Sold | 1937 Bentley 3½ Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupé Entered from The Merlin Collection and 16,000 miles from new

Page Contents

Track live values and receive listing alerts

Enquire Now

View All Images

£73,125

1937 Bentley 3½ Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupé Entered from The Merlin Collection and 16,000 miles from new

United Kingdom • 25 Jun 2025

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This 1937 Bentley 3½ Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupé is a remarkably original and well-preserved example with only 16,000 miles. Having undergone a meticulous recommissioning, it boasts a comprehensive history and is a credit to its past custodians, making it a worthy contender for any major Concours d'Elegance.

Condition

9

The car is described as being in remarkable state of preservation and originality, with only 16,000 miles from new. It has been meticulously recommissioned, with efforts exceeding 1,500 hours of labor. While some modifications have been made to improve drivability, they are easily reversible. Ken Lea's inspection confirms the sound condition of the ash frame. The listing emphasizes the car's exceptional originality and the care taken by its custodians.

/ 10

Transmission:

[Transmission]

Chassis No:

B135FC

Odometer:

16,000 miles

Reg Number:

DLO 936

RHD/LHD:

RHD

Registration No : DLO 936 Chassis No : B-135-FC MOT : Exempt 'The car has predominantly been in one family and its recorded mileage is some 15,000 miles.

It is therefore something of a timewarp .

.

.

It is complete in every detail as built and thus unique' (Ken Lea of the Bentley Drivers' Club reporting on 'DLO 936', November 2013) As well as being a one-off in terms of its remarkable state of preservation, research undertaken by Neill Fraser – author of ‘Bentley Beauty, The art of the coachbuilder on the Derby Bentley 1933 – 1940’ suggests that chassis B135FC wears a bespoke prototype body (Number 3476) which Vanden Plas hoped would help it displace Park Ward as Bentley’s preferred Drophead Coupe coachwork supplier.

Having taken delivery on 6 th May 1936, the London coachbuilder presumably painted and trimmed the car to the best of its abilities as well as adding various stylistic flourishes to the handsome two-door, two-light design including chrome side strakes, angled scuttle ...