First Ever Le Mans Bentley Sells for Over £3m
This year the automotive world will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race and memories of that original race have been reignited with the sale of a Bentley 3 Litre that competed 100 years ago. The car has been sold for in excess of £3m to a British motor enthusiast and represents the beginning of the Bentley legend, going some way towards establishing a group of racers known as the ‘The Bentley Boys’.
This car, Chassis 141, was originally entered into Le Mans after being raced at the Double 12 Hour Record at Brooklands. Setting the lap record of 66.69mph, they finished in 4th place, even after running out of fuel due to stones puncturing the fuel tank. The foundations were laid regardless, and the following year they returned to win the race, beginning a period of dominance in France for the British brand.
From 1927 to 1930, Bentley won the Le Mans 24 Hours four times in succession, marking one of the most dominant runs in the history of the race. This all stems from the pioneering achievements of Chassis 141 in convincing company founder W.O. Bentley, that his cars were capable of not only completing a 24-hour race, but winning it. Prior to this achievement, following the Le Mans 24 Hours races in 1923 and 1924, Bentley sold 700 vehicles in two years and W.O. believed that the success of the Bentley brand can be traced back to the various achievements of Chassis 141.
After its racing success, Chassis 141 had a less exciting existence. Having been used as a tow vehicle and dog transporter, it seemingly disappeared for 40 years, resurfacing in the early 1980s when the owner of the Donington Car Museum received a call from a 97-year-old lady offering him two old cars in her Leicestershire barn, one of them being a Bentley. The history of the Bentley was unknown at the time and was only discovered to be the long-lost Le Mans Bentley after the efforts of a motoring journalist. An Australian collector called Peter Briggs took the car down under for restoration and eventually became a centrepiece of Briggs’ York Motor Museum near Perth.
The £3m deal was brokered by Kidston SA, a company that has Le Mans connections having been founded by Simon Kidston, the nephew of Glen Kidston, who won the 1930 event at the wheel of a Bentley.
Commenting on the sale, Simon Kidston said: “This Bentley isn’t just an old car, it’s a turning point in motor racing history and a cornerstone of the Bentley legend. It won’t be leading a quiet life: it’ll be lining up on the grid of the Le Mans 100th anniversary race for vintage cars next month. I hope its original drivers will be looking down and smiling.”
After years in the wilderness and an Australian museum following its past racing glory, it’s good to see the iconic car return home to Britain, bringing its history full circle.
Words: Mike Booth
Pictures: Kidston Ltd