Two legends in one showroom - 1934 Barnato Hassan Bentley and 1925 3 Litre Bentley

Looking after the sale of the Barnato Hassan Special, one of the most famous racing cars of pre-war years, is quite a boast. Being able to say you also have the very first Bentley Motors Works Le Mans Team car is even more remarkable. The showroom at Vintage Bentley might currently resemble a major museum collection (there are other important competition cars in there too) but you’ll need more than the price of an entry ticket to walk away with either of these – the Barnato Hassan Special invites offers over £4.5m while the 1925 3-litre Team car is asking for offers over £3.5m.

Two legends in one showroom

Woolf Barnato fancied a return to motor sport in 1933 and commissioned Walter Hassan to build a single-seat racing car with Bentley power (as in W.O. Bentley, not the then-current Rolls-Bentley), initially using a 6 ½ litre engine and then an 8-litre unit, eventually competing in 25 races over four years. It hit its personal best with a lap of 143.11mph with Oliver Bertram at the wheel in September 1938. It was retired soon after but in post-war years began a long career in vintage and historic competition, much of it while in the hands of Keith Schellenberg, who owned the car from 1953 to 2007. It’s still winning, albeit concours prizes; it’s just taken 2nd place overall at Salon Privé.

Chassis 1138 was the only Works entry to Le Mans in 1925. Bentleys had competed at Le Mans the previous two years, but they were private entries. The two Bentleys, Number 9 a privateer and Number 10 the Works Team car, stood a good chance against a rival British team from Sunbeam, but Number 10 suffered a frustrating retirement when a miscalculation led to the car running out of fuel after 18 laps, having led some of the race. It was then retained as a factory demonstrator before entering private hands.

‘Both cars have been with their current owners for a considerable time and are now in a position to explore new custodianship,’ says Anna Wilkinson of Vintage Bentley. ‘The team car in particular has completed a lot of racing and rallying including a return to Le Mans for the Classic in 2016, and this time it completed the race! It’s ready for its next adventure.’

See vintagebentley.com