Sold for US$ 472,500
Found on Bonhams website on March 28, 2019
Lot 223
7 Mar 2019
The Amelia Island Auction
Fernandina Beach Golf Club
1929 Bentley 4½ Liter Sports Tourer
Coachwork in the style of Vanden Plas
Chassis no. HB3410 (see text.)
Engine no. ST3024
- 4,398cc SOHC Inline 4-Cylinder Engine
- 110bhp at 3,500rpm
- 4-Speed 'C' Manual Gearbox
- Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
- 4-Wheel Drum Brakes
- Wonderfully prepared touring car
- Le Mans axle ratio with overdrive for effortless high speed cruising
- Eligible for events worldwide
- Continues history and Clare Hay Report
The Bentley 4½ liter
According to original factory records, chassis HB3410 was delivered new to a Mr. G.G. Law of Renfrewshire in August 1929. The car was originally bodied like many other 4½ Bentleys as a Weyman flexible sa-loon by Arthur Mulliner. Mr. Law would retain the car until February of 1932, when he sold it was sold to a Dr. W.K. Chalmers in Argyllshire. This gentleman retained the car for two years before selling it to its next owner a Mr. G. Dawson in London.
The original factory service record ceases in 1939. The first post war record for the car is in March 1951. At this time, the car was owned by a Bentley enthusiast by the name of G.K Stratton. Under him, it was regis-tered as "Rebuilt Bentley." The car was later advertised in Motor Sport in August 1951. At the time, the vehicle sported grey paint and wore a Vanden Plas body from another 4½.
The car belonged to two other owners in the 1950s, J.M. Hancox and J.E. Crossman. The latter acquired the car in 1955 and it is believed to have remained with him until 1973. It is further alleged that during one of these ownerships, the car was involved in an accident. Details of this are sparse, but it was significant enough that the car was rebuilt using an-other frame and front axle. This was a very common practice at the time when spares were abundant and the cars were being actively enjoyed during the early days of the Bentley Drivers Club. These parts were sourced from chassis AB3354, a 4½ saloon that had been broken up for spares around this time period. This frame and front axle are still fitted to this car.
After 1973 this car passed to the ownership of well-known Bentley en-thusiast, C.J. Teal, and then to a Mr. J.A. Murch in 1977. Soon after, it was decided to extensively restore the car. At this time, Mr. J.A. Murch also owned Chassis ST3024 and it was long before anyone heard the terms "matching numbers." The original engine was swapped for a unit from ST3024, as it was the stronger engine. The original engine for chas-sis HB3410, HB3412, is still extant and fitted to Chassis ST3024. The restoration work on this car was done by Oxford Coach Company, and the current engine was rebuilt by legendary Bentley expert McKenzie-Gubby. At this time, the car was also fitted with its current Vanden Plas style body with a long bonnet built by Tony Robison.
Throughout the 1980s, the car was in Germany until 1990 when it was sold to CA based car enthusiast Greg Johnson. Dr. Johnson used the car extensively, and during his ownership, the car was cared for by Hill and Vaughn. To further develop the car for high speed rallying, it was fit-ted with a Le Mans 3.3-1 axle ratio and electrical fuel pumps.
In 2003 the car passed from Dr. Johnson, to the ownership of Mr. Rodg-er Morrison. Mr. Morrison kept the car for two years and then sold it to noted Bentley enthusiast James Stickley. Mr. Stickley enjoyed the car greatly, wining an award at the 2007 Amelia Concours with the car and won a national award with the car at the RROC national meet in 2007. In 2008 the car returned to the UK and after passing through Stanley Mann, it was sold to Hugh Apthorp, who kept the car until December of 2010. It was at this time that it passed to the ownership of the consigner, who has used the car sparingly.
Today, HB3410 is still in very good condition thanks to the last 40 years of caring ownership and meticulous maintenance. Recently, the car was checked over by a Vintage Bentley specialist and is in very good order throughout. It is also one of the nicest driving 4½ that this specialist has driven. The 3.3 axle ratio with fitted electronic overdrive makes the car an almost effortless high-speed cruiser, and the car handles beautifully. An-yone who has ever driven a well setup 4½ liter Bentley will testify to their fantastic balance of power, handling, and comfort. Few other cars from the 1920s can match them, especially over long distances.
2019 is the centenary of the Bentley marque, and is thusly the time to get behind the wheel of one of these legendary machines. HB3410 has a continuous history and has recently been documented by Dr. Clare Hay. It is a superbly set up 4½ Bentley that will be an excellent car for celebra-tion events, or on high speed rallies such as the Colorado Grand or Cop-perstate 1000. This is a Vintage Bentley for the true enthusiast that wants to enjoy the open road and let the timeless exhaust note leave a smile on their face. |
