted: Jan 1, 0001
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Source: From article "The Three-litre Bentley Speed Model" published in "The Motor", March 3, 1925 issue
Posted: Feb 23, 2008
Earliest Record Of Historical Facts & Information
| Chassis No. | 246 |
|---|---|
| Engine No. | 246 |
| Registration No. | MF 1900 |
| Date of Delivery: | 31 Mar 1923 |
| Type of Body: | Tourer |
| Coachbuilder: | Vanden Plas |
| Type of Car: | ? |
| First Owner: | CLEMENT F C |
| More Info: | According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder records, this car was originally fitted with Body No. 1012 with a 4-seater; 10/1923. Team car works. Michael Hay, in his book Bentley: The Vintage Years, 1997, states: "Vanden Plas body no. 1012. In Australia. 4 seater - 5th in 1923 Coupe Georges Boillot. A box ex ch. no. 6 fitted 1925. Fitted 4 wheel brakes and twin SUs." |
Sep 14, 2006