Footnotes

• The first of the 'Derby' Bentleys continued the marque's sporting associations in a manner even more refined than previously. There was an uncanny hush before the first of the all new 'Silent Sportscars' was offered to the public in 1933. The new car was powered by a smooth, six cylinder, 3 ½ litre engine, mounted in a development of the "Peregrine" chassis, originally intended for a new small Rolls-Royce, but which never saw production. The six-cylinder engine had pushrod-operated overhead valves, bore and stroke of 3 ¼ in x 4 ½ in and a cylinder capacity of 3,669cc. It developed around 110bhp at 4,500rpm and had a top speed of around 95mph. W.O. Bentley himself acknowledged that the Rolls-Royce-built 3 ½ litre was the finest Bentley ever to bear his name. Essentially an owner-driver sports car, the 3 ½ litre Bentley found favour with such notable drivers as Briggs S Cunningham, N S Embiricos, Eddie Hall, Wolf Barnato and Capt. Sir Malcolm Campbell.
  
  B125EJ was first registered on 30th November 1935. Freestone & Webb Ltd had been commissioned to build the superlatively styled and expertly crafted razor-edge coachwork, (which in their parlance was described as a 'brougham'), for its first owner, Herbert E Ing, who took delivery on 6th December that year. This very car is illustrated, in its original birch grey livery prior to delivery, in Michael Ellman-Brown's standard work 'Bentley The Silent Sports Car 1931 to 1941'. A later owner was a W.E. Humphrey and by 1960 the car was resident in Harrogate in the ownership of one Aubrey Wells. Local vintage enthusiast John Grice of Burton Salmon owned the car in 1961, the car later passing through five further owners before acquisition by the present owner in May 1974. During this ownership much restoration has been carried out including substantial attention to the coachwork, repainting and reupholstery. Demands of business and family saw the restoration go on hold several years ago and the car has remained unused and under a film of dust for many years. It has however recently been started and the engine was reported to run smoothly and well. Nevertheless, following a long period in hibernation, this car will need the usual careful inspection and recommissioning prior to use. It comes to the market with an old buff log book, Swansea V5 registration document, invoice for reupholstery in 1974 at a cost of £250, photographs recording some of the restoration work carried out and copies of the original factory build sheets. The most recent MoT on file dates from 1975.
  
  This highly original post vintage thoroughbred, with its striking art deco interior and still retaining the distinctive luggage carrier fitted by Freestone & Webb in 1935, will handsomely reward further detailing and recommissioning. It is of course eligible for events of The Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club, The Bentley Driver's Club and The Vintage Sports-Car Club and will, we feel, in due course earn its place on the most select concours d'élégance lawns.
  

Auction Notices

• Please note - it is some time since the engine was last run and at the last moment it appears to be stuck. Please also note we have noticed an external crack at the front of the cylinder block.

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Category: Motoring / Motor Cars

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Auction terms and conditions