1937' Bentley 4 1/4 Litre "Aerofoil" Sports
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€327,900Published 29 August 2017ID: JAS98o
Expired
7 years, 2 months ago
7 years, 2 months ago
Information from the owner
Body: Sports Car
Age: 80 years
Exterior color: Blue
Seller's comments about 1937' Bentley 4 1/4 Litre "Aerofoil" Sports
Bonhams are delighted to offer at our forthcoming Collectors' Motor Car Auction on Sunday 10th September at The Chantilly Sale, Château de Chantilly, France, 34 collectors motor cars.
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre "Aerofoil" Sports Saloon
Coachwork by J Gurney Nutting
Chassis Number: B 90 KT
*One of only four 4 ¼ Litre 'Aerofoil' Bentleys
*Unique Gurney Nutting coachwork
*Known history from new
*Beautifully restored
The 'Art Deco' period of the inter-war years was one that saw an increasing interest on the part of motor manufacturers - and independent coachbuilders - in streamlined or 'airline' designs, resulting in the creation of some of the most visually exciting cars ever seen. British company J Gurney Nutting - 'coachbuilder to the maharajas' - had first produced an airline body in 1930 for Woolf Barnato's famous 'Blue Train' Bentley, and the firm would be responsible for some of the most daring Art Deco designs of the next decade.
After acquisition of Bentley Motors in 1931, Rolls Royce declared their intention to make the best sporting car of its type in the world. The result was the 3 1/2 litre Bentley which combined power, luxury and superb Rolls Royce engineering. Quickly becoming known as the "Silent Sports Car", the 3 1/2 litre Bentley, soon succeeded by the more powerful 4 1/4 litre, won almost universal praise for its performance, superb brakes and effortless long distance touring capabilities.
The 3 1/2 and 4 1/4 litre Bentleys were clothed with beautiful and striking bodies by the finest coach builders of the day. Chassis number B 90 KT wears one of the very finest bodies ever to grace a Bentley chassis. The London firm of Gurney Nutting, based in fashionable Chelsea, quickly became the sporting and elegant coach builder of choice for royalty in England and abroad and for wealthy sportsmen like Woolf Barnato, the wealthy South African sportsman and industrialist who won Le Mans and commissioned Gurney Nutting to build the famous "Blue Train" Bentley. The Prince of Wales and Duke of York were among Gurney Nutting's clients; in 1931 the firm was awarded the Royal Warrant. Chief designer, A.F. McNeil, produced many of Gurney Nutting's most elegant and striking designs, aided by his young assistant, John Blatchley, who was soon to succeed him and, after the war, design the legendary Bentley R Type Continental fast back Coupé and, for Park Ward, the S1 Continental fixed and drop head Coupés.
Leading London Bentley dealer H.R. Owen commissioned just four "Aerofoil" fixed head Coupés, of which B 90 KT is one. The first two "Aerofoil" Coupés were ordered by Maharajas and exported to India. The body on B 90 KT, embodying the novelty of a sunshine roof and delightful sliding front and rear quarter windows, may well be one of Gurney Nutting's finest for both sheer elegance and the quality of workmanship. The shape has a high waistline which falls sharply behind the doors leading to an elegant tail with a split rear window. The lines of the front and rear wings and of the tail are masterly, combining a recognisably traditional Bentley radiator with Art Deco elegance and aerodynamic suggestions of effortless power and speed.
B 90 KT was sold in September 1938 to Mr. Claude Goodyear by H.R. Owen, then finished in two-tone grey with a grey leather interior, registered as CUE 302, the U.K. registration which it still retains. The car passed through a series of U.K. owners and has a continuous history from new. Since 2010 the car has benefitted from extensive bodily and mechanical restoration, including a full engine rebuild by L.M.B in Belgium and much mechanical and cosmetic work by leading and highly respected UK restorers. The present owner, a noted Bentley collector, commissioned a bare metal re-spray in the present striking black and dark grey livery, which perfectly complements the dramatic lines of the body. The work undertaken included renewal of the ash frame where necessary, sympathetic restoration of the delightfully patinated blue leather interior and fitment of top quality grey carpets throughout as well as the manufacture of matching grey fitted luggage. The beautiful Gurney Nutting trade mark veneered woodwork is almost as new. There is a complete set of tools in a concealed compartment in the boot lid.
Mechanical work carried out over the last 12 months includes a complete check over of all systems, a full service, overhaul of the brakes, suspension and cooling system, provision of new Michelin tyres and careful subsequent road testing and adjustment. The car is fitted with an electric overdrive, retaining standard gearbox and back axle ratios which has the advantage of giving closer ratios than were available with the later MX series. The car has a current U.K. V5 registration document and comes with an extensive history file.
