Car appeared in a 2007 advertisement for Neil Davies Historical Racing.

Photographs were taken during Mille Miglia, 2006. (Photographs by Peter Singhof & Wolfgang Singhof)

Owner: Steuer Pfeil-Schneider as of 2006

Sold: 1994

1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Vanden Plas Tourer
Registration No. YW 5883
Chassis No. TX 3238
Engine No. TX 3238
Body No. 1473
Estimate: £60.000-80,000

A blend of the 3 litre car and the Silent Six created the legendary 4½ litre Bentley which made its debut in 1927. The versatility of the car was remarkable as it displayed qualities of flexibility when married to formal saloon coachwork however with the sporting coachwork continued Bentley's competition record at LeMans where the 4½ litre car made an inauspicious debut in 1927, leading the way into the White House crash. Later efforts were more successful and the racing involvement assisted with both the development and marketing of the car.

The Vanden Plas tourer was perhaps the most desirable of the body styles available and the attractive low cut touring body was as popular in the twenties as it is now. The Bentley name became associated with last touring cars and in standard touring form the 4½ litre claimed a top speed of 92 mph and with a high ratio back axle speed in excess of 100 mph were possible.

Chassis number TX 3238 was delivered by Jack Barclay Ltd to David A. Gale of Pegglesworth, Andoversford in June 1928, by 1939 over 40.000 miles bad been recorded and the subsequent owner was Myles Formby of Shaftesbury Dorset according to chassis card records. Subsequent owners recorded in tbe buff log book were resident in Haywards Heath, Sussex, Stoke-on-Trent and Perth & Glasgow, Scotland, where the car was to remain from the early 1950's. On 23rd February 1965 Samuel Alexander of Glasgow purchased the car and according to the receipt on file it was in Sound condition both mechanically and structurally - indeed an MoT certificate for the previous year had expired in April 1967 indicating that the car had been in use.

This car now represents an important barn discovery, it was laid up by Mr Alexander to await restoration and apart from a house move it has not been seen since. Michael Hay's excellent reference work notes that it was last heard of in 1966. The barn in which it was housed was shared with the 1929 Rolls-Royce 20/25 hp limousine and the 1923 Peugeot type 174, which was purchased at the famous Sword Collection auction at East Balgray also included in this auction.