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1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Drophead Coupe

Rolls-Royce Motors acquired Bentley in 1931 with the understanding that the company would continue to produce a Bentley. The first Derby-built Bentley appeared in 1933. The chassis and engine used in the Rolls-Royce 20/25 was given a new cross-flow head, twin SU carburetors, and a re-profiled camshaft. Late in 1935, the 4¼-litre engine, based on the modified Rolls-Royce 25/30 horsepower unit, was offered as a £50 option on the 3½-litre. This option proved very popular so for 1936 it was adopted as the standard engine.

This particular Derby Bentley was ordered new by the Vandervell Brothers. The completed car was delivered in September of 1938. The build sheet lists it as a saloon, but this is believed to be a mistake, and perhaps the order was later changed. It wears a Park Ward drophead coupe body which is believed to be the original coachwork. No other coachwork is known to have ever been fitted to this chassis and there are no additional mounting holes in the chassis.

The car was delivered with a custom high-speed rear end, a feature which cost £360. This was a substantial cost as the chassis itself only cost £1,150.

Ownership of the car later passed to The Earle of Tweeddale in Scotland, and remaining in that ownership for a number of years, before making its way to Sweden. The Swedish owner used the car extensively, even installing a modern heater and a Laycock overdrive. The current caretaker acquired the car from Sweden in 2015. Since then a large amount of work has been carried out to the vehicle. Work has included the engine being fitted with a new cylinder head and high capacity oil pump, a new top, top boot, and the upholstery has been redone in black leather, along with new carpets. The wings were stripped and repainted, and the under chassis extensively details. The radiator was also re-cored and its shell was re-plated.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2018

2018 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $200,000-USD $250,000 
Lot was not sold

1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Bentley 4¼ Liter

(Data based on Model Year 1936 sales)
1936 BENTLEY 4-1/4 LITER PARK WARD DROPHEAD COUPE
Chassis#: B133GP
Sold for USD$55,000
  2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach
 
1936 Bentley 4 1/4-Litre Airflow Saloon
Chassis#: B118HK
Sold for USD$198,240
  2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Drophead Coupé by Park Ward
Chassis#: B112HK
Sold for USD$147,338
  2019 RM Sothebys : London
 
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Saloon
Sold for USD$42,900
  2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction
 
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Tourer by Vanden Plas
Chassis#: B138GA
Sold for USD$417,500
  2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Pillarless Sports Saloon
Chassis#: B189GP
Sold for USD$36,960
  2019 Bonhams : Tupelo Auction
 
1936 Bentley 4¼ LITER AIRFLOW SALOON
Chassis#: B118HK
Sold for USD$190,400
  2018 Bonhams : Collectors Motorcars and Automobilia Auction
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Cabriolet Coachwork by Jean Antem
Chassis#: B260GA
Sold for USD$466,834
  2018 Bonhams : Zoute Sale
 
1936 Bentley 4¼ litre Sports Saloon by Park Ward
Chassis#: B170HK
Sold for USD$116,458
  2017 Historics at Brooklands - Mercedes-Benz World
 
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Airflow Saloon by Gurney Nutting
Chassis#: B118HK
Sold for USD$165,000
  2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Cabriolet
Chassis#: B260GA
Sold for USD$352,000
  2017 Gooding & Co. : Scottsdale, AZ
 
1936 Bentley 4¼ litre Saloon by Park Ward
Chassis#: B130GA
Sold for USD$74,499
  2016 Historics at Brookland
 
1936 BENTLEY 4¼ LITER TOURER
Chassis#: B 138GA
Sold for USD$660,000
  2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Racing Two-Seater
Chassis#: B186HK
Sold for USD$143,220
  2016 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale
 
1936 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE 'OWEN' SEDANCA COUPÉ
Chassis#: B171HM
Sold for USD$180,139
  2015 Bonhams : The December Sale
 
1936 BENTLEY 4¼ LITER TOURER
Chassis#: B 49 GP
Sold for USD$104,500
  2015 Bonhams Amelia Island Auction
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter image  
1936 Bentley 4.25 Litre Special
Chassis#: B46GA
Sold for USD$164,941
  2013 H & H Auctions - The Pavilion Gardens
 
1936 Bentley 4¼ litre Drophead Coupe by Park Ward
Sold for USD$100,000
  2012 Coy - True Greats
 
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Saloon
Chassis#: B58GA
Sold for USD$21,508
  2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia
 
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Four-Seater Tourer
Chassis#: B183HM
Sold for USD$155,698
  2012 RM Auctions - London
 

Bentley 4¼ Liters That Failed To Sell At Auction

1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1936 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE RACING TWO-SEATERB186HK2021 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival : Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia $80,000$100,000
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports TourerB52GA2020 Bonhams : Goodwood Speedweek $320,000$350,000
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Tourer Coachwork by Vanden PlasB 138GA2019 Bonhams : Amelia Island $600,000$800,000
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Drophead Coupe Coachwork by Park WardB57KU2018 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction $200,000$250,000
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 L cabriolet AntemB260GA2018 Artcurial : Retromobile $375,000$450,000
1936 Bentley Vanvooren Pillarless SaloonB244GA2016 Barons : RollsRoyce Enthusiasts Club   
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas-style TourerB200GA2016 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale $150,000$180,000
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports SpecialB156FB2015 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais $120,000$150,000
1936 Bentley 4¼ Litre Open TourerB141GP2013 Coys Techno Classica $125,000$150,000
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports SaloonB52HK2011 Bonhams RollsRoyce, Bentley and Select PreWar Motor Cars and Automobilia $45,000$55,000
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Sedanca CoupeB44 HK2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company $250,000$325,000
1936 Bentley 4.25 Liter Roadster 2008 Gooding & Company $140,000$200,000

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1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle thumbnail image  1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle thumbnail image  
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1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Bentley 4¼ Liter model years

1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Vehicle Profiles

1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Drophead Coupe
Coachwork: James Young
Chassis #: B29GP
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Drophead Coupe
Coachwork: Park Ward & Co.
Chassis #: B57KU
Engine #: Z6BM
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Airflow Saloon
Coachwork: Gurney Nutting
Chassis #: B118HK
Engine #: K2BY
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Tourer
Coachwork: Horsfield of Halifax
Chassis #: B 49 GP
Engine #: U 2 5K
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Pillarless Coupe
Coachwork: Gurney Nutting
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Two Seat Tourer
Coachwork: Vanden Plas
Chassis #: B 138GA
Engine #: K6BW
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Two Seat Tourer
Coachwork: Vanden Plas
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Barker Sunroof Coupe
Coachwork: Barker
Chassis #: B46 JD
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Drophead Coupe
Coachwork: James Young
Chassis #: APN 107
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Sports Coupe
Coachwork: Vanden Plas

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.