We recommend close inspection of this magnificent car, ready to use daily or for long distance touring and combining the very best of Bentley engineering and superb Gurney Nutting design and craftsmanship.
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre "Aerofoil" Sports Saloon
Coachwork by J Gurney Nutting
Chassis Number: B 90 KT
*One of only four 4 ¼ Litre 'Aerofoil' Bentleys
*Unique Gurney Nutting coachwork
*Known history from new
*Beautifully restored
The 'Art Deco' period of the inter-war years was one that saw an increasing interest on the part of motor manufacturers - and independent coachbuilders - in streamlined or 'airline' designs, resulting in the creation of some of the most visually exciting cars ever seen. British company J Gurney Nutting - 'coachbuilder to the maharajas' - had first produced an airline body in 1930 for Woolf Barnato's famous 'Blue Train' Bentley, and the firm would be responsible for some of the most daring Art Deco designs of the next decade.
After acquisition of Bentley Motors in 1931, Rolls Royce declared their intention to make the best sporting car of its type in the world. The result was the 3 1/2 litre Bentley which combined power, luxury and superb Rolls Royce engineering. Quickly becoming known as the "Silent Sports Car", the 3 1/2 litre Bentley, soon succeeded by the more powerful 4 1/4 litre, won almost universal praise for its performance, superb brakes and effortless long distance touring capabilities.
The 3 1/2 and 4 1/4 litre Bentleys were clothed with beautiful and striking bodies by the finest coach builders of the day. Chassis number B 90 KT wears one of the very finest bodies ever to grace a Bentley chassis. The London firm of Gurney Nutting, based in fashionable Chelsea, quickly became the sporting and elegant coach builder of choice for royalty in England and abroad and for wealthy sportsmen like Woolf Barnato, the wealthy South African sportsman and industrialist who won Le Mans and commissioned Gurney Nutting to build the famous "Blue Train" Bentley. The Prince of Wales and Duke of York were among Gurney Nutting's clients; in 1931 the firm was awarded the Royal Warrant. Chief designer, A.F. McNeil, produced many of Gurney Nutting's most elegant and striking designs, aided by his young assistant, John Blatchley, who was soon to succeed him and, after the war, design the legendary Bentley R Type Continental fast back Coupé and, for Park Ward, the S1 Continental fixed and drop head Coupés.
Leading London Bentley dealer H.R. Owen commissioned just four "Aerofoil" fixed head Coupés, of which B 90 KT is one. The first two "Aerofoil" Coupés were ordered by Maharajas and exported to India. The body on B 90 KT, embodying the novelty of a sunshine roof and delightful sliding front and rear quarter windows, may well be one of Gurney Nutting's finest for both sheer elegance and the quality of workmanship. The shape has a high waistline which falls sharply behind the doors leading to an elegant tail with a split rear window. The lines of the front and rear wings and of the tail are masterly, combining a recognisably traditional Bentley radiator with Art Deco elegance and aerodynamic suggestions of effortless power and speed.
B 90 KT was sold in September 1938 to Mr. Claude Goodyear by H.R. Owen, then finished in two-tone grey with a grey leather interior, registered as CUE 302, the U.K. registration which it still retains. The car passed through a series of U.K. owners and has a continuous history from new. Since 2010 the car has benefitted from extensive bodily and mechanical restoration, including a full engine rebuild by L.M.B in Belgium and much mechanical and cosmetic work by leading and highly respected UK restorers. The present owner, a noted Bentley collector, commissioned a bare metal re-spray in the present striking black and dark grey livery, which perfectly complements the dramatic lines of the body. The work undertaken included renewal of the ash frame where necessary, sympathetic restoration of the delightfully patinated blue leather interior and fitment of top quality grey carpets throughout as well as the manufacture of matching grey fitted luggage. The beautiful Gurney Nutting trade mark veneered woodwork is almost as new. There is a complete set of tools in a concealed compartment in the boot lid.
Mechanical work carried out over the last 12 months includes a complete check over of all systems, a full service, overhaul of the brakes, suspension and cooling system, provision of new Michelin tyres and careful subsequent road testing and adjustment. The car is fitted with an electric overdrive, retaining standard gearbox and back axle ratios which has the advantage of giving closer ratios than were available with the later MX series. The car has a current U.K. V5 registration document and comes with an extensive history file.
We recommend close inspection of this magnificent car, ready to use daily or for long distance touring and combining the very best of Bentley engineering and superb Gurney Nutting design and craftsmanship.
