The London-based coachbuilder Vanden Plas is synonymous with the lightweight touring bodywork built on many of the Bentleys that raced at LeMans in the late 1920s. This car is one of the 513 Red Label 3 Litre Speed models built at W.O. Bentley's Cricklewood factory between 1923 and 1929. It was scheduled to race at Le Mans in 1926 but at the last minute its owner, 'Bentley Boy' Clive Gallop, entered a shorter-wheelbase Super Sports model, which failed to finish. Having narrowly missed the honor of a Le Mans appearance, this very original 3 Litre went on to do more than 500,000 miles and, although meticulously maintained throughout its life, it has never been cosmetically restored. Its current owner acquired the car in 2000 and has taken it on many tours in recent years.