1925 Bentley 4.5 Lt

Le Mans Style Tourer. Totaly restored (5'500 hours) and in Pebble Beach Concours condition

• Chassis nbr. 911 • Engine nbr. RT 909 • 4-cylinder 4,5 litre engine • 4-speed gearbox • fully restored to "Old Mother Gun" Le Mans race car specifications • photo documentation of restoration. 3 Litre Bentley, chassis number 911 was delivered new to Melbourne, Australia in January 1925. At which time it carried a drop head coupe body by Freestone and Webb. However, its modern history is far more interesting. The car was bought, in original but dilapidated condition, in 2003 as a restoration project by an enthusiast in Sydney, Australia. At that time it was still running, but the body was beyond repair and the chassis and engine described as “on their last legs”. With this in mind the decision to convert it to Le Mans specification made complete sense. The car was completely dismantled and the original long chassis rebuilt to the 9 foot 9½ inch Le Mans specification. This entailed fitting fixed pillar struts as on the famous team car “Old Mother Gun”. It also received a full under panel. The springs were retempered and reset, before refitting with the correct mountings and full-length gaiters. The brakes were totally rebuilt with finned drums, and period correct 20inch wire wheels with 5.25/50 inch tyres were fitted. The engine was rebuilt centred upon a blower specification block from the late Russ “Rusty” Turner. A Reece camshaft, Phoenix crankshaft, conrods, high compression pistons, needle roller rockers and boxes and a high performance oil pump were fitted. A lightweight flywheel and high performance clutch transmit the power to a gearbox that has been fully rebuilt to “BS” standards. The prop shaft is new and fully balanced; the 3.53 differential is fitted with a new 4-star crown wheel and pinion. The fuel tank, as on Mother Gun is by Gavin Spencer. The original 3-Litre engine parts come crated with the car. The replica Vanden Plas Le Mans style coachwork features a frame by marque expert Rod Wariner, with aluminium panelling by Vintage & Classic. All trim details are correct and in period, including Vanden Plas sill plates. The “Team Car” seats by James Pearce are upholstered in Muirhead leather. Full and half-length Le Mans style tonneau covers and hood are to original pattern. The windscreen and aero screens as well as all the minor trim details are to the same exacting specifications as Mother Gun. These include Air ministry switches, fuel tank and headlight stone guards, pre-war Lucas P100 angle mounted headlights, full instrumentation, right angle drive Klaxon and two front Klaxonettes and dash board air pump. A full photographic record of this work, some 5,500 hours, comes with the car. The quality of the restoration can best be judged by the fact that the car won a Concours d’Elegance on its maiden outing. In fact there could be no better way to enjoy the Eifel Klassik, the Mille Miglia or any similar vintage event, than from the seats of this superbly detailed, fast and fully useable vintage Bentley.
EUR 510'000