Details
1939 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE MX SERIES DROPHEAD COUPE
COACHWORK BY BARKER
Registration No. BYW 313
Chassis No. B73MX
Engine No. V2BJ
Black with grey leather interior
Engine: six cylinder, overhead valve, 4,257cc, 125bhp at 4,500rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual with overdrive; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: semi-elliptic. Right hand drive.
The result of the Rolls-Royce takeover of Bentley Motors in 1931 was the announcement of the 3½-litre Bentley, the first Silent Sports Saloon which was powered by an improved version of the Rolls-Royce 20/25 engine with an overhead valve crossflow head and twin carburettors. The power unit drove a four speed gearbox with synchromesh on third and top gears; the chassis embodied the Hispano power-assisted braking system, using a gearbox-driven servo to aid breaking effort.
By 1936 some extra power was seen to be needed from the engine which was therefore bored out to 3½in to make the capacity 4¼-litre. This increase gave a most satisfactory improvement in performance. The car stayed in production for just over three years and 1,241 examples were built.
This Bentley chassis was delivered to Hooper & Co in early 1939 who commissioned Messrs Barker & Co to build this attractive two-door drophead coupe coachwork. It is believed to be the only Barker drophead coachwork fitted on an MX-series car. The current owner acquired the car in the early 1960s from a garage in Hitchin in a rather sorry state. Its early history is very vague and the chassis build card wrongly indicates that the car was a Hooper coupe. (It was not uncommon for build specifications to be changed without the proper amendments being made to the chassis card). The owner's research indicated that it was originally owned by a lady and was told it returned to England from the Channel Islands just before the war. From 1964 until 1966 the owner commenced the restoration. The engine, gearbox and back axle all seemed to be in good order and with minor amounts of work were made to run very well. The main tasks tackled included completely stripping the whole body and repainting, replacing rotton woodwork and renewing the wiring. The road springs were removed and polished and the front spring shackles removed. The servo was relined and all the filters and oil changed along with a new exhaust system. By mid 1966 the car was driven on several long trips including a camping trip to Scotland, covering some 1,750 miles in seven days, with a petrol consumption of some 23mpg, thanks to the overdrive box. At this stage the owner became an RREC member and found the Bulletin very helpful.
The next job was the replacement of the hood which was made by the owner's wife, complete with wool lining. Following this the woodwork was re-veneered with burr walnut and at the same time the radio was built into the fascia. He also decided to veneer the waistline below the window sills and all the woodwork was finished in polyurethene to stand up to the sun and weather which even to this day is in splendid condition. The original leather was recoloured in Connolly's dye to match the grey hood. The carpets were replaced with new ones in best Wilton wool.
During the winter of 1969/70 the front axle was removed and attention paid to the front shoes, steering, new pivot pins and new bronze bushes for the front brake cross shafts. All parts were re-enamelled before replacing. The following winter the rear axle was removed as well as the petrol tank, and both of these being thoroughly cleaned and re-enamelled, once again the brakes and brake shaft bushes were renewed. The following year again all the shock absorbers were removed and rebuilt and the ride control system made to work well.
This labour of love was truly rewarded when in 1970 the car won a local prize for the 'car that reflected most credit on its owner' and a week later at Stowe the owner was voted the owner of most elegant car by fellow members out of a field of 72. Spurred on by this success the car was prepared and entered into further events with remarkable results - a first in the Derby Bentley class and holder of the Douglas Wood Trophy for Best Personal Restoration at Blenheim in 1971, also a win at Stapleford Park and another at Stowe. In 1972 the car achieved its finest award at Blenheim winning the Master's Trophy which was repeated again in 1973. Whilst not being allowed to compete again in this class the car was often shown at various events around the country right up until the early 1980s and invariable took a first class award.
Since the early 1970s this fine Bentley has really had very limited use (covering under 17,000 miles in the past 31 years) and although it has mellowed a little it is obvious to see that this was truly a finely restored vehicle. It ran very well on a recent inspection and has been put through a new MoT test at Jack Barclays in the past month. The car is fitted with Lucas R100 headlamps, with horn trumpets below and a centrally mounted fog lamp, a spare wheel is mounted in the near side front wing and there is a full compliment of small tools located in the boot lid.
Not only is this 4¼-litre a desirable example being a former concours winner but it is worth noting that it is one of the last produced and is from the MX series. These cars had an overdrive gearbox, higher gear ratios, modified camshafts among other improvements and used smaller wheels which increased the top speed by 11mph to a maximum of 107mph. They also adopted the Marles cam and roller steering which was much lighter than the Rolls-Royce steering box. This fine example is also believed to be the only known Barker MX series drophead produced and surely one of the most elegant Derby Bentleys ever built.
