All-Weather Tourer
Coachwork: Thrupp and Maberly
Chassis #: B-39-KU
Engine #: M 9 BZ
Bentley introduced the 4 ¼-liter model in 1936. Designated the 'K' Series, the new chassis was built in two consecutive runs, the 'KT' and the 'KU'. Derby works produced one hundred of each, with the KTs being numbered evenly and KUs being assigned odd numbers. The 4.25-liter unit was a bored out version of the 3.6-liter motor. The larger engine gave these K Bentleys a higher top speed, now approaching 100 mph, with a few streamlined racing example capable of considerably more. Some of the improvements found on the K Bentleys included new white-metal bearings, larger SU side-draft carburetors, larger valves, and an improved scraper ring design. The generator was now air-cooled, which helped its longevity. There was a new Borg and Beck single-plate clutch and the front end was redesigned to reduce axle tramp under hard braking. Bentley produced a total of 1,234 examples of the 4 ¼-liter specification, with later-series chassis being given an overdrive transmission.
This particular example is the 19th of the 100 K-Series 4 ¼-liter Bentley chassis built at Derby. It is one of nine bodied as a four-door, four-seat All-Weather Phaeton by Thrupp & Maberly, located in London's West End. This phaeton features twin side-mounted spares within the front fenders.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016
1937 Bentley 4¼ Liter
Bentley
2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $140,000-USD $180,000
Sale Price :
USD $173,250
1937 Bentley 4¼ Liter Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley 4¼ Liter
(Data based on Model Year 1937 sales)
1937 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE PILLARLESS SALOON BY VANDEN PLAS Chassis#: B127JY Sold for USD$124,620 2021 RM Sothebys : A Passion for Elegance | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre All-weather Tourer Chassis#: B179JY Sold for USD$192,954 2018 Bonhams : London Olympia | |
1937 BENTLEY 4-1/4-LITER SEDAN Chassis#: B190KT Sold for USD$37,400 2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre 'Woodie' Shooting Brake Chassis#: B142JD Sold for USD$135,128 2018 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival | |
1937 BENTLEY 4 1/4 SALOON Chassis#: B92KT Sold for USD$53,000 2017 Dragone Lime Rock Park | |
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Fixed Head Coupe Chassis#: B91JY Sold for USD$286,000 2017 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, AZ | |
1937 BENTLEY 4 ¼ LITER ALL-WEATHER PHAETON Coachwork by Thrupp & Maberly, Ltd. Chassis#: B-39-KU Sold for USD$173,250 2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Saloon Project Chassis#: B188LS Sold for USD$21,280 2015 Bonhams : The Beaulieu Sale | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre 'Aerofoil' Sports Saloon Chassis#: B90KT Sold for USD$385,603 2015 Bonhams : The Chantilly Sale | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Open Two-Seater by Carlton Chassis#: B55KU Sold for USD$1,595,000 2014 RM Auctions at Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Parallel-Door Sedanca Coupé Chassis#: B28KT Sold for USD$234,797 2014 LES GRANDES MARQUES DU MONDE AU GRAND PALAIS | |
1937 Bentley 4.25 Litre Vanden Plas Coupe Chassis#: B128KT Sold for USD$226,928 2013 H & H - Rockingham Castle | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Saloon Chassis#: B117KU Sold for USD$35,588 2012 RM Auctions - London | |
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Sports Saloon Sold for USD$30,542 2012 Coys - Blenheim Palace | |
1937 Bentley 4.25 Litre Vanden Plas Pillarless Saloon Chassis#: B127JY Sold for USD$31,042 2012 H & H Auctions - Rockingham Castle | |
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Coupé by Gurney Nutting Sold for USD$293,146 2012 Coys Auction - Monaco 'Legende et Passion' | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Drophead Coupe Chassis#: B197HM Sold for USD$91,048 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre All Weather Tourer Chassis#: B170KT Sold for USD$212,901 2011 Bonhams - The December Sale | |
1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Allweather Convertible Chassis#: B7HM Sold for USD$249,683 2011 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars | |
