1934 | Bentley 3 1/2 Litre

Lot details

Year: 1934
Make: Bentley
Model: 3 ½ Litre All-Weather Tourer by Barker
Registration: AXM 20
Chassis No: B-169-AE
Engine No: tba
Mileage: 59,963

Over £160,000 invested in maintenance in current ownership

Japanese rally entrant in the last few years

Best of Class at the 2019 Salon Prive Concours

The Bentley 3½ Litre (later enlarged to 4¼ Litre) was produced by Bentley from 1933 to 1939. It was presented to the public at Ascot Racecourse in September 1933, shortly after the death of Henry Royce, and was the first new Bentley model following Rolls-Royce's acquisition of the Bentley brand in 1931. Bentley sold only the drivable bare rolling chassis with engine and gearbox, scuttle and radiator, ready for coachbuilders to construct on it a body to the buyer's requirements. Many distributors ordered their preferred bodies as showroom stock to enable them to stock finished cars ready for immediate sale. Bentleys of this era are known as Derby Bentleys because they were built in the Rolls-Royce factory located in Derby, England. Those of Bentley's previous independent era are Cricklewood Bentleys.

Chassis series A to F were 3½ Litre cars; G to L (excluding I) were 4¼ Litres, and the M series was the 4¼ Litre Overdrive chassis. Each series consisted of 100 chassis numbers, either odd or even. The numbers 13 and 113 in each series were not used, to avoid upsetting superstitious customers. The new Bentley engine was re-configured from the 20/25's 2¾-liter motor by increasing displacement, adding a new cross-flow head, twin SU carburettors, higher compression ratio and a re-profiled camshaft. The result was a fast, smooth, long-lasting, responsive and excellent-handling car that was marketed as “The Silent Sports Car.” The Derby Bentley rapidly became the favoured car for the boy and girl-racers of the day.

With graceful coachwork, and few cars offering more fun behind the wheel than the Derby Bentleys of the 1930s, Bentley enthusiasts have always recognized that the quality of the cars with the 3½ Litre Bentley providing brisk acceleration and responsive handling, and with a top speed of over 90 mph and its low-revving engine that can cruise all day at highway speeds, ideal for the enthusiast who loves to drive.

One such enthusiast is the owner of this example. A unique and handsome all-weather tourer bodied by Barker of London in 1934. In current ownership since 2014, the Bentley was purchased with the purpose of participating in overseas events, in particular the 2017 Kyoto - Tokyo Rally. In preparation for this and other events this Bentley enjoyed a significant amount of mechanical refurbishment by leading restorer Ashton Keynes Vehicle Restorations in the UK. Over a four year period between 2015 and 2019 a significant sum was invested in mechanical repairs and refurbishment, to produce a car capable of being shipped far overseas and immediately entered into long distance events. Unusually the radiator, head lights and other parts of the front of the car which would normally be in chrome are since new in this case silver plated.

As testament to its condition is a Best of Class win at the 2019 Salon Prive Concours at Blenheim Palace.

The history file includes invoices to the tune of circa £165,000 in our vendors ownership. The car of late has been dry stored in the UK whilst our owner lives abroad, and so it has been decided to find a new home for the vehicle. The result of a huge amount of expenditure and expertise over a number of years with leading specialists this is a very well sorted, a rare example of a four door Derby providing for the rear passengers an extra element of comfort whilst a handsome post-vintage Bentley ready for its next adventure. Consigned by Mathew Priddy