Sold as of May 25, 2018

Found on Thiesen - Automobile Raritäte website on March 9, 2017

1931 Bentley 4ltr Mulliner Sport-Saloon

- "One-off"!
- ex Captain Woolf Barnato
- perfect documented

Colour: Two-tone blue / black
Interior: Leather brown
Type: limousine
Gearbox: Manual shift
Drive: Left
Location: Hamburg
Price: on request (Sales tax not specified)

Description:
This 4-liter Bentley with the registration plate GO 8477 assigned in 1931 has a very special history: As the first production vehicle it was delivered to no less than Captain Woolf Barnato. Barnato was director at Bentley and had funded the company significantly since the mid-1920s. The South African diamond millionaire not only had immeasurable means, but was also a driving force of the legendary Bentley Boys. As their most prominent representative he achieved several Le Mans wins for Bentley.

The GO 8477 comes with extremely extensive materials and is probably one of the best-documented cars, which is often mentioned in the literature. The owner's history is fully known. The car also impresses with its outstanding originality - after 74 years, the leather interior is still the first!

After a careful restoration by the Bentley specialists McKenzie-Guppy, the car won the first prizes for the best limousine and the most original Bentley at the BDC Concours in Blenheim. Other awards were achieved in Pebble Beach, Villa d'Este, Monte Carlo Rally and Concours in Schwetzingen.

This is a unique opportunity to purchase one of the last W.O. Bentley from a very prominent first owner, in a wonderfully authentic condition and with an incredible documentation!

An old catalogue by Sotheby´s confirms that this car was used in 1931 and 1932 by Barnato. It was for sale on November 1965 at the Earl's Court.

And again up for sale at the unique Meilenwerk sale in Berlin in November 2003. It was one of the last tries by Kruse Auction to put a foot on the old continent. It is reported to have been sold there for 225.940 EUR.

1931 Bentley 4 litre H. J. Mulliner Saloon.

These photographs were taken during the European Concours D'Elegance Schwetzingen — 2002 and 2003.

This photo was taken at Techno Classica Essen, 2003

Photograph was taken during Italy's Lakeside Concours d'Elegance in 1999

"1931 Bentley 4-litre, Chassis no. VF 4004. Woolf Barnato's personal car as featured in AutoCar, last car to be driven out of Bentley works prior to them closing the doors."

"4-litre light-weight H.J. Mulliner saloon (VF4004) rescued en route to the breaker's yard, according to Johnnie Green, and beautifully renovated" — From the article 'Bentley Four-Bangers (3 and 4½ litre)' from the picture collection of Ted Reich (OR)

"1931 Bentley 4 Litre Lightweight Saloon by H. J. Mulliner. This rare W. O. Bentley is one of the most well documented and interesting closed Cricklewood Bentleys to be offered for sale in some time. Not only was it the company demonstrator, but it was also in the ownership of the legendary Woolf Barnato until April 1932 and was used as his personal transport. The car is astonishingly well documented with a substantial number of files accompanying the car, containing much original documentation."