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1931 Bentley 4½ Litre    
Original 1931 Numbers
Chassis No. XT3627
Engine No. XT3627
Registration No. GT 8773

  This car - updated
Chassis No. XT3627
Engine No. XT3627
Registration No. GT 8773

(Updated with information from owner Michael Harrison. - February 2015)
 
February 2020
Click on thumbnail for larger view
   
 
 

Bentley 4½ litre Sportsman's coupe by Maythorns of Biggleswade 1931
Chassis XT3627
Engine XT3627

 
     
     
  Source: Flickr, posted by user 'chrispit1955'
Posted: Apr 01, 2020
 
     
February 2020
Click on thumbnail for larger view
 
 

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

 
     
     
  Source: Fiskens
Posted: Feb 26, 2020
 
     
April 13, 2019
Click on thumbnail for larger view
   
 
 

1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Sportsmans Coupé by Maythorns of Biggleswade
VSCC Silverstone - Saturday 13th April 2019

 
     
     
  Source: Flickr, posted by user 'Roy Cousins'
Posted: Mar 23, 2020
 
     
February 2015
 

"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."

 
     
     
  Source: Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Feb 06, 2015
 
     
June 2013
 

"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."

 
     
     
  Source: Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Jun 30, 2013
 
     
June 2010
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Mike Harrison of Whitney-on-Wye bought the car in 1956 and has owned it ever since. 1931 4.5 litre. Current mileage 100,000.

Read full article published in Metro (newspaper) dated June 30, 2010.

Read full article published in Daily Mail (newspaper) dated June 30, 2010.

 
     
     
  Source: N. Armstrong, Bob Rippon, 'Metro' June 30, 2010 & 'Daily Mail'' newspapers of June 30, 2010
Posted: Jul 01, 2010
 
     
2006
In England in 2006 / Owned by a BDC member
1958
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Parked outside Mike Harrison's parents' home in 1958.

 
     
     
  Source: N. Armstrong, Bob Rippon, 'Metro' June 30, 2010 & 'Daily Mail'' newspapers of June 30, 2010
Posted: Jul 01, 2010
 
     
1956
 

This car was purchased by Michael Harrison in 1956.

 
     
     
  Source: Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Jun 30, 2013
 
     
May 1932
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4½ GT 8773 in May 1932
   
 
 

"The only original body now left of the 6 Maythorn Sportsman's Coupes built for Berkeley Street dealer, Charles Follett. (See KW 9530 and EU 919)"

 
     
     
  Source: Michael Harrison (Owner)
Posted: Nov 10, 2014
 
     
EARLIEST RECORD OF HISTORICAL FACTS & INFORMATION
 
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
   
First Owner: READ W R
 
     
  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."
 
     
     
  Updated: Jul 06, 2007
Posted: Mar 01, 2007
 
     
 
 
 
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Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photograph received from Simon Hunt for Chassis No. RL3439
Sep 30, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Dick Clay for Chassis No. 147
Sep 29, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Ernst Jan Krudop for his Chassis No. AX1651
Sep 28, 2020 - Info and photographs received from Lars Hedborg for his Chassis No. KL3590
Sep 25, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. XV 3207
Sep 24, 2020 - Info and photograph added for Registration No. YM 7165
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