Lot 043: Bentley 3.5-Litre Airflow Sports Saloon

The 2,422 Bentleys produced between 1933 and 1939 are known as the 'Derby Bentleys' after the Rolls-Royce factory in which they were built. Rolls had acquired Bentley Motors from the receiver in 1931 and was determined to honour the magnificent sporting heritage that came with this illustrious brand. Although the cars were based on the existing Rolls-Royce 20/25 and 25/30 models, they were much more than a badge-engineering exercise with considerably more powerful engines and a more sporting chassis. Dubbed 'The Silent Sportscar' the first Derby Bentley had a 3.5 litre six-cylinder engine with a new cross-flow cylinder head, twin SU carbs and twin fuel pumps. Feeding its 105bhp through a four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on the top two gears, the car was good for a genuine 90mph and was widely praised for its combination of speed, refinement and handling prowess.This particular car is one of just 21 Derby Bentleys bodied by Manchester coachbuilder William Arnold and was exhibited by them at the 1934 Olympia Motor Show. In the history file is a copy of an Autocar article from that time which describes it as: "An attractive Airflow Sports Saloon providing comfortable accommodation for four or five persons... upholstered in blue leather to match the exterior cellulose finish of Marina Blue. A flush-fitting sunshine roof is incorporated." The car is also pictured in its original Olympia Show state on page 182 of 'Bentley - Fifty Years of the Marque' edited by Bernard L King. As copies of the factory build sheets show, the chassis was delivered to Arnolds on 1st August 1934 and the first owner was Captain LM Paterson of Aylesbury who took delivery on 16th November, just a couple of weeks after the Olympia Show. In May 1938 the car was bought back by Rolls-Royce for �510 and sold by them to RK Pierson, the chief designer of Vickers Armstrong Ltd Aircraft Section, for �408. A �100 loss which perhaps reflects a PR gesture to make him look favourably on Rolls-Royce when specifying engines for his firm's aeroplanes!A letter in the history file from Pierson's son confirms that his father kept the car until 1948 and how "extremely proud and priveleged" he felt to be able to drive it from time to time. The Green log book shows that by 1957 the car had been acquired by Ivor Wymer of Denham and was next sold to HM Buckley of Windsor in 1968. The car then passed through five subsequent keepers until acquired by the current vendor in February 2001.He states that the car drives very well indeed and has been a reliable companion on many outings to VSCC events at Shelsley, Prescott and Silverstone. Apart from a repaint many years ago in a much darker shade of blue, the car is said to be highly original and unrestored and would now benefit from another respray and some cosmetic attention to the chromework and the interior. The mainly aluminium bodywork appears to be very sound and straight and the chassis is said to be "in very good condition with no evidence of any rust at all".Many tax discs going back to 1957 and old MOTs back to 1979 show a history of regular use and there are also a number of bills back to 1987 to show regular maintenance. It is fitted with a stainless steel exhaust, recored and rechromed radiator and still has its original tool kit, jack and a pristine owners handbook from when Pierson had the car. It also has its original Ace wheel discs which could be refitted if desired and which were originally chromed or polished as is evident in the photograph of the car in the aforementioned King book (shown above). Also retained are the original Art Deco body fittings, door handles and boot locks which, along with the polished wheel covers, contrasting light blue body/dark blue swage line were typical William Arnold 'signatures'. Altogether a most rare and interesting car that is eminently usable as it is but would amply reward the sympathetic detailing that is now required to restore it to its Olympia Motor Show glory.