One-off Coachworks for Bentley

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The late 1930s was a golden age for luxury cars. In this category, we are still in the pre-industrial time and each vehicle is somewhat unique.

Precisely Bentley, which has become a trademark of Rolls-Royce in 1931, released the model 4 1/4 liter, more powerful than its predecessors and therefore able to withstand heavier bodywork. In these circumstances, the creativity of professionals has no limits.

On 14 and 15 August in Monterey CA, Russo and Steele sell a convertible Bentley Derby 4 1/4 coupe coachworked by Vanden Plas. This copy delivered out of factory in 1938 had the same owner for forty years. In 1991, the car has undergone a dismounting in which it was found that no part of the engine needed to be changed. It was repainted and re-chromed and the interior has been redone.

The auction house does not provide an estimate, but compare it to two Bentley cars sold by them in 2008: a 1938 fixed head Derby coupe at $ 1.7 million, and a 1948 drophead coupe at $ 1.2 million.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The nice Bentley was not sold.