Sold | 1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupé

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£61,875 (Est: £80,000 - £100,000)

1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre Vanden Plas Drophead Coupé

United Kingdom • 9 Nov 2024

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This is a late Derby Bentley with a 4¼-Litre engine and a Drophead Coupé body by Vanden Plas, restored in the 1970s and with major work done since. It boasts a recent repaint and a strong, silent engine, but the carpets could use a clean.

Condition

8

The car is described as being in 'tip-top condition' after restoration work. The repaint is recent and of high quality, the engine bay is well-detailed, and the engine runs well. The leather and woodwork are in good condition, although the carpets could use a clean. There is evidence of regular maintenance and restoration work over the years.

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Transmission:

Manual

Chassis No:

B199LE

Odometer:

[Odometer Reading]

Reg Number:

FGW 263

RHD/LHD:

RHD

After a period of reflection and prevarication, Rolls-Royce decided that a sportier version of its 20/25 model could establish a niche for itself in the marketplace as a luxury sports tourer.

Having explored various options, it was decided to power the new sporting Bentley with a more highly tuned version of the 20/25 unit - a six-cylinder, pushrod engine fitted with twin S/U carburettors, increased compression, improved con rods and modified cam profiles, with a capacity of 3,669cc.

Built at Derby alongside Rolls-Royce and launched in September as, unsurprisingly, ‘the 3½-Litre’, the new model possessed excellent handling characteristics and could achieve a top speed of 97mph when fitted with lightweight bodywork.

Polite muttering amongst Bentley aficionados that the 3½-litre was, perhaps, a little underpowered was addressed in 1936 when Rolls-Royce introduced the enlarged 4,255cc engine, with the new car naturally being entitled the 4¼-Litre.

Over the years, Derby cars were fitt...