Found on Vintage & Prestige website on May 31, 2016

1924 Bentley 3.0 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer

Year: 1924
Chassis no: 619
Registration: VS911
Price: £268,000.00
10ft 10" wheelbase

The very first Vanden Plas Tourer built on a Bentley chassis. Body number 1066 is original to the car & it retains the body to this day. This is one of the early 4 wheel brake cars as fitted by the factory. The car has quite a variety of lovely original features.

The engine of the car was rebuilt about 1000 miles ago by marque specialists Hofmanns of Henly whilst under the auspices of Mr Graham Ashley Carter. All the engine internals are new with parts mostly supplied by VBE Restorations. The car went through a 2 year & hugely expensive full mechanical refurbishment whilst at Hofmann's. The Magnetos were rewound by Donald Day.

Scant miles have been covered since then due to the ill health of the current owner who prefers driving some of the grander & more comfortable Rolls-Royce motor cars in his spectacular collection. As a result the engine is still being run in with a futher 800 or so gentle miles being required. On the day of our test drive & photography, the car run beautifully with a smooth powerful & very torque laden engine pulling strongly from low revs in top gear. The engine was fitted with twin sloper carbs in period, similar to the speed models. It runs quietly yet pulls with great urgency.

The car is finished in immaculate green paintwork with black wings. The roof is a brand new item & in fine order. A full set of side screens come with the car as does a full tonneau cover plus leather hood bag. To the interior is black hide throughout along with matching black carpets. An auster screen folds up affording some protection to the rear occupants.

The original chassis number is extant in somewhat worn condition on the inside bonnet corner where one might expect to find it. The car sits on original spec beaded edge Cord tyres making for light steering due to the thin nature of the Beaded edge tyre profile. Kingpins have been rebuilt so the steering is play free & very very precise & direct.

The car retains a full complement of its original instrumentation, the current indicated mileage being 9259 miles, but the mileometer rolls over every 10,000 miles. The current owner has had the car from some 12 years or so. Prior to that the car was a concours entrant at Hatfield house amongst other places. The owner states the entry on Vintage Bentleys.org referring to the car being converted to 3/8 litre spec to be wholly incorrect & refers to a different car. Indeed the more authoritative Michael Hay states in his book: Bentley: the Vintage Years, 1997 that the car was in Greece with its original Vanden Plas body prior to being repatriated to the UK.

The car comes with a huge history file detailing assorted owners & the massive works undertaken upon the mechanical aspects of the car. It is in absolutely tip top running order & ready for serious extended use. The car is available for viewings by prior appointment in the Isle of Man. I flew up from Elstree to Ronaldsway in a cherokee with 2 hours & 5 min flight time from wheels up to landing; a journey I would be happy to replicate for a serious buyer upon payment of a £1000 deposit to cover the Avgas. (Magnificent views of Snowdonia en route.)

In Isle of Man in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

This car was purchased by Robert Riding in 2003.

This is the car's second body (by Crailville). It is now a 3/8 litre Special.