1925 | Bentley 3 Litre

The first ever Bentley Motors works entry to Le Mans, chassis 1138 was entered into the 1925 event, to be driven by Dudley Benjafield and Bertie Kensington Moir and featured a number of refinements devised by the Works to accommodate the demands of this gruelling endurance race. The preparation included Vanden Plas four-seat coachwork with a lower, more aerodynamic windscreen, various stone guards, a 25 gallon fuel tank, a leather securing bonnet strap and stiffened suspension. The engine was up-rated to ‘SuperSports’ specification, including a higher compression ratio and twin S.U. ‘sloper’ carburettors, in addition to numerous other modifications. In 2001, we restored #1138 with a fanatical degree of accuracy, to its 1925 authentic Le Mans specification. Since then, the car has been campaigned at events such as Le Mans Classic and Goodwood and we can confirm the car drives superbly, as you would expect from a Works competition thoroughbred restored with active exhilarating use in mind. #1138 carries impeccable undisputed provenance and in superb condition and is ready for a new custodian to write the next chapter in this hugely significant car’s history.