Bentley 3-Litre Drophead Coupé 1924 for sale

H.J. Mulliner original bodywork Report by Dr Clare Hay Documented history Our 3 Litre Bentley with its rare H. J. Mulliner "Simplex" body was delivered new through the London Bentley dealer Gaffkin Wilson. On 1 November 1924 it was first registered by its original owner, Francis William Rhosed of Dalham Hall, in Newmarket. In its early years it was sold on several times in the Greater London area. From August 1933 it was in Ireland, where a replacement engine and gearbox were fitted. During the 1930s the body was also somewhat modernised. As was typical at that time, the dickey (mother-in-law) seats were removed and replaced with a full rear bench. The soft top and the windscreen were also slightly altered at the same time. After the usual gap in the history during the Second World War, the Bentley reappeared in Suffolk County from 1952. From 1962 it spent some time in the USA, and from 1980 it was back in England, where it was restored during the 1980s. The work included, among other things, a complete overhaul of the engine, the replacement of defective wooden parts in the body frame and a repaint. In 2002 and 2003 major maintenance work was carried out at "Sargeants of Goudhurst". Later invoices include details of new white-metal bearings from Formhall and a crack test of the connecting rods before the engine was reassembled by Stuart Fearnside in 2008. The car is very well documented overall and, in the interior too, retains fantastic original details such as the H.J. Mulliner sill plates, the Smith instruments and the original dashboard fittings. In 2019 the Bentley passed into German ownership. More than €27,000 was invested here in 2019 and 2020. This work covered the braking system, the ignition, seals and the technical requirements for registration in Germany. The last service was in October 2024; the Bentley has TÜV until September 2026 and can be driven immediately. As one of the relatively few Cricklewood Bentleys to have retained their original bodywork, "CF 5654" is a rarity and will continue to be one of the most sought-after examples of the series in the future. The information provided here consists of non-binding descriptions. It does not constitute warranted characteristics. The seller is not liable for errors, input errors or data-transmission errors.