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The Derby Bentley, introduced towards the beginning of the 1930s, had undergone a number of significant developments by the time of the firm's take-over by Rolls-Royce near the close of the the decade. In 1936, the bore size was increased, raising the capacity to 4257cc.
Ernest Hives, conceived the idea of placing a tuned and modified 25/0 Rolls-Royce engine in the chassis in place of the smaller unit originally planned. In Bentley form, it was fitted with twin SU carburetors, given a raised compression ratio, and a more sporting camshaft. Thus, the new 4.25-Liter model provided more power than before while retaining the sophisticated chassis, servo-assisted brakes, and its proven gear-change. After extensive testing by W.O. Bentley, multiple improvements were suggested, resulting in a vehicle comprised of precision construction and exceptional handling in an elegant package.
2,442 Derby Bentley models were built, with the majority being owner-driven saloon and Drophead Coupe bodies, mostly by Park Ward.
This is one of 200 Rolls-Royce-built Derby Bentleys with coachwork by Vanden Plas. In 1910 the British Vanden Plas Company was established just outside London. They built nearly a quarter of all the Bentleys ever built, starting with the W.O. vintage cars and including the Derby-era Bentleys. Derby Bentleys were often referred to as 'The Silent Sports Car,' beginning with the 1933 3.5-litre cars even before the larger 4.5-Litre engine was introduced in 1936. A total of 1,241 4.25-Litre Bentleys were built at the Derby factory. This 4.25-Litre tourer was built in May 1936 and is identical to one built for land speed record-holder Sir Malcolm Campbell.
This is only the second Tourer built by Vanden Plas on the 4.25-Liter chassis. It is one of just twelve tourers built by Vanden Plans on these chassis. It is also believed that of those twelve tourers, only Mr. Campbell's car and this example were fitted with a low windscreen.
The car left the factory finished in maroon over black with maroon leather and delivered to its first owner, a Mr. W.G. Jordan, on March 25, 1936. Major P.R. Davies Cooke purchased the car in 1939, and retained it during the war. After the war, in 1946, it was sold to a Mr. Peter, who at the time was working as an apprentice at the Rolls-Royce Crew Works as a production road tester. Mr. Peter entered the car in various hill climbs, rallies, and even the 1950 Welsh Rally where he finished 2nd overall.
After Mr. Peter's ownership, the car passed through the hands of several more individuals, before being purchased by Charles Howard. In the late 1980s the car was purchased, in a partially dismantled state, by Mr. Michael Bradfield. Mr. Bradfield commissioned a total and complete restoration with bills totaling 140,000 pounds. The car then passed to Mr. Bo Zarnegin in 1995, and then to Mr. George Rombouts-Howitts in 2003, who commissioned a great deal of further restoration work. Mr. Rombouts-Howitts used the car on various rallies and tours. In 2009, it earned a 3rd in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The car later became part of Sir Anthony Bamford's collection before it came into the care of its current caretaker.
Ernest Hives, conceived the idea of placing a tuned and modified 25/0 Rolls-Royce engine in the chassis in place of the smaller unit originally planned. In Bentley form, it was fitted with twin SU carburetors, given a raised compression ratio, and a more sporting camshaft. Thus, the new 4.25-Liter model provided more power than before while retaining the sophisticated chassis, servo-assisted brakes, and its proven gear-change. After extensive testing by W.O. Bentley, multiple improvements were suggested, resulting in a vehicle comprised of precision construction and exceptional handling in an elegant package.
2,442 Derby Bentley models were built, with the majority being owner-driven saloon and Drophead Coupe bodies, mostly by Park Ward.
This is one of 200 Rolls-Royce-built Derby Bentleys with coachwork by Vanden Plas. In 1910 the British Vanden Plas Company was established just outside London. They built nearly a quarter of all the Bentleys ever built, starting with the W.O. vintage cars and including the Derby-era Bentleys. Derby Bentleys were often referred to as 'The Silent Sports Car,' beginning with the 1933 3.5-litre cars even before the larger 4.5-Litre engine was introduced in 1936. A total of 1,241 4.25-Litre Bentleys were built at the Derby factory. This 4.25-Litre tourer was built in May 1936 and is identical to one built for land speed record-holder Sir Malcolm Campbell.
This is only the second Tourer built by Vanden Plas on the 4.25-Liter chassis. It is one of just twelve tourers built by Vanden Plans on these chassis. It is also believed that of those twelve tourers, only Mr. Campbell's car and this example were fitted with a low windscreen.
The car left the factory finished in maroon over black with maroon leather and delivered to its first owner, a Mr. W.G. Jordan, on March 25, 1936. Major P.R. Davies Cooke purchased the car in 1939, and retained it during the war. After the war, in 1946, it was sold to a Mr. Peter, who at the time was working as an apprentice at the Rolls-Royce Crew Works as a production road tester. Mr. Peter entered the car in various hill climbs, rallies, and even the 1950 Welsh Rally where he finished 2nd overall.
After Mr. Peter's ownership, the car passed through the hands of several more individuals, before being purchased by Charles Howard. In the late 1980s the car was purchased, in a partially dismantled state, by Mr. Michael Bradfield. Mr. Bradfield commissioned a total and complete restoration with bills totaling 140,000 pounds. The car then passed to Mr. Bo Zarnegin in 1995, and then to Mr. George Rombouts-Howitts in 2003, who commissioned a great deal of further restoration work. Mr. Rombouts-Howitts used the car on various rallies and tours. In 2009, it earned a 3rd in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
The car later became part of Sir Anthony Bamford's collection before it came into the care of its current caretaker.
2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $700,000
Sale Price :
USD $417,500
2019 Bonhams : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $600,000-USD $800,000
Lot was not sold
2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $600,000-USD $800,000
Sale Price :
USD $660,000
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-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 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-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 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-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 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.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE RACING TWO-SEATER | B186HK | 2021 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival : Collectors Motor Cars and Automobilia | $80,000 | $100,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Tourer | B52GA | 2020 Bonhams : Goodwood Speedweek | $320,000 | $350,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Tourer Coachwork by Vanden Plas | B 138GA | 2019 Bonhams : Amelia Island | $600,000 | $800,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Drophead Coupe Coachwork by Park Ward | B57KU | 2018 Bonhams : Amelia Island Auction | $200,000 | $250,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 L cabriolet Antem | B260GA | 2018 Artcurial : Retromobile | $375,000 | $450,000 | |
1936 Bentley Vanvooren Pillarless Saloon | B244GA | 2016 Barons : RollsRoyce Enthusiasts Club | |||
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas-style Tourer | B200GA | 2016 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | $150,000 | $180,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Special | B156FB | 2015 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $120,000 | $150,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4¼ Litre Open Tourer | B141GP | 2013 Coys Techno Classica | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Saloon | B52HK | 2011 Bonhams RollsRoyce, Bentley and Select PreWar Motor Cars and Automobilia | $45,000 | $55,000 | |
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Sedanca Coupe | B44 HK | 2009 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
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