1935 Bentley 3.5 Liter

Sold for $91,300 at 2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction.
Bentley Motors was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931 which helped ensure the survival of the Bentley name. The first of what would become known as the 'Derby Bentleys' was launched in 1933. Based on the contemporary Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP, the 3.5-liter Bentley was given a shorter wheelbase and a tuned overhead valve six-cylinder engine fitted with twin-SU carburetors. The engine was mated to an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox, and servo-assisted brakes helped cope with the power. The new model was dubbed 'The Silent Sports Car', offering traditional Rolls-Royce refinement with Bentley handling and performance.

Most of the Derby Bentleys were given coachwork by Park Ward in a limited number of styles.

This Sport Saloon was ordered new by a lady, Mrs. Leslie Hamilton Gault, a widow. She took delivery on June 8th of 1935 at her London residence on Eaton Square. An allowance for a Railton Terraplane was made in part-exchange. Mrs. Gault ordered her Bentley to be finished in 'Horlands No. H229 Blue' with white fine lines (coachlines) and its interior to be trimmed in 'Connolly's l'amond grain leather'. After two years of ownership, the car was in the care of the dealership of Jack Barclay Ltd. Its subsequent custodians were a Dr. Whitehurst of Manby Lodge, Weybridge who acquired the Bentley after the outbreak of war in September of 1939. Dr. Whitehusrt is believed to have owned the car for the duration of the war. After the war, it returned to London ownership passing to Lord Temple of Queensberry Place, who is the last known U.K. owner of the car.

Currently, the car is finished in a Royal blue hue with the lower panels being in an Old English White. On the hood of its radiator is a Fox hood ornament, perhaps in reference to Mrs. Gault's fondness for hunting. The paintwork may have been refreshed over the course of its 80 year existence, but some of its interior has the appearance of being original, supplemented with some sympathetically matched replacement leather on the seats.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016