1935 Bentley 3.5 Liter Sport Saloon

The Bentley 3½ Liter was unveiled at the Ascot Races in August 1933 and was the first Bentley designed and built under Rolls-Royce ownership. It was developed as a long-distance tourer endowed with sporting characteristics associated with the firm's racing heritage. It was sophisticated, refined, comfortable, and quickly dubbed the 'Silent Sports Car' for its tuned version of the straight-six originating in the Rolls-Royce 20/25. The Bentley engine was given twin SU carburetors, an improved crossflow cylinder head, and a higher compression ratio.

This Sports Saloon (chassis number B73DK) was delivered to its first owner, Mr. Cecil Joll of London, on August 16, 1935. It originally wore a black exterior with blue pinstriping and a blue leather interior, with color-keyed wheels, metal wheel covers, and 'new-type' front wings. It has a documented known chain of owners, including including ownership in Connecticut in the 1960s, Massachusetts in the 1980s, and California in the 1990s. By 2011, the 3½ Liter Sports Saloon had entered the car of a Florida-based individual.

Currently, the Bentley wears cream paintwork with a dark green beltline and molding courtesy of a restoration completed by Hibernia Auto Restorations in Hibernia, New Jersey. There are P-1 headlamps, polished wheel covers, a rear-mounted spare tire with a metal cover, and a chrome luggage rack. The interior is trimmed in supple dark orange leather upholstery, green Wilton wool carpets, polished switchgear, and a wood-veneered dashboard.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2024