Lot 337: 1936 Bentley 4� Litre Drophead Coupe Ex-Sir G. Stanley White Bt., Managing Director of Bristol Aircraft 1916-1955

The Bentley 4 litre model was introduced in 1936, offering more power while retaining the integrity of the earlier 3 litre cars with their superb gear change and servo-assisted brakes. As before, one bought a chassis and specified a body either from the coachbuilder of ones choice or a bespoke design. Times, however, were changing, and when Bentley used the 4 litre engine in the post-war Mk V1, over 80 per cent of buyers specified the Standard Steel body. One of the most stylish and practical bodies fitted to a pre-war open tourer, the Park Ward body fitted to chassis B246GA is one of only a handful built in this style. Delivered new on the 15th June 1936, the first owner was Sir G. Stanley White Bt., the Managing Director of Bristol Aircraft who guided the company through the First and Second World Wars. He oversaw the development of Bristol's most important contribution to the expansion of the RAF, the Blenheim light bomber; during the Second World War Bristol's most important aircraft was the Beaufighter heavy, two-seat multi-role aircraft. Indeed, it is highly probable that Sir Stanley White drove this fine Bentley to the early flying trials of both these pioneering bombers. George Stanley White began his love affair with cars when his 21st birthday present from his father in 1903 was a Panhard Levassor motor car, which he collected from Paris and drove with much drama home to Bristol. He soon acquired a De Dietrich and many other important cars, including a 1934 Bentley Park Ward Drop-head Coupe and a 1938 Bentley two door coupe by H.J. Mulliner. Post-war projects included Bristol Cars, which used pre-war BMW designs as the basis for a new car, the Bristol 400. The engine developed from this project found its way into many successful motor cars, and in 1954 and 1955 powered Bristol's own Bristol 450 sports prototype to class victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours. .B246GA was purchased by Mr. Granter of United Homes in 1966 and remained with him for over 40 years. Supplied with the car is a written document stating the cars history while with the Granter family, the car being used for summer holidays, weekends away and as Mr. Granter's wedding car in 1971 - an explanation of why the car has white paintwork. A history file accompanies the car, including old MoT test certificates, and a V5 registration document is supplied with the original registration number. This matching numbers car (engine number G4BB) starts 'on the button' and drives very well, and presents a unique opportunity to purchase a very original Bentley with outstanding ownership history. It is without doubt a car for the true connoisseur of two of Britain's most famous marques, Bristol and Bentley.