1937 Bentley 4.25 Litre Vanden Plas Coupe

Lot details
Registration No: EYU 317
Chassis No: B128KT
Mot Expiry: May 2014

One of just two Derby Bentleys to wear this style of special order Vanden Plas coachwork (allocated design number 1386 by the London firm), chassis B128KT was supplied new to Messrs Hoffmann & Huppert of Vienna for Trials use. A notably elegant two-door fixed head coupe, the four-seater's sleek lines doubtless appealed to Max Hoffmann (who later became famous as the instigator of the Mercedes-Benz 300SL `Gullwing' and BMW 507). Indeed, its sister car - chassis B11HM - won `The Motor' Trophy at the Eastbourne Concours d'Elegance on July 20th 1937. Accompanying copy chassis cards show that chassis B128KT had its factory guarantee issued on August 25th 1937 and was first owned by His Excellency Baron Joseph van der Elst, Councillor of Legation to The Belgian General Consulate in Vienna. The annexation of Austria by the Third Reich saw Baron van der Elst transferred to Washington and the Bentley repatriated to the UK where it was road registered as `EYU 317' on August 1st 1938. Thereafter, the Coupe is known to have passed through the hands of well-known theatre impresario and Dorchester Hotel resident Henry Sherek Esq., Mr Barr of Ardfrucoh, Kilmacolm, William Laughland Esq, of Dundee St, Glasgow, Commander Hyde Clarke Burton of Brighton, Central Garage Brighton Ltd, Eldred Contractors Ltd of Brighton, Harry T. W. Hill Esq. of Brighton and penultimate keeper P.M. Pfeiffer Esq of Shoreham by Sea.

Decidedly tired by the time it entered the current ownership, chassis B128KT was extensively restored between 2001 and 2007. H&H are indebted to the vendor for the following details: "The engine overhaul was undertaken by Smiles Engineering of Newcastle upon Tyne who specialise in the reconditioning / remanufacturing of both modern and classic powerplants. As well as dismantling and inspecting all the straight-six's components, they carried out a lot of high pressure chemical cleaning with particular attention being paid to the oil galleries / passage ways / sludge traps and water chambers. The crankshaft mains and big-end journals were re-ground, new main bearings fitted and line bored, new big-end bearings and shims installed and all new cap bolts, locking tabs, nuts and washers used. The block was re-surfaced and had its bores honed prior to being treated to new liners, pistons, little end bushes and pins. The cylinder head was resurfaced and benefited from new valve seats, valves, cam followers, springs, seals, cylinder head nuts and reground rockers. A new oil pump was added. The water galleries were cleaned and pressure tested, while the sump and block were decked and levelled. The engine was reassembled with new gaskets, seals, locking tabs and hoses (see detailed photographs of the overhaul on the computer disc attached to Smiles' invoice).

The remedial coachwork was entrusted to locally renowned coachbuilder and engineer, Geoff Henderson. Based in the North East, Geoff specialises in the restoration of coachbuilt Lagonda, Sunbeam, Morgan and Bentley motorcars. Refurbishing the bodywork proved particularly challenging because many of the panels were distorted and the replacement ash frame which the previous owner had commissioned was found to possess an inherent twist. Consequently Geoff's first job was to dismantle the misshapen woodwork (most of which had to be discarded). Without the benefit of any Vanden Plas blueprints he set about compiling plans from archive photographs, using the windscreen, side screens, doors, bonnet and front scuttle as reference points. It is remarkable how similar the finished car is to its sister coupe (chassis B11HM) which was extensively refurbished by Alpine Eagle at the same time. Formerly employed by The Aston Workshop of Beamish, Co Durham, Dave Watkins had undertaken jobs for David Royle of Staindrop and MacDonald Racing of Lanchester before being tasked with re-trimming chassis B128KT. Another North East resident, he reupholstered the seats and door panels in Cranberry-piped Oyster leather, installed a new West of England cloth headlining, replaced the leather bound carpets, repolished the silver-inlaid wood veeners and renewed the Everflex covering to the exterior of the roof. Another local professional Keith Flint (who specialises in repainting classic and historic vehicles) was responsible for refinishing the Bentley in Cherry Red over Black".

Further benefiting from attention to its gearbox, back axle, suspension, steering, wiring, brightwork and brakes not to mention the installation of an overdrive, the rejuvenated `EYU 317' won the Bill Cook Trophy for Best Derby and P&A Wood Trophy for Best Privately Restored Car at the Bentley Drivers Club's 2008 Rousham House Concours d'Elegance meeting. Awarded the Dax Simpson Trophy for Best Car in the Master Class at the Bentley Drivers Club's 2009 Broughton Castle Concours d'Elegance gathering, the 4¼ Litre has netted a host of lesser prizes too. No trailer queen, the vendor is keen to point out that chassis B128KT has "also attended many BDC events and rallies including three International Motoring Weekends as well as the Scottish Whit and May Welsh weekends. In September 2012, as part of Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, `EYU 317' was one of sixty cars invited by the Royal Automobile Club to be shown during the `Best of British' Concours d'Elegance at Windsor Castle". Featured in the books `Bentley 3½ Litre and 4¼ Litre' (pp 86-87) by Nick Walker and `The Derby Built Bentleys' Second Edition (pp 320-321) by Bernard L. King, this stunning Vanden Plas-bodied Coupe is offered for sale with copy chassis data cards, restoration photos / invoices, tool tray, owner's instruction book, original propshaft with damper and continental exhaust cut-out valve.