1922 Bentley 3 Liter Tourer

Built in 1922, this 3 Litre was completed by Park Ward with an aluminum 4-seater Tourer body. The car was sold to London-based John Duff, one of the first official Bentley dealers, who requested Bentley Motors to prepare the car for the first 24 Hours Race at LeMans, France, in May 1923.

This is the first Bentley to race at Le Mans. The thought of this 24-hour endurance race did not appeal to W.O. Bentley initially; he thought it was a bit crazy. Nonetheless, London Bentley agent John Duff, who had raced successfully with this 3 Litre at Brooklands, had it prepared for LeMans. Frank Clement, a works driver, was seconded to this private team to co-drive with Duff, and in the end W.O. joined the team to run the pits. The car finished in fourth place overall, beginning the legend at Bentley at Le Mans and bringing fame if not fortune to Bentley Motors. The Bentley was the only non-French team to compete that first year. The following year, W.O. prepared his own 3 Litre, which famously won the 24 Hours Race, recording the first of Bentley's five early Le Mans victories.

Duff's 3 Litre went on to serve as an everyday road car until it was discovered by British collector Tom Wheatcroft in Scotland with a modified body. Mr. Wheatcroft later sold the car to its current owner, who returned it to its original LeMans specification.