Footnotes

• By the end of the 1930s the ‘Derby’ Bentley, introduced towards the beginning of that decade following the firm’s take-over by Rolls-Royce, had undergone a number of significant developments, not the least of which was an increase in bore size in 1936 that upped the capacity to 4,257cc, a move that coincided with the adoption of superior Hall’s Metal bearings. This new engine was shared with the equivalent Rolls-Royce - the 25/30hp - and as had been the case with the preceding 3.5-Litre model, enjoyed a superior specification in Bentley form, boasting twin SU carburettors, raised compression ratio and a more ‘sporting’ camshaft. Thus the new 4¼-Litre model offered more power than before while retaining the well-proven chassis with its faultless gearchange and servo-assisted brakes.
  The Derby Bentley was, of course, an exclusively coachbuilt automobile. Of the 2,442 manufactured, almost 50 percent were bodied by Park Ward in a limited number of styles. Not surprisingly, British coachbuilders were responsible for bodying the vast majority of chassis, though there were some notable contributions from foreign firms, such as that on ‘B90GA’, the car offered here, which wears three-position drophead coupé coachwork by Veth & Zoon. Established in 1840 in Arnhem, Holland, Veth & Zoon started off constructing horse-drawn carriages before diversifying into powered transport towards the end of the 19th Century. The company grew quickly and in 1914 was appointed the official coachbuilder to the Dutch Royal Family. Before WW2, bodies were fitted to chassis of quality marques such as Bugatti, Hotchkiss, Talbot Lago, Bentley and Packard. After the War, Veth & Zoon escaped the fate of many of their contemporaries by branching out into the manufacture of truck and van bodies. The company still exists building commercial and public service vehicles, but has not bodied a car for over 60 years.
  One of only two Derby Bentleys bodied by Veth & Zoon, ‘B90GA’ was ordered new by one T Van Linge, who wanted a car in the style of a Mercedes-Benz 540K roadster. Mr Linge must have been delighted with the result, which certainly looks the part. Copy chassis cards on file record the fact that the car was to be used in Holland, ‘very often at high speed – springs to be rather stiff’, and that the chassis was to be supplied with km/h speedometer, fuel gauge in litres and knock-on type hub nuts.
  The car was restored in the USA before returning in the 1980s to the UK where it was purchased by the current owner in 1992. A further £50,000 was spent in 1995/96 on additional refurbishment with marque specialists Fiennes Engineering (bills and photographs on file) and on completion the car was rewarded with a Bentley Drivers’ Club Class D concours win at Broughton Castle in 1996. Since the rebuild the car has continued to form part of its owner’s select private collection, seeing relatively little use of late, hence its sale. Most MoTs dating back to 1992 are on file, confirming that between 2001 and 2008 only 1,700 miles were covered.
  Finished in red with matching leather interior and black hood, this uniquely stylish Derby Bentley is presented in good/excellent condition and offered with the aforementioned restoration records, old US title deed (Miami, Florida), a quantity of old tax discs, current MoT/road fund licence and Swansea V5 registration document.