By order of the Executors: The Richard Evans | Manx Motor Museum Collection
1923 Bentley 3-Litre Boat-Tail Roadster

• Originally a saloon by Harrison
• Known ownership history
• Re-bodied and mechanically restored in the early 1960s
• Original mechanical specification
• On display in the Manx Motor Museum for circa 60 years

Offered for sale in its 101st year, this very early 3-Litre Bentley was completed in February 1923 with saloon coachwork by R Harrison & Son of Northwest London and first owned by one S Wilkinson of West Bromwich. Built on the desirable Short Standard chassis, '178' has brakes on the rear wheels only and frame characteristics different from those of later models, which have four-wheel braking. Other early features include the blue radiator badge; beaded edge wheels/tyres; single Smiths five-jet carburettor; geared throttle; high-geared steering; two-wire non-earthed electrics; and a high rear axle ratio. The original registration was 'OK 6928'.

Names of all the car's owners are recorded in the documents file, there being five up to 1936 when the Bentley was acquired by its sixth owner, Gordon Dales Simcox, who is recorded in the old-style buff logbook on file (issued in 1933) as having three successive addresses in Wales. Mr Simcox took the Bentley with him when he moved to Peel in the Isle of Man where it was re-registered as 'MN 3000' circa 1948.

In her definitive work on the marque, Bentley The Vintage Years, Dr Clare Hay records that '178' spent 12 years laid up in the Isle of Man. In 1963 the Bentley was acquired by the late Richard Evans for his Manx Motor Museum collection. Before going on display the car was rebuilt, its original saloon coachwork being discarded as un-salvageable and replaced with a replica of that on the 'boat-tail' 3-Litre owned by the famous American yachtsman and racing driver, Briggs Cunningham. In addition, the Bentley was mechanically rebuilt to original 1923 specification with all subsequent modifications, including front-wheel brakes, being removed. Indeed, there can be relatively few early 3-Litres in such original mechanical specification as this example.

On display for some 60 years, the car was last run one year ago and should require minimal recommissioning before returning to the road. Now more than a century old, this charming early Bentley 3-Litre is sold by order of the executors of the late Richard Evans' estate, and certain to attract favourable attention at any BRDC or VSCC event. The car is offered with starting and operating instructions (essential reading before use).