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1931 Bentley 4½ Litre |
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Original 1931 Numbers
Chassis No. XT3627
Engine No. XT3627
Registration No. GT 8773
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This car - updated
Chassis No. XT3627
Engine No. XT3627
Registration No. GT 8773
(Updated with information from owner Michael Harrison. - February 2015) |
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February 2020 |
Click
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Found on Fiskens website on February 26, 2020
1931 Bentley 4½ Litre Sportmans Coupe
POA
- One of the last 4½-Litre Bentleys produced
- Built to new ‘heavy crank’ specification
- Matching engine and chassis
- Rare Maythorns of Biggleswade Sportsmans Coupé Coachwork
- In single ownership for 60 years
- Accompanied by full report by celebrated Bentley specialist Clare Hay
Following the roaring Le Mans successes of the 3-Litre, W.O was bitterly disappointed by consecutive Bentley failures at the 1925 and 1926 races. Bentley’s reputation had been built on the endurance track, and it was slowly slipping away. Enter the Bentley Boys and the 4½-Litre. Employing the chassis, transmission and brakes of the 3-Litre, W.O then added a four-cylinder version of the 6½-Litre unit to reduce displacement to 4.4 litres.
With Bentleys nicknamed the world’s fastest lorries by a seething Ettore Bugatti, the thundering 4-cylinder model duly regained victory at Le Mans in 1928 and paved the way for Bentley wins in 1929 and 1930.
While anyone who takes to the wheel of a 4½-Litre marvels at its performance and design, there are few who can have been as impressed with the model as this example’s previous owner, Mike Harrison. Having bought in 1956 for £150 as a remarkably potent first car, he remained its custodian for 60 years and drove it ‘most days.’ Few - if any - Bentleys can boast such continuous private ownership or regular usage. This example has rare Maythorns of Biggleswade Sportsman Coupé Coachwork and retains matching engine and chassis.
XT3627 is in remarkably original condition, supported by regular conservation work by Julian Parker. Accompanied by a full report by Bentley specialist Clare Hay, this is an eminently usable motor car for both road and race, and could easily supply its next owner with a further six decades’ worth of motoring pleasure.
This car is for sale as of February 26, 2020 |
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Source:
Fiskens
Posted: Feb 26, 2020 |
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February 2015 |
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"The coachwork
on this car is the sole surviving
example of the original six fixed
head sportsmans coupes built by Maythorns
of Biggleswade for Berkeley Street
dealer Charles Follett." |
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Source:
Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Feb 06, 2015 |
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June
2013 |
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"This car was
sent to the dealer in February 1931
with the VdP body -- this was quite
a common practice. BUT the body was
changed for the Maythorn Coupe before
it was sold in December 1931, and
this ORIGINAL body is still on the
car." |
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Source:
Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Jun 30, 2013 |
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2006 |
In
England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member |
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1956 |
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This car was purchased
by Michael Harrison in 1956. |
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Source:
Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Jun 30, 2013 |
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EARLIEST
RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION |
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Chassis No. |
XT3627 |
Engine No. |
XT3627 |
Registration
No. |
GT 8773 |
Date of Delivery: |
Feb 1931 |
Type of Body: |
4-seater |
Coachbuilder: |
Vanden Plas |
Type of Car: |
No
info |
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First Owner: |
READ W R |
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More Info:
According to original Vanden Plas Coachbuilder
records, this car was originally fitted
with Body No. 1688 with a standard 4-seater
Sports; Weymann fabric; maroon / black;
1/1931.
Michael Hay, in his book Bentley:
The Vintage Years, 1997, states:
"Vanden Plas body no. 1688. Now
Maythorn coupe." |
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Updated: Jul 06, 2007
Posted: Mar 01, 2007 |
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Submit
more information on this car |
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BACK |
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439 |
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147 |
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Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651 |
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Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg
for his Chassis No. KL3590 |
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Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207 |
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Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165 |
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