Description
Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley in 1931 to add a sporting model to their range of high-quality cars for well-heeled and discerning customers. The first result of this new partnership was the Bentley 3 ½ litre. The new car was produced at Rolls-Royce’s Derby works and developed from the Rolls-Royce 20/ 25 and 25/ 30 with a lower and lighter chassis and more powerful engine of 3, 669cc. The six-cylinder unit comprised a cast iron block, detachable iron cylinder head, aluminium crankcase and a Royal Automobile Club power rating of 25. 3 h. p. A four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on 3rd and 4th gears was also installed, which produced had a smooth and precise change.
The new Bentley was announced in The Motor magazine of 3rd October 1933 and was of such high-quality the model soon became known as ‘The Silent Sports Car’.
In 1936 to satisfy customer demand for increased performance the company introduced the 4 ¼. The revised model had a larger capacity engine of 4257cc which increased power from 25. 3 h. p. to 29. 4 h. p.
Prominent owners of these ‘Derby Bentleys’ included Sir Malcolm Campbell, Woolf Barnato, Raymond Mays, Prince Bira and Capt. George Eyston.
Chassis B111JY is a Bentley 4 ¼ litre ordered by Mr. H. W. L. Puxley of Hitchin who had previously owned a number of Bentleys, including a WO 3-Litre and a 1934 3 ½ litre Park Ward Drop Head Coupe.
The new car was specified with a steering column 1 inch longer than standard and Smiths speedometer and rev counter plus a Weston Ammeter. An extension tube and filler cap were also fitted to the petrol tank. Dunlop wire wheels were supplied covered with India tyres and finally a Bentley mascot was fitted to the radiator top.
According to copies of the original build sheets on file, the chassis B111JY was on test on the 3rd of February 1937 before being delivered to coachbuilder Park Ward & Co. of London on the 13th February to be fitted with a handsome Drop Head Coupe body.
Subsequent to Mr Puxley’s tenure the Bentley was exported to USA where it was owned by a Californian doctor for over fifty-years before being re-imported and registered in the UK in 2020.
Today, the dark blue paint of the bodywork is in good condition and the blue Mohair hood is virtually new. The interior leather and woodwork are in equally good shape with a nice mellow feel. The car has also been rewired recently with correct colour-coded braided wires at a cost of some £6, 000.
Today this attractive Bentley 4 ¼ drives as it should and is in very good order. The car is UK-registered, UK taxes paid and ready for immediate use.