1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Disappearing Hood Sports Tourer by Hooper Chassis#: B190LS Sold for USD$208,221 2011 RM Auctions - Salon Privé |
Bentley 4¼ Liters That Failed To Sell At Auction
1937 Bentley 4¼ Liter's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre All-weather Tourer | B7HM | 2021 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival : Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia | $90,000 | $140,000 | |
1937 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE BROUGHAM SALOON | B33JY | 2021 Bonhams : The Bond Street Sale | $70,000 | $100,000 | |
1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Derby Park Ward Razor Edge Pillarless Saloon | 2019 Shannons Melbourne Summer Classic | ||||
1937 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Sports Tourer | B1KU | 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $400,000 | $500,000 | |
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Aerofoil Sports Saloon | B 90 KT | 2017 Bonhams : The Chantilly Sale | $300,000 | $400,000 | |
1937 Bentley 4¼ LITER SPORTS SALOON | B119KU | 2017 Bonhams : Scottsdale, AZ | $150,000 | $180,000 | |
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Drophead Coupé | B79KU | 2016 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | $180,000 | $240,000 | |
1937 Bentley 4.25 Litre Vanden Plas Style Tourer | B-183-JY | 2012 The Pavilion Gardens | |||
1937 Bentley 4 1/4-Litre Sedanca Coupe | B70KT | 2011 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions | $300,000 | $400,000 | |
1937 BENTLEY VANDEN PLAS DROPHEAD COUPE | 2001 Kruse Auction Scottsdale Arizona | $47,500 | |||
1937 BENTLEY VANDEN PLAS DROPHEAD COUPE | 2001 Kruse Auction Scottsdale Arizona | $51,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $282,858 range.
1983 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 'Oscar India' Chassis#:V8/VOL/12363 Sold for $280,478 2022 RM Sothebys : Monaco Grimaldi Forum | |
1951 Aston Martin DB2 Coupe Chassis#:LML/50/44 Sold for $283,250 2022 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | ![]() ![]() |
2004 FERRARI 360 CHALLENGE STRADALE Chassis#:ZFFDU57A240134226 Sold for $285,500 2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | ![]() |
1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series II by Pininfarina Chassis#:4047 Sold for $284,840 2022 RM Sothebys : Open Roads | |
1937 DELAHAYE 135 COMPÉTITION DROPHEAD COUPÉ Chassis#:47456 Sold for $285,535 2022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1923 HISPANO-SUIZA H6B 32HP SKIFF Chassis#:10556 Sold for $285,535 2022 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia Chassis#:ZFFKW64A590167241 Sold for $285,500 2022 RM Sothebys : Arizona | ![]() ![]() |
1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series III by Pininfarina Chassis#:4397 Sold for $283,479 2021 RM Sothebys : London | |
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet Chassis#:111.027.12.001412 Sold for $285,500 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | ![]() |
1988 Porsche 911 Turbo 'Flat-Nose' Cabriolet Chassis#:WP0EB0935JS070502 Sold for $285,500 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey | ![]() |
1952 Alfa 1900 ATL Barchetta Chassis#:AR 1900 02106 Sold for $281,560 2021 Silverstone Auctions : The Classic Sale at Silverstone | |
1936 Riley 1½-Litre TT Sprite Competition Sports Chassis#:22T1750 Sold for $283,492 2021 Bonhams : Goodwood Festival of Speed | |
2006 Ford GT Sold for $280,500 2021 Mecum : Tulsa | |
1959 ASTON MARTIN DB4 SERIES 1 SALOON Chassis#:DB4/143/L Sold for $285,500 2021 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1953 RGS ATALANTA Sold for $285,500 2021 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1969 De Tomaso Mangusta Coupé Chassis#:8MA 0994 Sold for $284,698 2021 Bonhams : The Bond Street Sale | |
1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk 2 Vantage Chassis#:DB6MK2/4270/R Sold for $283,295 2021 RM Sothebys : Open Roads - April 2021 | |
1984 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S by Bertone Chassis#:ZA9C00500ELA12665 Sold for $280,500 2021 RM Sothebys : Open Roads February | |
2005 Ford GT Sold for $285,000 2020 GAA : November 2020 | |
1903 Clément 12/16 HP Rear-Entrance Tonneau Chassis#:4186 Sold for $285,500 2020 RM Sothebys : The Elkhart Collection |
1937 Bentley 4¼ Liter
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Bentley 4¼ Liter model years