1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Tourer
- Engine
- 4.4L SOHC inline-four, four valves per cylinder, ~110 bhp at 3,500 rpm
Chassis FB 3320 is a 1929 Bentley 4½-Litre dispatched to coachbuilder Harrisons in late 1928 and road-registered in March 1929. Its long, well-documented ownership chain stretches from a Southampton resident through wartime lay-up, a factory accident rebuild in the late 1930s, and several mid-century custodians, before receiving a Vanden Plas-style tourer body by Elmdown Engineering. The car has been extensively toured in recent years, completing the 2019 Pebble Beach Motoring Classic and Colorado Grand, and is supported by a comprehensive report from Bentley historian Dr. Clare Hay.
Ownership
- 2022-06-05Auction saleSold US$545,000
- 1929-03-01 →Factory deliveryCarol Vaughan Millerfull documentation
First registered owner, resident in Bitterne Park, Southampton, later relocated to Edgbaston, Birmingham around early 1931. Maintenance work by Henry Garner Ltd of Birmingham is recorded during this period.
- 1935-07-12 → 1935-07-27Acquisition unknownW.T. Blackenshaw & Co. Ltd.full documentation
Burton on Trent dealer who held the car briefly before onward sale.
- 1935-07-27 → 1947Private saleJames Ian Robertsonfull documentation
Staffordshire owner who kept the car for about twelve years spanning the Second World War. Following an accident he had the chassis and body rebuilt by the Bentley factory around 1938, and also commissioned updated sporting coachwork, likely by Corsica. The car was laid up during his wartime military service.
- 1947 →Acquisition unknownGladys Woodallpartial documentation
Staffordshire-area owner who re-registered the car when it re-entered use after the war.
- 1947 →Acquisition unknownGeorge Russell Snowpartial documentation
Birmingham-based custodian, one of several owners in the late 1940s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBertram Alvares Ltd.partial documentation
Mayfair dealership on Davies Street, Berkeley Square, through whom the car passed between Miller and Nightingall.
- Date unknownPrivate saleW. Nightingallpartial documentation
Epsom-based owner who held the car for roughly three years. During his tenure the engine was bored out and fitted with new pistons, and the radiator was chrome-plated in line with contemporary fashion.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDavid Spencer Johnsonpartial documentation
Subsequent custodian mentioned in the ownership chain; further details cut off in the catalogue text.
Competition
- 20192019 Pebble Beach Motoring ClassicSuccessfully completed
The car participated in the touring event and finished without issue.
- 20192019 Colorado GrandSuccessfully completed
Completed alongside the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic in the same year.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1938BodyworkCorsica
New coachwork commissioned by Robertson to replace the earlier drophead coupé body: a sporting two-seater with a swept-back tail and fully valenced wings. Attributed by Dr. Clare Hay to Corsica coachbuilders rather than Carbodies as Robertson believed.
Work was completed and the car returned to road use in 1938.
- —Mechanical
Engine bored out by 0.5mm with replacement pistons installed; German silver radiator replated in chrome in keeping with contemporary fashion.
Carried out during W. Nightingall's ownership, prior to July 1935.
- —RepairBentley Motors factory
Following a road accident, the Bentley factory carried out documented repair work including resetting the exhaust and chassis frame, fitting a replacement road wheel, rear spring and rear axle banjo, and various additional repairs. The chassis number stamping is believed to date from this rebuild.
Repairs are annotated in detail on the factory build sheets. Robertson insisted the insurer authorise factory rebuilding rather than a third-party repairer.
- —RestorationElmdown Engineering
Body replaced with an open tourer in the style of Vanden Plas, constructed by Elmdown Engineering, giving the car its current archetypal vintage Bentley appearance.
Precise date of this coachwork replacement is not stated in the source.
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