Ref 41
1934 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre Drophead Coupe by Park Ward
EU taxes paid Chassis No. B157BL
The first product of the 1931 Rolls-Royce take-over of Bentley, the 3½ Litre was introduced in 1933 and was in essence a sporting version of the Rolls-Royce 20/25. As such, it used the shorter chassis of the stillborn 'smaller' Rolls-Royce, code-named Peregrine, allied to a more powerful version of the 20/25's six cylinder engine with new crossflow cylinder head and camshaft, twin SU carburettors, twin fuel pumps and single coil ignition. Mated to a four-speed transmission with synchromesh and a hypoid bevel rear axle, the latter a first on a Rolls-Royce produced car, the 105bhp 3,699cc engine endowed the 3½ Litre with 90mph plus performance. Notably, this first of the Derby Bentleys was also the first to be marketed as 'The Silent Sports Car'; such was its considerable refinement.
The 3½ Litre soon gained a reputation for pace and fine handling combined with the elegance of hand-built coachwork supplied by various leading coachbuilders in saloon, drop-head coupe and touring guises; as such it found favour with many owner drivers. Few, however, used the 3½ Litre for competition although notable results include Eddie Hall's hat trick of second places in the Ulster TT. Its separate chassis, complete with centralised lubrication system, employed leaf spring suspension and hydraulic shock absorbers front and rear while the brakes were power-assisted by Rolls-Royce's gearbox-driven mechanical servo. Detail modifications were introduced during the 3½ Litre's three year production life, including adjustable shock absorbers in 1935. Production ended the following year after 1,177 examples had been manufactured.
Delivered new to H. Graeme Thomson of Angus in Scotland on July 17th 1934, chassis B 157 BL was fitted with drop-head coupe coachwork by Park Ward. The car was subsequently exported to America where it remained for many years prior to returning to Great Britain in April this year. Recently the subject of a comprehensive restoration, it is presented in extremely good condition and is accompanied by a history file containing a copy of its original build and delivery sheet, a copy of the original 'buff' logbook confirming its original registration of YJ 1799, photographs detailing its mechanical restoration, assorted maintenance and parts invoices, a copy of the owner's handbook, the American certificate of title, and a copy of the HM Customs & Excise import certificate.
Beautifully presented in two-tone grey with complementary red leather upholstery and a black hood, this splendid sports Bentley offers an opportunity to acquire a benchmark model in the marque's history and one that is eminently useable and a pleasure to drive. Please note that the original registration has been applied for and we are confident that it will be reissued.
Zweifarbig in grau lackiert, präsentiert sich dieser sportliche Bentley in rotem Lederinterieur und schwarzem Verdeck. Eine seltene Gelegenheit dieses herausragende Modell der geschichtsträchtigen Marke Bentley zu erwerben, zudem ein Fahrzeug welches vielseitig einsetzbar ist und viel Fahrspass bietet. Wir weisen darauf hin, dass die ursprüngliche englische Zulassungsnummer beantragt wurde und aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach diesem Fahrzeug auch wieder zugeteilt werden wird.
€ 75,000 – 90,000
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