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FAMOUS BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE ‘EMBIRICOS' SPECIAL MAKES STAR APPEARANCE AT CREWE FACTORY
One of the rarest and most valuable Bentleys in the world, the 4¼-Litre 'Embiricos' special, is making an historic appearance at the marque's home in Crewe. Fresh from taking part in the Louis Vuitton 'Serenissima Run' in Venice and featuring at the Le Mans Classic as part of the Bentley lineup, this magnificent car takes pride of place in the Lineage Showroom at the firm's Pyms Lane factory until September.Throughout the 1930s Bentley Motors, then owned by Rolls-Royce, was producing fast, refined and well-built Grand Tourers from its Derby factory. While many customers sent their chassis to traditional coachbuilders such as Vanden Plas, H.J. Mulliner or Park Ward for elegant bodywork, enthusiasts from across the Channel, where the roads were longer and faster, were eager to explore the new world of aerodynamics. With the support of the factory, one such owner decided to investigate the possibility of a streamlined high-performance Bentley. The result was the most famous Bentley of the Derby era.
André Embiricos was a wealthy Greek racing driver living in Paris. Walter Sleator, the company's Paris agent, put him in touch with Georges Paulin, a designer working for coachbuilders Pourtout Carrossier. Under Paulin's guidance Pourtout produced a strikingly sleek, aerodynamic body for a 4¼-Litre Derby Bentley that would be suitable for fast touring and track records alike. To keep weight down the fastback body with split rear window was crafted in Duralumin, an age-hardenable aluminium alloy.
The 'Embiricos' Bentley fulfilled all the criteria for a Bentley high performance grand tourer, achieving a timed 114.64 mph (184.5 km/h) over an hour at Brooklands, yet being civilised enough for Embiricos to use as a road car. Embiricos sold his unique Bentley late in 1939 to H.S.F. Hay who raced it in three post-war Le Mans 24-hour races, achieving a commendable 6th place in 1949.
Although a one-off, reaction to the Embiricos Bentley encouraged the company to explore more streamlined styles for future production models. In 1939 Bentley designer Ivan Evernden worked with Paulin on a sleek Mark V prototype called Corniche. Unfortunately it was in France when WWII broke out and destroyed during a bombing raid on Dieppe while awaiting shipment to Britain. Post-war, many of the lessons of the Embiricos Bentley reached fruition in the glorious lines of the 1952 R Type Continental, and as such continue to be reflected in the iconic shape of today's Continental GT coupe.
Richard Charlesworth, Director of Royal and VIP Relations and Head of the Bentley Heritage Collection, commented:
'It is an honour for Bentley to exhibit this unique Bentley for the first time, thanks to the generosity of its esteemed owner. Its sleek form was extremely advanced for the time, and its DNA can still be seen in modern Bentley coupes today. We are looking forward to showing the Embiricos to our factory visitors, and to the public at the upcoming Windsor Castle Concours of Elegance.'Source - Bentley
The most famous of all Derby Bentleys, this experimental, one-off automobile is nicknamed for the man who funded its creation in the mid-1930s: Andre Embiricos, a Greek shipping magnate and race driver living in Paris. It seems Mr. Embiricos was a Bentley admirer who wanted even higher performance and more modern beauty for his new Grand Tourer Bentley.
The trend of streamlined aerodynamic coachwork was especially strong in France, with noted designer George Paulin and coachbuilder Pourtout Carrossier of Duralumin at the forefront. It was their collaboration with Embiricos which culminated with this sleek, lightweight aluminum alloy fast-back coachwork fitted to a 4.25-Litre Derby Bentley. Finished in 1938, it was everything the financier had asked for: state-of-the-art, beautiful, light and fast.
At the time, Paulin was one of France's leading aerodynamic designers; he was very conscious of the wind-cheating efficiencies that could be created through form, and often comfort was sacrificed to obtain a body shape as near as possible to the aerodynamic ideal.
The coachwork, designed by Georges Paulin, was built by Marcel Pourtout. Comfort was sacrificed in order to obtain a shape as near as possible to the aerodynamic ideal. This 4.25 Litre Bentley was fitted with a high ratio back axle and a four-speed gearbox with overdrive, which suited Europe's increasingly fast road network.
Embiricos lent the car to Walter Sleator of Franco-Britannic Automobiles, the Rolls-Royce and Bentley agent in France, for testing on the new German Autobahn network, and the car set records for speed and road-holding there that no Bentley road car had previously come close to achieving.
It was clocked at 114.64 mph (184.5 km/h) for over an hour at Brooklands before World War II prevented further racing. After having driven 100,000 miles, this car then competed in the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Its best result at LeMans was a sixth place finish in 1949 when driven by Soltan Hay and Tommy Wisdom.
More recently, the car has appeared and received awards in numerous concours', including Pebble Beach and Meadowbrook. The Kellers drove it in the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally des Voitures Anciennes; in 2012 it ran the Louis Vuitton Classic Serenissima Run in Venice; and was featured in the Le Mans Classic and displayed in the Bentley Pyms Lane Factory 'Lineage Showroom.'
The trend of streamlined aerodynamic coachwork was especially strong in France, with noted designer George Paulin and coachbuilder Pourtout Carrossier of Duralumin at the forefront. It was their collaboration with Embiricos which culminated with this sleek, lightweight aluminum alloy fast-back coachwork fitted to a 4.25-Litre Derby Bentley. Finished in 1938, it was everything the financier had asked for: state-of-the-art, beautiful, light and fast.
At the time, Paulin was one of France's leading aerodynamic designers; he was very conscious of the wind-cheating efficiencies that could be created through form, and often comfort was sacrificed to obtain a body shape as near as possible to the aerodynamic ideal.
