Found on Gooding & Company website on August 28, 2018

Pebble Beach 2018 | Pebble Beach, 24 August, 2018

1931 Bentley 4 Litre Tourer
Coachwork by Vanden Plas
Chassis: VF4019 ~ Engine: VF4020
Body No. 1741
Asking Price: On Request

Car Highlights
~ Perhaps the Finest Surviving 4 Litre Bentley
~ Incredibly Rare Model; One of as Few as 27 Examples Built
~ Accompanied by Original Fitted Luggage and Tools
~ Extremely Well-Preserved Condition with Wonderful Patina
~ Beautiful Two-Door Vanden Plas Coachwork

Technical Specs
~ 3,915 CC OHC Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
~ Twin SU HVG 5 Carburetors
~ 120 HP at 3,800 RPM
~ 4-Speed F-Type Manual Gearbox
~ 4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes

Provenance
~ Bentley Motors Ltd.
~ P.A.G. Phillips, Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK (acquired in 1932)
~ Peter Balean, Derby, UK (acquired in 1960)
~ Ronald Gray, Germany and Florida (acquired in 1989)
~ Private Collector (acquired circa 2001)
~ Current Owner (acquired from the above)

This Car
Elegant, sporting, and refined, the 4 Litre Bentley set the highest standards for motorcars of the period. Selecting body design, trim, and features from a host of coachbuilders, customers could order each car to their unique specifications. According to Bentley expert Clare Hay, records indicate that chassis VF4019 was one of two examples originally bodied by Vanden Plas in the distinctive and striking Tourer configuration, the same as fitted to Woolf Barnato’s personal 8 Litre. While most 4 Litres received closed coachwork, this open motorcar delivered a bold and commanding presence, quite suitable for its first assigned duties as a Bentley demonstrator. Finished in Le Mans Green with black fenders, frame, and moldings, the interior was trimmed in green leather and upon completion, the car was immediately dispatched to Autocar magazine for road testing. During the tests, a gearbox bearing failed, necessitating the replacement with gearbox no. 8151 (retained today). Bentley Motors’ Charles K. Bowers photographed VF4019 in its demonstrator role before it was assigned to London dealer Jack Olding. On January 4, 1932, Royal Tunbridge Wells resident and cigar manufacturing heir P.A.G. Phillips became the first private owner, registering the car in London as GP 5193.

Mr. Phillips regularly had VF4019 serviced, including the installation of a new 4.16:1 rear axle installed in September 1933. Though this example was unregistered during the war years, Mr. Phillips continued to use the car, occasionally loaning it to Peter Balean, a decorated RAF pilot and squadron leader. Impressed by the car, Mr. Balean eventually became the second owner, purchasing it from Mr. Phillips in June 1960.

Mr. Balean continued the tradition of carefully maintaining the 4 Litre, including rebuilding the engine with a lightly ground and balanced crankshaft using .0030? oversize pistons. In 1989, Mr. Balean sold the car to Ronald Gray, who divided his time between Germany and Florida. Around 2001, Mr. Gray sold the 4 Litre to a Bentley enthusiast in the US; that owner had restorer and preservation expert Steve Babinsky perform a full service on the car in 2009. It was then transferred to the current owner in 2015.

Over the past eight decades, this 4 Litre has been afforded a superb level of conservatorship. Features include the original interior, carpeting, instruments, and exceptional under-hood finishes, and what is believed by the consignor to be either original paint or an early period lacquer respray. The car is offered with a file documenting previous ownership and services, along with luggage and tools.

This exceptional Bentley 4 Litre Tourer represents a unique confluence of originality and premier preservation. The opportunity to steward its future, coupled with the unbridled joy of driving one of the world’s most exciting prewar cars, will surely delight and reward the discerning collector for many years to come.

Perhaps the best summary of this exceptional W.O. Bentley was stated by Bentley authority Clare Hay, “In general terms, I would say that this is about the most original and correct Bentley that I’ve ever seen.”

This car is for sale as of August 28, 2018

"December 1, 2015
Keno Brothers New York City 2015 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 124

1931 Bentley 4-Liter Touring, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N VF4019; Engine # VF4020; Dark Green, Black fenders and accent/Green leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000. With Reserve. RHD. Black wire wheels, Dunlop tires, Raydyot fog light, altimeter. – Chipped old repaint, worn, scuffed old upholstery. Road grimy chassis. Weak chrome. A well preserved and complete largely original car that has been used like a Bentley should be. – Offered by Brooks Auctioneers at Goodwood in 2001 where it sold post-block for a reported $105,795 [GBP 75,000 at the time]. Offered by RM at Monterey in August of this year with a reported high bid of $450,000. A charming Bentley with patina that goes beyond age to become character, its rather blocky Vanden Plas coachwork does it no favors, as the reported high bid indicates."

The car was sold on January 4, 1932, to its first owner, P.A.G. Phillips, of Tunbridge Wells, heir to a prominent London cigar manufacturer, who registered it in London as GP 5193.

According to surviving Bentley chassis records, the car was regularly maintained through 1938, with a new 4.16:1 rear axle installed in September 1933. It was apparently not registered during the war years but continued in Mr. Phillips’s use; he is known to have loaned it to his squadron leader, Peter Balean, of Derby, at least once while Mr. Balean was on leave in 1941. Squadron Leader Peter Balean was impressed enough by the automobile that it remained vivid in his memory for another 19 years, during which time he kept up contact with Mr. Phillips and the car. In June 1960, he was able to become the Bentley’s second owner, acquiring it from Mr. Phillips’s estate, where it had been regularly maintained by a chauffeur. It would remain in his care until 1989. It is fascinating that, in its first 58 years, this car had two owners who knew one another and were passionate enthusiasts and aviators in the service of their country. (Note the rare accessory altimeter, ideal for a pilot’s automobile!)

