Richard Stafford
Senior Specialist, Head of Research
LOT 7
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Brougham Saloon Coachwork by Freestone & Webb Registration no. DUL 3 Chassis no. B33JY
Estimate: £70,000 - £100,000
Lot 7
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Brougham Saloon Coachwork by Freestone & Webb Registration no. DUL 3 Chassis no. B33JY
1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Brougham Saloon
Coachwork by Freestone & Webb
Registration no. DUL 3
Chassis no. B33JY
Coachwork by Freestone & Webb
Registration no. DUL 3
Chassis no. B33JY
*Featured in the Coachwork section of Bentley - The Silent Sports Car
*Believed only eight bodied in this style
*Present ownership since 1983
*Described as in good order throughout
*Believed only eight bodied in this style
*Present ownership since 1983
*Described as in good order throughout
Footnotes
Although Rolls-Royce's acquisition of Bentley Motors in 1931 robbed the latter of its independence, it did at least ensure the survival of the Bentley name. Launched in 1933, the first of the 'Derby Bentleys', as they would come to be known, continued the marque's sporting associations but in a manner even more refined than before. Even W O Bentley himself acknowledged that the 3½-Litre model was the finest ever to bear his name. Based on the contemporary Rolls-Royce 20/25hp, the 3½-Litre Bentley was slightly shorter in the wheelbase and employed a tuned (115bhp) twin-SU-carburettor version of the former's overhead-valve six. Add to this already remarkable package an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox and servo assisted brakes, and the result was a vehicle offering the driver effortless sportscar performance in almost absolute silence. 'The Silent Sports Car', as it was swiftly dubbed, had few peers as a tireless long-distance tourer, combining as it did traditional Rolls-Royce refinement with Bentley performance and handling.
The Derby Bentley was, of course, an exclusively coachbuilt automobile and as befitted its sporting nature was almost always fitted with owner-driver saloon or drophead coupé coachwork, the 'standard' designs being the work of Park Ward. Of the 2,442 examples manufactured (including the subsequent 4¼-Litre model) almost 50% were bodied by Park Ward. That offered here though, boasts handsome, owner-driver, Brougham Saloon coachwork by Freestone & Webb of North London, one of the finest of all British coachbuilders and a firm associated with quality marques from its earliest days, particularly Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz and, of course, Bentley. This particular type of coachwork is sometimes referred to as 'top-hat' on account of its generous headroom, and 'B33JY' is one of a believed only eight bodied in this style.
Delivered to its first owner, Mrs M Phillips, on 5th April 1937, 'B33JY' is featured in the Coachwork section of Michael Ellman-Brown's Bentley - The Silent Sports Car. The current vendor purchased the Bentley in 1983 from previous owner Dennis Ramsey, who had bought it from Russell Motors of Sloane Street, London SW1 in 1956 (see correspondence on file).
There are service bills on file from Sargeants of Goudhurst and Henal Engineering, the most recent dating from April 2018. Driven recently by a Bonhams specialist, the car is described by the vendor as in good order throughout.
A lovely 'Derby' Bentley, elegantly bodied by one of the most exclusive of British coachbuilders, 'B33JY' is offered with assorted correspondence and Swansea V5 registration document.
Additional information
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