Bentley 3.5 Liter, 1935 3.5 Liter Pictures, News, Reviews, and Info | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Wallpaper, Pricing, Information, History

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Drophead Derby
Designer: Park Ward

The Bentley Derby was quoted by W.O. Bentley as the finest of all the cars he had been involved with. This particular car has extensively toured the United States and Europe. This model is known for its great comfort and ease of driving. It is capable of cruising between 70 to 75 miles per hour without any effort, thus making it one of the best pre-war touring cars.

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Three-Window Coupe
Coachwork: Kellner
Chassis Num: B174DG
Engine Num: D7BZ

This 1935 Bentley 3.5-Liter Three-Window Coupe has chassis B174DG and engine number D7BZ. It is a two-door coupe with coachwork by Kellner of Paris. This car spent most of its early life in Europe before being sent to the United States in the 1960s. It has since undergone a mechanical and aesthetic restoration and made an appearance at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

The car was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction held at Pebble Beach where it was estimated to sell for $300,000-$375,000. It retains its original set of tools and a European tea set in the side 'golf bag' door.

At auction, the car found a new owner for the price of $308,000.

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Drophead Derby
Designer: Park Ward
Chassis Num: B-66-DG

The 3.5-liter model, manufactured between 1933 and 1936, was the first generation Bentley motorcar produced after Rolls-Royce acquired the W.O. Bentley Company. Manufactured in Derby, England, they have been referred to as 'Derby Bentleys.' Few more than 1,000 were built. Promoted as 'The Silent Sports Car,' surviving examples are representatives of the classic car era of the 1920s and 1930s. This particular example was sold and delivered in March, 1935, at a price of 1,100 British Pounds. B-66-DG has recently been restored completely and faithfully to the specifications of the original build sheet. The current owner's goal for the restoration was to bring this charming car back to perfect condition with the most authentic standards possible.

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Aerodynamic Saloon
Coachwork: Rippon Brothers
Chassis Num: B103CW

The 3.5-liter Bentley's were introduced in 1933. As the years passed, they would become known as the 'Derby Bentleys' and continue to grow the company's reputation as being a producer of refined, sporty, road-going cars. They were based on the Rolls-Royce 20/25HP but fitted to a shorter wheelbase and powered by a 115-horsepower, overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine that featured twin SU carburetors. The engine was mated to an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox and equipped with servo-assisted brakes. The result was a sophisticated machine that had as much performance as it did style.

All of the 2,442 Derby Bentley's produced were given bodies by renowned coachbuilders. Over half were bodied by Park Ward and most of the others were sent to British coach building firms and fitted with unique bodies.

The first owner of this car was Terence Byron who purchased the car during the summer of 1935. It is chassis number B103CW and wears an aerodynamic body with saloon coachwork fitted by Rippon Brothers of Huddersfield, Yorkshire. The Rippon Brothers were Britain's oldest coachbuilders and one of their finest.

There were only two vehicles fitted with this type of body style by the Rippon Company. One of the two was on display at the 1935 Motor Show at Olympia, London. It is believed that this car, the sole survivor of the two, was the motor-show car. It has been restored and brought back to its original glory. It is fitted with its correct heater and radio, and great attention to detail was made on all aspects of the restoration.

In 2007 it was brought to Carmel, California where it was offered for sale at Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia. The lot was sold for $170,000 plus premium and tax.

In 1931 Bentley Motor was purchased by Rolls-Royce. As a result the Bentley factory was moved to Derby. Many of the future designs of the Bentleys utilized the Rolls-Royce creations and borrowed many of their mechanical components. The first example of this was in 1933 with the introduced of the Bentley 3 1/2 Liter which was very similar to the newly introduced Rolls Royce 20/25. To continue Bentley's heritage and racing accomplishments the Bentleys were given a sportier design and a more powerful engine. The Rolls Royce vehicles were outfitted with luxurious amenities and elegant designs.
As was customary at the time, automobile manufacturers supplied various coachbuilders with rolling chassis and left it to the coach builder to design and build the body of the vehicle. This meant that each vehicle could be created to the exact requirements as dictated by the customer. By utilizing a similar chassis, the coachwork for the Bentley's and the Rolls-Royce were streamlined, making it easier on the coachbuilder.

During the production lifespan of the Bentley 3.5 Liter which lasted from 1933 through 1937, around 1177 examples were created in various size, configuration, and coachwork. Power was supplied from a straight-six cylinder engine with overhead valves and two SU carburetors. The 110 horsepower was distributed to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox. Performance was modest with a top speed nearing 100 mph. The performance of the Bentley was further increased with the introduction of the Bentley 4 1/4 Liter which featured a larger engine and a higher compression ratio.

The low production figures of the Bentley 3 1/4 guarantees their exclusivity in modern times and is further amplified by the unique designs created by some of the most famous coachbuilders during that era to include Mulliner, Vandenplas, and others.

Derby Bentley's
The vehicles that were first produced by Bentley under the ownership of Rolls Royce in the factory located in Derby, are commonly referred to as the Bentley Derby's. The union between Rolls Royce and Bentley was a marriage of quality construction, reliability and sporting heritage. The engine and chassis of the Derby Bentley's were constructed by Bentley with the final construction and assembly handled by coachbuilders, selected by the customer and built to their specifications.

The engine sizes ranged throughout the years from a 3.5 liter unit to a 4.25 Liter unit, later fitted with overdrive. There were over 1,100 examples of the 3.5 liter vehicle created in less than three years. Most were bodied by Park Ward and given the standard bodies consisting of wood and aluminum or steel. Other coachbuilders include Rippon, Thrupp & Maberly, Saoutchik and vanvooren, Vanden Plas, James Young, Barker, Freestone & Webb, Gurney Nutting, Hooper, Mann Egerton, Mulliner, Figoni, Kellner, and more.

A total of 2422 examples left the Derby factory. Most were in Saloon configuration. Drophead Coupe configuration was next most popular configuration.

Photos grouped by event
Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance	Bonhams, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia	Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance	The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering
Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction

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