1938 | Bentley 4 1/4 Litre

Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley Motors in 1931, ensuring the survival of the Bentley name. The ‘Derby’ Bentleys made thereafter retained the earlier sporting reputation, but with greater refinement than previously.

The 3½ Litre Bentley appeared in 1933, with a tuned, twin carburettor, overhead valve, six-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed gearbox and boasted servo assisted brakes. Offering exceptional performance in near silence, the car earned the nickname 'The Silent Sports Car'. This reputation was further enhanced by the introduction of a larger 4¼ Litre version in 1936 – with production continuing until the outbreak of war in 1939.

As was common at the time, Bentley sold their cars as a rolling chassis, with the bodywork designed and built by a separate coachbuilding company, allowing an owner to choose the style of vehicle they wanted. English coachbuilder J Gurney Nutting & Co Ltd was founded in 1918 and specialized in sporting bodies. The 1930s were possibly the company’s greatest years, with saloon, coupé and sedanca bodies were built to order on mostly Rolls-Royce and Bentley chassis.

The Bentley build records for the Sedanca offered for sale here indicate that chassis construction commenced in 1938, this being passed on to Gurney Nutting in July of that year and the completed car sold to its first owner in November 1938. It is believed that just four Sedanca Coupé bodies were built by Gurney Nutting for fitment to the 4¼-litre Bentley chassis. The first owner is recorded as Stewart Scribbans of the Scribbans Purity Bread Company, Birmingham.

Originally finished in Dark Blue, with grey leather upholstery, Mr Scribbans kept the Bentley for several decades, before it moved to a new owner in 1965. The trail disappears for a while but we know it was in the hands of German owners by the first decade of the new century, before being purchased by marque specialists Frank Dale & Stepsons in 2016 and repatriated. Whilst in relatively good condition, having been part of a car collection, the Bentley was extensively renovated to showroom condition by Frank Dale & Stepsons, before being re-registered in the UK in 2019. The car was subsequently acquired by the current Jersey-based owner in 2023 and re-registered in the island.

Generally mechanically sound, only minor work was required with a re-wire being the most significant element. A full record of the renovation work completed by Frank Dale & Stepsons is held with the car. As might be anticipated, the Bentley runs and drives very well.

A full repaint in the current black finish was undertaken and the car looks outstanding, with matching painted wire wheels and mohair hood. All brightwork is present and in excellent condition.

Finished in Cream leather the interior is also in excellent condition, with a full re-carpet undertaken by Frank Dale & Stepsons. The full cost of the renovation work carried out totalled a little over £90,000.

A stylish and rare pre-War gentleman’s carriage in excellent mechanical fettle and kept in showroom condition, following extensive renovation work.

We have the original Owners Handbook, a copy of the Bentley build records and extensive paperwork in support of the professional renovation work completed.

The car is currently registered and located in Jersey. We can assist with (worldwide) shipping and importation processes if required.