The coachwork, designed by Georges Paulin, was built by Marcel Pourtout. Comfort was sacrificed in order to obtain a shape as near as possible to the aerodynamic ideal. This 4.25 Litre Bentley was fitted with a high ratio back axle and a four-speed gearbox with overdrive, which suited Europe's increasingly fast road network.
Embiricos lent the car to Walter Sleator of Franco-Britannic Automobiles, the Rolls-Royce and Bentley agent in France, for testing on the new German Autobahn network, and the car set records for speed and road-holding there that no Bentley road car had previously come close to achieving.
It was clocked at 114.64 mph (184.5 km/h) for over an hour at Brooklands before World War II prevented further racing. After having driven 100,000 miles, this car then competed in the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1949, 1950 and 1951. Its best result at LeMans was a sixth place finish in 1949 when driven by Soltan Hay and Tommy Wisdom.
More recently, the car has appeared and received awards in numerous concours', including Pebble Beach and Meadowbrook. The Kellers drove it in the 1994 Monte Carlo Rally des Voitures Anciennes; in 2012 it ran the Louis Vuitton Classic Serenissima Run in Venice; and was featured in the Le Mans Classic and displayed in the Bentley Pyms Lane Factory 'Lineage Showroom.'
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1938 Bentley 4.25-Liter Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley 4.25-Liter
(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Two-Seater Sports by Abbey Chassis#: B180LS Sold for USD$82,500 2024 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Coupé by de Villars Chassis#: B1LE Sold for USD$74,902 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sedanca Coupé by Gurney Nutting Chassis#: B187LE Sold for USD$323,766 2020 RM Sothebys : London Online | |
1938 Bentley 4 ¼-litre Chassis#: B66LS Sold for USD$70,049 2020 Bonhams July Motoring Auction | |
1938 Bentley 4¼ Litre Open Tourer Sold for USD$78,547 2019 Shannons - Sydney Autumn Classic | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 L Coupé Vanvooren Chassis#: B-132-LS Sold for USD$341,040 2018 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Sportsman's Coupe by De Villars Chassis#: B8MR Sold for USD$181,176 2017 Coys : Thoroughbred & Vintage at Fontwell House | |
1938 BENTLEY 4¼ LITRE MR OVERDRIVE Chassis#: B28MR Sold for USD$112,990 2017 Coys Blenheim Palace | |
1938 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE 'HIGH VISION' COUPÉ Chassis#: B83LE Sold for USD$146,259 2015 Bonhams : The December Sale | |
1938 Bentley 4.25 Litre Sports Saloon Chassis#: B145KU Sold for USD$58,626 2013 H & H Auctions - Chateau Impney | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Concealed Head Coupe by H.J. Mulliner Chassis#: B92LS Sold for USD$341,000 2013 RM Auctions - Monterey | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre 'High Vision' Sports Saloon Chassis#: B28MR Sold for USD$104,716 2013 Bonhams - The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre All-Weather Tourer by Thrupp & Maberly Chassis#: B137LE Sold for USD$225,500 2013 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
1938 Bentley 4 ¼ litre Chassis#: B125LE Sold for USD$213,136 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia at Goodwood | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Drophead Coupé Chassis#: B199LE Sold for USD$145,066 2012 Bonhams - Paris, La Halle Freyssinet Motocars | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Cabriolet Chassis#: B125LE Sold for USD$234,888 2010 RM Auctions - Automobiles of London | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre All-Weather Cabriolet Chassis#: B190LS Sold for USD$137,500 2010 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1938 Bentley 4¼ litre MX Vanden Plus Open Tourer Chassis#: B117MX Sold for USD$235,842 2008 Coys Auction -Brands Hatch | |
1938 Bentley 4 ¼ Brougham Semi Razor Edge Saloon Chassis#: B162 KT Sold for USD$86,278 2006 Coys Auction - True Greats |
Bentley 4.25-Liters That Failed To Sell At Auction
1938 Bentley 4.25-Liter's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Saloon by Park Ward | B133LE | 2024 RM Sothebys : London | $50,000 | $80,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Coupé | B8MR | 2020 Bonhams : Goodwood Speedweek | $140,000 | $160,000 | |
1938 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE CABRIOLET | B154LS | 2020 Bonhams : The Bonmont Sale | $300,000 | $500,000 | |
1938 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE FOUR-DOOR CABRIOLET | B125LE | 2020 Bonhams : The Bonmont Sale | $240,000 | $300,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Boattail Speedster | B161LE | 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction | |||
1938 Bentley 4.25 Litre James Young Sedanca Coupe | B72MR | 2017 H & H Auctions Imperial War MuseumDuxford | $180,000 | $220,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Coupe by De VillarsLot | B-8-MR | 2015 Silverstone Auction Classic Sale | $115,000 | $135,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4.25 Litre Sports Saloon | B145KU | 2014 H & H Auctions Chateau Impney | |||
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Drop Head Coupe | B153LE | 2012 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auction | $150,000 | $250,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Coupe | B8MR | 2011 Bonhams The December Sale | $80,000 | $100,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Fixed Head Coupe | 2010 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions | $250,000 | $325,000 | ||
1938 Bentley 4 ¼-Liter Derby Special | B183KU | 2005 Bonhams RollsRoyce, Bentley Motor Cars and Related Automobilia | $40,000 | $50,000 | |
1938 Bentley 4 ¼-Liter Derby Special | B183KU | 2005 Bonhams Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia | $40,000 | $50,000 | |
1938 BENTLEY 4 1/4 LITER CABRIOLET | 2003 Bonhams MOTOR CARS | $140,000 | $170,000 |
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1938 Bentley 4.25-Liter
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