Oldest production Bentley sold at Pebble Beach

The world's oldest surviving production Bentley was sold at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The 1921 chassis number three – registered AX 3827 in the UK – was bought 90 years ago by Noel van Raalte for $1,895 (£1,150). It was sold in the Gooding & Co. auction during Monterey Week for the price of $962,500.

The three-liter ‘matching-numbers' car has original aluminum coachwork and brass brightwork and is the oldest surviving production model. The car won at both the 1924 and 1927 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race that began a run of five Bentley victories in eight years.

By Rufus Thompson