Lot 414: 1935 Bentley 4 ¼ litre Sports Saloon

When Cambridge-educated H L Good, sailor, businessman and patron of the arts, ordered his new Bentley in the Spring of 1935 it was by no means his first car of that marque, he and his brother Leslie having been devotees of the marque previously and having both owned 8 litre models. For his new 3 ½ litre car he commissioned Mayfair Carriage Co. Ltd. to construct the sports saloon coachwork, a semi-razor edge design which Harold Good was later to modify using the services of Cricklewood-based Corsica. To say that Harold Good’s design flair was individual is perhaps an understatement, extending chassis was a penchant and significant overhang of chassis was a Good feature. Still more remarkable were the distinctive front wings, those on this car resembling so closely his 8 litre models. All features of this car reflect the prevailing art deco styling even down to the distinctive GB plate on the boot lid. Factory records confirm that this car was fitted with an uprated 4 ¼ litre engine in 1937 by McKenzie’s Garages Ltd. Perhaps it was at this time that Corsica restyled the coachwork to Harold Good’s individual taste. Although the registration documents and factory records suggest that B68EF was in the keeping of others between 1947 and 1970, it is thought that it remained in Good’s ownership and in 1970 was registered to Renée Adele Harmer whom he later married. BC68EF remained in Harold Good’s ownership for the rest of his life. It is thought that it was last used some 32 years ago. The engine is free, however a sticking fuel pump has prevented the current owner from the starting the car. Capt. Good’s cars are well known within Bentley circles as ‘Ships of the Land’ and part of Bentley folklore. B68EF could be gently recommissioned as it stands and certainly turn heads at Rolls-Royce and Bentley gatherings, or alternatively a complete restoration of the car in its present form could be embarked upon in which case B68EF has sure potential to achieve concours d’élégance podium status. This truly unique and distinctive motor car comes with a Swansea V5 registration document, old style log book and the last MoT certificate from 1974.