The car passed from Squadron Leader Balean to Ronald Gray, of Germany and Florida, from whom its present US-based consignor acquired it some 15 years ago. It was subjected to a full service by noted restorer and preservationist Steve Babinsky about six years ago, with further freshening before the car’s appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2014.

Monterey
13-15 August 2015

1931 Bentley 4-Litre Tourer by Vanden Plas
Chassis no. VF4019
Engine no. VF4020
Body no. 1741
$500,000 - $650,000

120 bhp, 238.9 cu. in. OHV inline six-cylinder engine with dual SU HVG 5 carburetors, four-speed F-type manual transmission with a synchromesh third gear, semi-elliptical front and rear suspension with friction shock absorbers, and four-wheel drum brakes with cable-operated rear drums. Wheelbase: 134 in.

- The most important and finest surviving example of a 4-Litre Bentley
- Original frame, engine, and body; never restored
- Unusually beautiful Vanden Plas coachwork
- Four long-term, conscientious caretakers since new
- Still with its original UK registration and registration book
- Documented and authenticated by marque expert Dr. Clare Hay

According to the records of marque expert Dr. Clare Hay, chassis number VF4019 was the 19th 4-Litre Bentley of the 50 built. The majority of 4-Litres bore rather dull enclosed saloon bodywork; in contrast, this is one of two cars originally bodied to this striking tourer design by Vanden Plas. An update of their early tourer bodies for the 3- and 4½-Litre cars, this style is dramatic and sexy, as seen by its use by Woolf Barnato on his personal 8-Litre, to which this 4-Litre is virtually identical in all but its size.

The car was originally earmarked as a demonstrator and finished in Le Mans Green with black fenders, chassis, and moldings and green leather to match. It was supplied to The Autocar for road testing, only to have a bearing in the gearbox fail, resulting in a replacement of the gearbox with the current unit, number 8151. It was then photographed by Charles K. Bowers, Bentley Motors’ official photographer, and remained in Bentley Motors’ stock until the company entered receivership late in 1931. Handed over to London dealer Jack Olding for sale, the car was sold on January 4, 1932, to its first owner, P.A.G. Phillips, of Tunbridge Wells, heir to a prominent London cigar manufacturer, who registered it in London as GP 5193.

According to surviving Bentley chassis records, the car was regularly maintained through 1938, with a new 4.16:1 rear axle installed in September 1933. It was apparently not registered during the war years but continued in Mr. Phillips’s use; he is known to have loaned it to his squadron leader, Peter Balean, of Derby, at least once while Mr. Balean was on leave in 1941. Squadron Leader Balean was impressed enough by the automobile that it remained vivid in his memory for another 19 years, during which time he kept up contact with Mr. Phillips and the car. In June 1960, he was able to become the Bentley’s second owner, acquiring it from Mr. Phillips’s estate, where it had been regularly maintained by a chauffeur. It would remain in his care until 1989. It is fascinating that, in its first 58 years, this car had two owners who knew one another and were passionate enthusiasts and aviators in the service of their country. (Note the rare accessory altimeter, ideal for a pilot’s automobile!)

In Squadron Leader Balean’s ownership, the gearbox and transmission were found to be “perfect,” and the engine was rebuilt with a very lightly ground and balanced crankshaft and the fitting of .0030 oversize pistons. “Brakes and cornering are well up to modern standards,” he noted in a fascinating 1963 Sporting Motorist article, which is on file. “The bodywork has no irritating rattles, the doors close beautifully, and the Tecalemit chassis lubrication is a joy. With 120 bhp, it is a really delightful car to drive.” Being a pilot, like the original owner, he knew what he was talking about!

The car passed from Squadron Leader Balean to Ronald Gray, of Germany and Florida, from whom its present U.S.-based consignor acquired it some 15 years ago. It was subjected to a full service by noted restorer and preservationist Steve Babinsky about six years ago, with further freshening before the car’s appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last year. The owner describes it as “a really well-mannered vintage Bentley that performs perfectly. It is just a wonderful thing.”

The Bentley remains exceedingly original, including its original frame, engine, and body, of course, as well as what is believed to even be its original paint (or a half-century-old lacquer repaint) and the original interior, down to the carpets. The top goes up properly, and the complete side curtains fit well, as does the tonneau cover. A full set of fitted luggage occupies the trunk, and the car is offered with a tool roll and a large history file. All under-hood finishes appear original and correct. In her own inspection of the car at Pebble Beach, Dr. Hay noted, “In general terms, I would say that this is about the most original and correct vintage Bentley that I’ve ever seen.”

With only a dozen of these 4-Litres thought to still exist, this particular car stands out, by virtue of its purity, originality, history, and stunning open coachwork, as not only the most significant survivor but also the most significant ever built. For any Bentley enthusiast who is interested in owning the entire line of “W.O.” models, this car represents an extraordinary opportunity to acquire the very, very best—an opportunity that, given this 4-Litre’s four owners since new, seems unlikely to come around again.

Vanden Plas photo of Chassis number VF4019 when new.