Lot 326: 1937 Bentley 4ß Litre Sedanca Coupé

Replacement for the vintage Bentley was delayed for two years after 1931 as Rolls-Royce struggled to come up with an appropriate car. The solution was found in combining a chassis designed for a new Rolls-Royce together with a modified 20/25 engine, changes to the latter including a new cross-flow cylinder head, twin carburettors, higher compression ratio and camshaft re-profiling. The result was a fine handling, high speed motor car. Rolls-Royce refinement caused the new Bentley to be known as 'The Silent Sportscar'. In March 1936 this new Bentley 4 Litre was introduced, using a similar chassis to that of the 3 Litre model but, of course, with the enlarged engine and hence with greater power. When production ceased in 1939, 1,241 4 chassis had been produced, the model marking the end of the Derby Bentley. Without question, the aristocrat amongst British coachbuilders of the 1930s was Gurney Nutting and Co, based in Chelsea, London, and equally without question, one of the finest of all the coachwork designs was the sedanca coupe, with the external trunk, and it is just such a rare car which we are delighted to be able to offer here. B44 HK was delivered new in August 1937 to its first owner, a Mr Frieze, with Gurney Nutting sedanca coachwork, which is confirmed in Michael Ellman-Brown's authoritative book Bentley, the Silent Sportscar. More recently, the car has been subject to a comprehensive restoration and overhaul programme, which has included fitment of a new headlining, a new exhaust system, new pistons, a fully rebuilt carburettor, full rewiring and a rebuilt dynamo. The car has also been fully repainted, has had new decorative wood fitted and been re-trimmed, as well as receiving new carpets, new brakes, new chromework and a comprehensive engine overhaul by an experienced London marque specialist. As a result of this expensive and carefully orchestrated renovation programme, this Bentley 4 Litre must represent one of the finest examples available in the world today.Ohne Zweifel war Gurney Nutting aus dem Londoner Chelsea der nobelste der Englischen Karrosseriebauer der 30er Jahre und eine der besten Karrosserien aus diesem angesehen Hause war das Sedanca Coupé. Chassis B44 HK ist eines dieser seltenen und eleganten Coupés und wurde im August 1937 an den Erstbesitzer, einen Mr Frieze ausgeliefert. Das Auto wird auch in Michael Ellman-Brown's Standardwerk "Bentley, the Silent Sportscar" erwhnt. Erst krzlich wurde dieser Bentley einer aufwndigen Restaurierung unterzogen, bei der die Auspuffanlage, neue Kolben, ein berholter Vergaser, ein neuer Kabelbaum sowie ein berholter Dynamo eingebaut wurden. Bei dieser Gelegenheit wurde der Wagen auch neu lackiert, das Zierholz im Interieur wurde ebenso erneuert wie der Innenhimmel und die Teppiche. Sowohl neue Bremsen als auch neue Verchromungen runden das Gesamtbild ab. Einen besseren Bentley 4 zu finden wird sich als sehr schwieriges Unterfangen erweisen.