MotorTorque Tumbles

Bentley’s first ever customer car will go on sale at auction in Pebble Beach, California and is expected raise more than £625,000.

The model going under the hammer is a 1921 Bentley 3.0-litre which is known as ‘Chassis No.3’ and it comes with its original brasswork and aluminium body, matching component numbers and a fully folding top which disappears from view when lowered.

The 1800kg drop-top has a top speed of 129km/h and is one of 1088 units that left the Cricklewood factory in North London between 1921 and 1929.

The 3.0-litre Bentley has had quite a colourful life having participated in rallies and motor shows however it also hit the headlines when it narrowly missed being destroyed after the barn it was stored in caught fire in 1994.

Six other Bentleys were destroyed by the firs costing some £7 million of damage.