COACHWORK BY BARKER
Registration No. BYW 313
Chassis No. B73MX
Engine No. V2BJ
Black with grey leather interior
Engine: six cylinder, overhead valve, 4,257cc, 125bhp at 4,500rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual with overdrive; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: semi-elliptic. Right hand drive.
The result of the Rolls-Royce takeover of Bentley Motors in 1931 was the announcement of the 3½-litre Bentley, the first Silent Sports Saloon which was powered by an improved version of the Rolls-Royce 20/25 engine with an overhead valve crossflow head and twin carburettors. The power unit drove a four speed gearbox with synchromesh on third and top gears; the chassis embodied the Hispano power-assisted braking system, using a gearbox-driven servo to aid breaking effort.
By 1936 some extra power was seen to be needed from the engine which was therefore bored out to 3½in to make the capacity 4¼-litre. This increase gave a most satisfactory improvement in performance. The car stayed in production for just over three years and 1,241 examples were built.
This Bentley chassis was delivered to Hooper & Co in early 1939 who commissioned Messrs Barker & Co to build this attractive two-door drophead coupe coachwork. It is believed to be the only Barker drophead coachwork fitted on an MX-series car. The current owner acquired the car in the early 1960s from a garage in Hitchin in a rather sorry state. Its early history is very vague and the chassis build card wrongly indicates that the car was a Hooper coupe. (It was not uncommon for build specifications to be changed without the proper amendments being made to the chassis card). The owner's research indicated that it was originally owned by a lady and was told it returned to England from the Channel Islands just before the war. From 1964 until 1966 the owner commenced the restoration. The engine, gearbox and back axle all seemed to be in good order and with minor amounts of work were made to run very well. The main tasks tackled included completely stripping the whole body and repainting, replacing rotton woodwork and renewing the wiring. The road springs were removed and polished and the front spring shackles removed. The servo was relined and all the filters and oil changed along with a new exhaust system. By mid 1966 the car was driven on several long trips including a camping trip to Scotland, covering some 1,750 miles in seven days, with a petrol consumption of some 23mpg, thanks to the overdrive box. At this stage the owner became an RREC member and found the Bulletin very helpful.
The next job was the replacement of the hood which was made by the owner's wife, complete with wool lining. Following this the woodwork was re-veneered with burr walnut and at the same time the radio was built into the fascia. He also decided to veneer the waistline below the window sills and all the woodwork was finished in polyurethene to stand up to the sun and weather which even to this day is in splendid condition. The original leather was recoloured in Connolly's dye to match the grey hood. The carpets were replaced with new ones in best Wilton wool.
During the winter of 1969/70 the front axle was removed and attention paid to the front shoes, steering, new pivot pins and new bronze bushes for the front brake cross shafts. All parts were re-enamelled before replacing. The following winter the rear axle was removed as well as the petrol tank, and both of these being thoroughly cleaned and re-enamelled, once again the brakes and brake shaft bushes were renewed. The following year again all the shock absorbers were removed and rebuilt and the ride control system made to work well.
This labour of love was truly rewarded when in 1970 the car won a local prize for the 'car that reflected most credit on its owner' and a week later at Stowe the owner was voted the owner of most elegant car by fellow members out of a field of 72. Spurred on by this success the car was prepared and entered into further events with remarkable results - a first in the Derby Bentley class and holder of the Douglas Wood Trophy for Best Personal Restoration at Blenheim in 1971, also a win at Stapleford Park and another at Stowe. In 1972 the car achieved its finest award at Blenheim winning the Master's Trophy which was repeated again in 1973. Whilst not being allowed to compete again in this class the car was often shown at various events around the country right up until the early 1980s and invariable took a first class award.
Since the early 1970s this fine Bentley has really had very limited use (covering under 17,000 miles in the past 31 years) and although it has mellowed a little it is obvious to see that this was truly a finely restored vehicle. It ran very well on a recent inspection and has been put through a new MoT test at Jack Barclays in the past month. The car is fitted with Lucas R100 headlamps, with horn trumpets below and a centrally mounted fog lamp, a spare wheel is mounted in the near side front wing and there is a full compliment of small tools located in the boot lid.
Not only is this 4¼-litre a desirable example being a former concours winner but it is worth noting that it is one of the last produced and is from the MX series. These cars had an overdrive gearbox, higher gear ratios, modified camshafts among other improvements and used smaller wheels which increased the top speed by 11mph to a maximum of 107mph. They also adopted the Marles cam and roller steering which was much lighter than the Rolls-Royce steering box. This fine example is also believed to be the only known Barker MX series drophead produced and surely one of the most elegant Derby Bentleys ever built.