Ref 73
1935 Bentley 3½ litre Open Tourer
Reg EU Registered chassis no. B88EF
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 3½Litre 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 handbuilt coachwork supplied by various leading coachbuilders in saloon, drophead coupé 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.
This most elegant of Bentleys with arguably the most desirable coachwork ever made was not its original derivation however. The open body you see was first a four door, four light sports saloon by Mayfair as ordered in July of 1935 to its new owner, Mr. L.E.R. Bellairs of London, England. A comprehensive and detailed history of its time in the UK exists and will be present with the car for inspection at The Nürburgring. It has resided within a private collection in Germany since 1999 and is being offered for sale after a comprehensive, detailed and labour intensive restoration took place between 2004 and 2006. This was undertaken by the well respected, Fusco of Frankfurt, with bills totalling over €160,000. The car itself still has UK registration as the owner likes to spend time both in Germany, his primary residence, but also in England, his secondary one. It is a testament to the cars quality and reliability that the vendor uses BYN 968 to undertakes these trips. As you would expect, a full UK MoT test certificate accompanies the car although, I am informed, should the car be re-registered, a Fahrzeugbrief and TÜV would be easy to obtain. The chassis and engine, correct matching units of course, are in excellent order as is the body and interior. The latter carries some of the best Walnut to be found and complements the Cognac leather interior beautifully. One of the better restored and presented Derby Bentleys to be offered for sale in recent years.
Dieser elegante Bentley wurde ursprünglich als viertürige Limousine an einen Herrn Bellairs in London ausgeliefert und trägt jetzt eine offene Karrosserie im Stile eines offenen Tourenwagens. Der Wagen wurde in den Jahren 2004 und 2006 umfassend von dem Frankfurter Spezialbetrieb Fusco restauriert, die Rechnungen hierfür kommen auf insgesamt € 160.000.
Estimate €140,000-€170,000
