Bentley presented its first new model in September 1933 since its takeover by Rolls-Royce two years earlier. Rolls-Royce delivered the chassis - originally conceived for a shelved project with compressor engine - as well as the engine itself, a 20/25 hp unit, which was thoroughly reworked to add Bentley’s typical power. The new 3 ½-litre was marketed as “the silent sports car“, a speedy vehicle for longer journeys. Many of the contemporary sports car enthusiasts were disappointed by this, but even W.O. Bentley was confident. As before, the company built the chassis, although they were now constructed at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, earning them the nickname “Derby Bentley“. They were then sent to all kinds of different specialists to build the bodywork. Priced at an eye-watering 1,500 pounds, the 3 ½-litre Bentley was the sole preserve of the absolute elite, which is why so few of these breath-taking cars were ever built.

This 3 ½-litre Bentley, chassis B84AH, dates from 1934, and was transformed into this delectably beautiful, elegant sports saloon by body number 5772 from the house of Thrupp & Maberly. It catches the eye with its almost coupé form, featuring a low roof and elevated waistline. The Bentley was registered for the first time on 5 July 1934. A plaque indicates that it passed through the hands of Mascot Motors Ltd from London, a specialist for this make, after the war. It remained in its home country until 2010, before finally reaching Austria via Italy. Before that, the Bentley had already been restored in a quality that remains wholly convincing today. The engine - which still bears the number Der J9BO - starts “on the button” as the English say, so not only the breath-taking appearance is completely fascinating: the driving experience is an unadulterated thrill as well!

VIN: B-84-AH, mileage: 85,386 mls (read), displacement: 3,669 cc/R6, engine: J9BO, colour: black/brown (leather), gearbox: 4-speed, power: 110 hp, papers: Italian vehicle papers