World's oldest Bentley Car sold at auction

Sold - The Oldest Bentley Motor Car

Pebble Beach in California has witnessed the sale of the world's oldest surviving production Bentley, the Chassis Number 3.

Built in 1921, the 3-litre luxury vintage car sold for $962,500 (£584,622.50), far more than the original fee of £1,150 paid by its first owner, Noel Van Raalte, when it first rolled off the production line.

Bentley Prestige Cars Around The World

Bentley exports over £500 million worth of luxury automotive goods worldwide, although the Chassis Number 3 is likely to appeal to policyholders of

classic prestige car insurance as much as luxury motoring devotees.

"Pebble Beach is the ideal venue to showcase Bentleys old and new," commented Bentley chairman and chief executive Wolfgang Durheimer.

Mr Durheimer explained how, as Gooding and Co auctioned off the Chassis Number 3 as part of California's Montery Car Week, Bentley was simultaneously unveiling the new 631hp Supersports Convertible ISR (Ice Speed Record).

"The enthusiasm for the evolution of the automobile is palpable," he added.

Bentley recently reported sales figures showing a 20 per cent increase in the first half of 2011 over 2010. The growing demand for the brand in China and the Americas, where sales increased by 57 and 23 per cent respectively, were cited as the main causes of the growth.

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