Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).
In 1936, the Derby Bentley engine was increased to a capacity of 4257cc, thus becoming the new 4¼-Liter model. The well-proven chassis was retained, as was the faultless gear-change and servo-assisted brakes.
The Derby was further improved in 1938 with the addition of an overdrive transmission, allowing for effortless high speed cruising.
This Bentley was shipped to Park Ward for the coachwork ion April 4th of 1939. The order was to produce a style suited to the US market and as the display car for the New York Auto Show. It was given a four light pillarless coupe body that was completed in late June, and shipped to New York. It arrived just prior to the outbreak of Britain's war with Germany.
The car rides on a 126-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 192 inches and weighs 3750 pounds. The car is powered by an overhead valve, inline, 4257cc six-cylinder engine. Park Ward bodies were without the wooden framing so they lasted better.
The first owner of this Bentley was Mr. S.M. Swenson, who retained the car until 1967, when it was purchased by the Vintage Car Store in Nyack, NY. From there it passed to its third owner a Mr. Ricardo Fabbri in January of 1978. After his death in the late 1990's the car passed through three other known owners before being offered for sale at the 2004 Bonhams Auction, where it was purchased by Mr. Robert A. Brechler.
While in Mr. Brechler's care, the car was given a restoration. The comprehensive nut and bolt restoration lasted five years and was completed in 2009. It was then put on display at the Amelia Island Concours.
This Bentley remained in Mr. Brechler's care until his passing. The car was then passed to a family member. It recently received a top award at the Mirror Lake Concours, a first place award at the Birthplace of Speed show in Ormond Beach and earned a Palmetto award at the 2016 Hilton Head Concours.
The car is finished in its original colors of cream and red over beige leather.
The Derby was further improved in 1938 with the addition of an overdrive transmission, allowing for effortless high speed cruising.
This Bentley was shipped to Park Ward for the coachwork ion April 4th of 1939. The order was to produce a style suited to the US market and as the display car for the New York Auto Show. It was given a four light pillarless coupe body that was completed in late June, and shipped to New York. It arrived just prior to the outbreak of Britain's war with Germany.
The car rides on a 126-inch wheelbase with an overall length of 192 inches and weighs 3750 pounds. The car is powered by an overhead valve, inline, 4257cc six-cylinder engine. Park Ward bodies were without the wooden framing so they lasted better.
The first owner of this Bentley was Mr. S.M. Swenson, who retained the car until 1967, when it was purchased by the Vintage Car Store in Nyack, NY. From there it passed to its third owner a Mr. Ricardo Fabbri in January of 1978. After his death in the late 1990's the car passed through three other known owners before being offered for sale at the 2004 Bonhams Auction, where it was purchased by Mr. Robert A. Brechler.
While in Mr. Brechler's care, the car was given a restoration. The comprehensive nut and bolt restoration lasted five years and was completed in 2009. It was then put on display at the Amelia Island Concours.
This Bentley remained in Mr. Brechler's care until his passing. The car was then passed to a family member. It recently received a top award at the Mirror Lake Concours, a first place award at the Birthplace of Speed show in Ormond Beach and earned a Palmetto award at the 2016 Hilton Head Concours.
The car is finished in its original colors of cream and red over beige leather.
2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $200,000-USD $250,000
Sale Price :
USD $199,360
2018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az.
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $250,000-USD $325,000
Lot was not sold
2017 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $175,000-USD $225,000
Sale Price :
USD $172,700
1939 Bentley 4¼ Liter Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley 4¼ Liter
(Data based on Model Year 1939 sales)
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas-style Tourer Chassis#: B-143-MX Sold for USD$120,829 2022 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival | |
1939 BENTLEY 4 1/4 LITRE SPORTS COUPE Chassis#: B30MR Sold for USD$775,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas-style Tourer Chassis#: B-137-MX Sold for USD$215,629 2020 Bonhams : Goodwood Speedweek | |
1939 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Cabriolet Chassis#: B160 MR Sold for USD$687,139 2020 Gooding & Company : Passion of a Lifetime | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre All-weather Cabriolet Chassis#: B-80-MR Sold for USD$131,605 2019 Collector's Motor Cars and Automobilia, RAF Museum Hendon | |
1939 Bentley 4 ¼ Liter Pillarless Coupe Chassis#: B131MX Sold for USD$199,360 2019 Bonhams : Quail Lodge Auction | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Tourer Chassis#: B-7-MX Sold for USD$207,572 2018 Bonhams : London Olympia | |
1939 Bentley 4¼ Tourer Coachwork by Dick Brockman in the style of Vanden Plas Chassis#: B 136 MX Sold for USD$197,120 2018 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre 'Embiricos' Coupe Recreation by Bob Petersen Engineering Chassis#: B119MX Sold for USD$671,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
1939 BENTLEY 4¼ LITER Coupe Chassis#: B131MX Sold for USD$172,700 2017 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Coupe 'Honeymoon Express' by Park Ward Chassis#: B30MR Sold for USD$770,000 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monterey | |
