Lot 331: 1938 Bentley 4 ¼-Liter 'Derby Special'

This 4 ¼-liter ‘Derby’ Bentley was sold new in September 1938, complete with two-door sports saloon coachwork by Hooper & Co, to first owner B Nicholls, of Bilston Staffordshire, England and there are indications that Nicholls was still the owner in 1946. Bentley Drivers Club records show that Vincent Simmons, of Long Eaton Derbyshire, notified the Club in August 1964 that he had acquired ‘B183KU’, at that time registered ‘VS 4’, and that the original Hooper sports saloon body was still attached. The record card shows that from March 1968 the car belonged to a Mrs. Dronsfield, also of Long Eaton, who owned other ex-Simmons cars.
‘B183KU’s next BDC entry (April 1971) is the first to mention an open two-seater body, the owner being stated as Mr. R Heelis. However, although Heelis did race the car (see BDC Review 102: August Silverstone 1971) its actual owner was Anthony Reynolds, of Derby, who was stated as Chairman of the Midlands Branch of the Bentley Drivers Club. It was Reynolds that converted the Bentley to an open two-seater, the coachwork style being that of a replica Abbott dual-cowl phaeton similar to that fitted originally by Eddie Hall to ‘B35AE’.

By June 1972, the car was in the ownership of J R Petersen, of Hampton, Middlesex, and in October that same year was sold to Keith L Robinson of the USA. Robinson seems to have owned the car in 1979, when title was issued for ‘B183KU’ in Indiana. When purchased by the vendor in 2004, the car was partly dismantled and had apparently not run for some considerable time, probably for 20 years. The cylinder head is cracked but repairable and back on the block; the valve-gear is on the back seat together with the rear shock absorbers and tonneau cover. Cylinder bores look good and the engine is free to turn.

Offered for restoration and sold strictly as viewed, ‘B183KU’ represents an opportunity to acquire a genuine Derby Bentley, ripe for restoration and suitable for road or track use, at a most affordable price. Offered with State of Florida title.