Vehicle Description
Virtually every vintage Bentley enthusiast holds a special place in
their heart for the heroic Cricklewood-built 3-Litre; the car that
started it all for W.O. Bentley when the very first prototype was
fired up in 1919. By the following year, Bentley had a demonstrator
on the road, and by 1921 customers began taking delivery of their
magnificent new sports cars. In the hands of works drivers and
privateer sportsmen alike, the stout, powerful 3-litre
four-cylinder would soon be heard roaring along the great racing
circuits of the world. Just a few years later, a 3-litre brought
Bentley its first outright win at LeMans, followed by another win
in 1927 that lead to a win streak that lasted until 1930. For a
motor company that had been founded just a few short years prior,
such results were quite astonishing. The resounding success of the
3-litre was a testament to the exceptional talent of W.O. Bentley.
The large four-cylinder engine featured four valves per cylinder,
pent-roof combustion chambers, an overhead camshaft, and twin-plug
ignition. The cars were not only powerful but incredibly
well-built, with a light but strong chassis that could handle
whatever abuse that was thrown at it. Customers could choose from
three states of tune as well as three different chassis lengths
depending on their wishes, and the 3-litre proved to be an
incredibly versatile machine, with bodies (many by Bentley's
favored coachbuilder Vanden Plas) ranging from touring limousines
to outright racers. Today, these early Cricklewood Bentleys are
highly prized for their spirited performance, robust quality, and
unrivaled competition legacy. Chassis number DN1741 is documented
to be the last 3-Liter chassis produced by Bentley Motors. This is
an important distinction largely because the 3-Liter Bentley would
distinguish the historic lineage leading up to the legendary
8-Liter powerhouse. This extraordinary car has been personally
inspected and comprehensively documented by world-renowned Bentley
authority Dr. Clare Hay. Dr. Hay confirms this Bentley retains its
matching-numbers chassis, engine, and major ancillary components.
It is also further distinguished by ownership including two of the
most respected Bentley enthusiasts in both the United Kingdom and
United States. In the 2019 report, Dr. Hay recounts the unique
conditions surrounding the construction of this final iteration of
the venerable 3-Liter including the build as dictated under special
order for Miss E. Phillips, a well-known tennis star of the era.
Originally designated chassis number HT1644, it was dispatched to
Freestone & Webb and finished with a two-seater body. Bentley
records indicate the car was assembled with several non-standard
features including a steering column set further back, the
handbrake lengthened by three inches, and the forward deck board
lengthened. Other non-standard features were further installed, and
while there is no indication in the Bentley factory notes as to the
origin of these changes, it is likely some were dictated to
accommodate the owner and her smaller stature. The car was assigned
a five year guarantee concurrent with a Bentley factory test run on
31 August 1928. Shortly after delivery, the car returned to Bentley
where it was assigned the current chassis number DN1741, given a
new body by Wylder Coachwork, presumably on order from Jack Olding
& Co. Ltd., a Bentley agent in London. The Wylder body, a
three-door sports four-seater with a single door to the offside
rear and two doors to the nearside, was fitted with full length
fenders, running boards, and a raked windscreen. References and
later period photographs indicate the body was fabric covered,
finished in black, with red upholstery and red fenders. The car was
sold to the first owner, W.T. Townend, and changed hands twice more
until acquired by Stuart Wilton in 1936, who, upon ownership,
joined the Bentley Drivers Club in September 1936, making him one
of the earliest known members. On 17 October 1936, Wilton would
finish 12th at the first Brooklands race in this Bentley. In 1940,
Wilton sold the car to Johnnie Green who was an avid racer and
member of the BDC. Green painted the car his namesake color at
which time it earned the nickname "Greenfly" no doubt christened
due to Green regularly achieving speeds exceeding 90 mph at the
wheel of this Bentley. Subsequent documented ownership continued
through the years including period photos showing the car in
various races including a 1947 BDC race held at Silverstone, and a
February 1947 Motor Sport magazine article. Though Johnnie Green
eventually sold Greenfly in 1952 to a fellow Bentley enthusiast, he
never forgot the experience of ownership, recounting his years of
enjoyable use as reflected in his renowned 1969 publication Bentley
Fifty Years of the Marque. By 1956, noted Marque enthusiasts Bill
and Ann Klein arranged for purchase through Carl Mueller. Housed in
this celebrated collection in the company of numerous Bentleys
including several 4 � Liter and Speed 6 examples, DN1741 spent many
years in this famous and exclusive Klein Collection before becoming
available for sale and purchased in 1999 by noted collector and
Bentley enthusiast Jack Hilton. The most recent custodian acquired
the car in 2017 and has since carefully maintained the car with his
private mechanic, a capable UK specialist in vintage Bentleys.
Under his ownership, a contemporary overdrive unit was discretely
installed which improves highway touring and has recently been
serviced. Today this remarkable Bentley retains the original
engine, DN1744 and the "A" type gearbox number 448, fitted in March
1934, confirmed by Bentley service records and documented by Dr.
Hay. The unique Wylder body, with its impressive, powerful stance
and race-bred design, is a handsome sporting combination featuring
the remarkably original and beautifully aged nitrocellulose
leathercloth installed by Wylder from the cowl back. The original
chassis frame, original engine, captivating interior, and
impressive instrumentation all display exceptional visual harmony
in keeping with the patinated character of this Bentley. An
exceptional original car with known history since new, this Bentley
Sports Tourer represents the last of the extraordinary 3-Liter
series cars and a unique opportunity for a collector to own a car
combining undisputed provenance, period racing participation, and
premier historic ownership. This Bentley promises opportunities to
participate in numerous top-tier motoring events and international
concours d'elegance events. For anyone seeking a unique pre-war
coachbuilt automobile with documented original features and
sympathetically preserved body and chassis composition, this
3-Liter Bentley will impress those knowledgeable enthusiasts who
recognize the rarity and distinction of these proud and magnificent
motorcars. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7682-1929-bentley-3-litre-greenfly-tourer/