1939 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE 'RAZOR EDGE' BROUGHAM SALOON Chassis#: B66LS Sold for USD$71,314 2015 Bonhams : The December Sale | |
1939 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE DROPHEAD COUPÉ Chassis#: B95LE Sold for USD$383,419 2015 Bonhams : The December Sale | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Coupé 'Honeymoon Express' by Park Ward Chassis#: B30MR Sold for USD$769,440 2015 RM Auctions - Paris | |
1939 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Overdrive Chassis#: B119MX Sold for USD$472,051 2013 Coys - Techno Classica | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre 'High Vision' Sports Saloon Chassis#: B148MR Sold for USD$76,095 2013 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia | |
1939 Bentley Vanvooren Sunroof Coupe Custom Ordered from Bentley by Lucie Vogt Chassis#: B132LS Sold for USD$330,000 2012 Mecum - Monterey, CA | |
1939 Bentley 4.25 Litre Experimental Saloon by Park Ward Chassis#: 3B50 11 Sold for USD$21,043 2012 H & H Donnington Priory | |
1939 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre MX Sports Saloon by Park Ward Sold for USD$73,729 2012 Coys - Blenheim Palace | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas Style Tourer Chassis#: B164MR Sold for USD$146,388 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia at Goodwood |
Bentley 4¼ Liters That Failed To Sell At Auction
1939 Bentley 4¼ Liter's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1939 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE VANDEN PLAS-STYLE TOURER | B-133-MX | 2020 Bonhams : The Golden Age of Motoring Sale (1886 1939) | $150,000 | $200,000 | |
1939 Bentley 4¼ Litre James Young Fixed Coupe | 2018 Shannons Sydney Spring Classic | ||||
1939 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Tourer | B25MX | 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $900,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1939 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Pillarless Coupe | B131MX | 2018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az. | $250,000 | $325,000 | |
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Drophead Coupé | B137MX | 2016 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $200,000 | $250,000 | |
1939 Bentley 4.25 Litre Touring Saloon | B149MX | 2013 H & H Auctions Imperial War Museum | |||
1939 Bentley 4.25 Litre Touring Saloon | B149MX | 2013 H & H Auctions Imperial War Museum | |||
1939 Bentley 4.25 Litre Experimental Saloon by Park Ward | 3B50 | 2012 H & H Auctions Rockingham Castle | |||
1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre M-Series Sports Saloon | B83MX | 2012 Bonhams Paris, La Halle Freyssinet Motocars | $85,000 | $100,000 | |
1939 Bentley ¼ Litre MX Overdrive Drophead Coupe by Vanden Plas | B191MX | 2011 Coys Auction Blenheim Palace | $150,000 | $175,000 | |
1939 Bentley 4¼ Liter | B102 MR | 2010 Bonhams Greenwich Concours d'EleganceCollectors' Motorcars | $80,000 | $100,000 | |
1939 Bentley 4.25 Liter Pillarless Saloon | 2006 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction | $160,000 | $225,000 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $295,814 range.
1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Chassis#:DB4/882/L Sold for $296,233 2024 RM Sothebys : Monaco | |
1976 LEOPARD 1 A5 BATTLE TANK Chassis#:OTO168 Sold for $297,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Transformable Cabriolet by Castagna Chassis#:1585 Sold for $298,523 2024 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1962 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS CUSTOM COUPE Chassis#:21847F143551 Sold for $297,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1966 SUPERFORMANCE GT40 MKII KEN MILES SPECIAL EDITION Chassis#:GT40P2415 Sold for $297,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1958 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#:AZ393315 Sold for $293,700 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1932 Ford Sedan Delivery Deluxe Sold for $297,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
2020 McLaren 720S Spider Chassis#:sbm14fca8lw005066 Sold for $297,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1969 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV Convertible Chassis#:242679r167185 Sold for $297,000 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1973 BMW 3.0 CSL 'Works Evocation' Chassis#:2285395 Sold for $298,534 2023 RM Sothebys : Munich | |
1965 Porsche 912 Prototype Chassis#:13415 Sold for $297,000 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
1969 Datsun Fairlady Z432 Chassis#:ps3000105 Sold for $297,000 2023 Mecum : Monterey | |
2015 Lagonda Taraf Sports Saloon Chassis#:SCFTMDCS4FGS50011 Sold for $294,025 2023 Bonhams : Festival of Speed | |
1965 FERRARI 212 BARCHETTA ROADSTER RE-CREATION Chassis#:330GT6513 Sold for $297,000 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1989 Porsche 911 Speedster Chassis#:WP0EB0917KS173811 Sold for $296,500 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | |
1968 Porsche 911 S Coupe Chassis#:11801121 Sold for $293,750 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1989 Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3 G50 Coupé Chassis#:WPOZZZ93ZKS000690 Sold for $295,032 2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Project Chassis#:57751 Sold for $295,032 2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1993 Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 Coupé Chassis#:WP0ZZZ96ZPS470438 Sold for $295,032 2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1954 Porsche 356 Pre- A 1500 Coupe Chassis#:51678 Sold for $295,400 2023 Bonhams : Scottsdale Auction |
1939 Bentley 4¼ Liter
• Additional valuation insight and sales data• History
• Specifications
• Image gallery
• Other Bentley 4¼ Liter model years