Details
1928 BENTLEY 4½ LITRE OPEN FOUR-SEAT TOURER
Registration No. YX 4620
Chassis No. FT 5222
Engine No. NT 3137
Black with red leather interior.
Engine: four cylinder in line, 4,398cc, 110bhp at 3,500rpm; Gearbox: four speed and reverse, right hand gate change; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs. Right hand drive.
By 1926 the 3 litre Bentley was losing its competitive edge and although the 6½ litre was selling well, the Bentley enthusiast was looking for an improved four cylinder car. W.O. Bentley set about developing such a model using, where possible, 3 litre and 6½ litre components. The first series of 4½ litres was launched in late 1927 following the success of the prototype car at Le Mans, where it broke the lap record prior to the White House Corner disaster. These early cars used the 10'10", 3 litre chassis and the engine was a larger version of the 3 litre, using 6½ litre con rods. Eloquent road tests by the motoring press of the day established the new 4½ litre as a very special Bentley, and with its outright victory at Le Mans in 1928 and subsequent Brooklands competition successes it soon established itself as the worthy successor to the 3 litre. To many Bentley enthusiasts the big 4 cylinder, 4½ litre, with its famous "burbling" exhaust, long-legged gait and whine of the straight cut gears, symbolises the very best of W.O. Bentley creations.
This particular Bentley has remained in the same ownership since 1939, when the vendor purchased the car from whom he believed to be the first owner. It was delivered new in August 1928 to a Mr. H.B. Plant, carrying the archetypal Vanden Plas open four-seat coachwork. The car still carried this original body when purchased by the current owner in 1939, although it had been damaged in an accident a few months earlier. The car was then laid up and stored for around twenty five years prior to the restoration commencing.
This work comprised of completely stripping to a bare chassis and rebuilding, which also included the manufacture of a new ash body frame to the original specifications. This was panelled in aluminium and painted black and all the interior upholstery was replaced with new red leather. The car was rebuilt mechanically and is now presented in very good all-round condition, having covered just 160 miles since the completion of the work.
The Lot comes complete with an old buff log book dating from 1947 (the vendor did not register as the new owner until after the war) and represents an opportunity to purchase a fine W.O. Bentley, restored to its original specifications.
Registration No. YX 4620
Chassis No. FT 5222
Engine No. NT 3137
Black with red leather interior.
Engine: four cylinder in line, 4,398cc, 110bhp at 3,500rpm; Gearbox: four speed and reverse, right hand gate change; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: semi-elliptic leaf springs. Right hand drive.
By 1926 the 3 litre Bentley was losing its competitive edge and although the 6½ litre was selling well, the Bentley enthusiast was looking for an improved four cylinder car. W.O. Bentley set about developing such a model using, where possible, 3 litre and 6½ litre components. The first series of 4½ litres was launched in late 1927 following the success of the prototype car at Le Mans, where it broke the lap record prior to the White House Corner disaster. These early cars used the 10'10", 3 litre chassis and the engine was a larger version of the 3 litre, using 6½ litre con rods. Eloquent road tests by the motoring press of the day established the new 4½ litre as a very special Bentley, and with its outright victory at Le Mans in 1928 and subsequent Brooklands competition successes it soon established itself as the worthy successor to the 3 litre. To many Bentley enthusiasts the big 4 cylinder, 4½ litre, with its famous "burbling" exhaust, long-legged gait and whine of the straight cut gears, symbolises the very best of W.O. Bentley creations.
This particular Bentley has remained in the same ownership since 1939, when the vendor purchased the car from whom he believed to be the first owner. It was delivered new in August 1928 to a Mr. H.B. Plant, carrying the archetypal Vanden Plas open four-seat coachwork. The car still carried this original body when purchased by the current owner in 1939, although it had been damaged in an accident a few months earlier. The car was then laid up and stored for around twenty five years prior to the restoration commencing.
This work comprised of completely stripping to a bare chassis and rebuilding, which also included the manufacture of a new ash body frame to the original specifications. This was panelled in aluminium and painted black and all the interior upholstery was replaced with new red leather. The car was rebuilt mechanically and is now presented in very good all-round condition, having covered just 160 miles since the completion of the work.
The Lot comes complete with an old buff log book dating from 1947 (the vendor did not register as the new owner until after the war) and represents an opportunity to purchase a fine W.O. Bentley, restored to its original specifications.