The 69th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 2019.

Photographs were taken at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 2019

"Bentley Motors Parade Lap before the race at Le Mans 2019"

Text in article / advertisment reads:

"We at RC Moss are currently working on the "Bitch", the last works 3 Litre Team Car built for the 1927 Le Mans Race. Chassis number ML 1501 was driven by George Duller and Baron d'Erlanger. It spectacularly crashed at the White House corner in the early stages of the race and proved too badly damaged to continue.

Returning to England YF 2503 was rapidly repaired at the factory and made an apperance in a victory ascent at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb driven by Sammy Davis. It was then sold to "Bummer" Scott who raced the car at Brooklands in 1928.

Subsequent owners included RO Williams, Sub Lt H Kidston and 0 Ormrod who continued racing at Brooklands during the 1930s with some success.

With such a fascinating and important history RC Moss are preserving the many parts, that make up the only survivor of the 1927 Le Mans Race, from the original dashboard and racing instruments through to the magnificent, wonderfully battered and scarred, 25 gallon fuel tank. The original timber frame body is largely complete apart from the upper rear section which was modified in 1945 with further work by Tony Townsend in 1949.

The wooden frame has been stripped down, treated and rebuilt with some new wood where appropriate while retaining the original wood bolted to the chassis at the rear. The upper rear section has been rebuilt to the original specification to accommodate the Le Mans fuel tank.

The preservation of this important Bentley has progressed slowly with constant reference to hundreds of enlarged, period photographs showing extraordinary detail. This, when matched to the chassis, bodywork and dashboard enables us to check every stage and preserve all the original build details of this unique Team Car.

We have researched the full background and original specifications throughout this project and this illustrates that there is a way to rebuild your authentic car without losing any of the visible provenance or history. It can actually be enhanced and preserved for many years to come."

ML1501 undergoing restoration to its frame at Graham Moss - 26 November 2006

In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member

VSCC Hawthorne Trophy Meeting at Silverstone - 12th June 1999

"These photographs were taken at Bentley Drivers Club Concours at Kensington Gardens in England in July 1984. Owned at the time by A. Norris Kennard. Car is said to be the most original Bentley in existence (i.e. original paint, interior, etc.)"

Modified as a "Sporty" two seater in early 1945.

Accompanying text for Photo 1: Number 2 leading Number 3 during the first ten laps of the race

Accompanying text for Photo 2: The morning after the White House crash — a sleeping mechanic guards the cars to discourage looting

Accompanying text for Photo 4: In 1927 the Bentley Team almost wiped itself out at the famous White House crash, when all three cars smashed into each other in the dark. The least damaged, No.3 (Old No.7) struggled through to win... Scooping all headlines around the world, this spectacular victory for WO Bentley probably gave him more publicity than any other Le Mans win.

 

Woman shown in photograph is Mrs. Helen Lee Kennard who owned the car at that time. For additional information see her book Of Cars & Ships & Poetry & Cats & Other Things, 1987. The Bentley was owned by her husband, A. Norris Kennard, prior to their marriage in 1940 and we have been able to document that it was in their ownership as late as 1994.