1938 Bentley 4¼-Litre M-Series Coupé with De Villars coachwork
- Engine
- 4.3L inline-six OHV, twin SU carburettors, raised compression, sporting camshaft
Chassis B8MR is the fourth example built of the limited M-series Derby Bentleys, a late-1938 4¼-Litre overdrive model bodied as a coupé by the Franco-American coachbuilder De Villars of Courbevoie and exhibited at the 1938 Paris Motor Show. Fewer than approximately 200 M-series cars were made, and this is believed to be the sole surviving De Villars-bodied Bentley. After decades of American ownership it received a full restoration in Alabama in the late 1980s before returning to Britain, where it has since been maintained by marque specialists and used regularly on long-distance tours and rallies.
Ownership
- 2020-03-29Auction saleEstimate £140,000 – £160,000
- 1938 → 1938Factory deliveryDe Villars coachworkspartial documentation
Chassis delivered new to the Courbevoie coachbuilder for bodying, then displayed at the Paris Motor Show before sale.
- 1938 →Private saleAlfred Benhaimpartial documentation
Purchased the car at the close of the 1938 Paris Motor Show.
- 1955 →Acquisition unknownEdgar de Evia and Robert Denningpartial documentation
New York-based owners; by this point the cabin upholstery had been changed to red.
- → 1975Acquisition unknownUnidentified intermediate ownersnone documentation
Two successive owners between the New York pair and the North Carolina owner; no further details given.
- 1975 →Acquisition unknownDominic Cappellipartial documentation
North Carolina owner who commissioned a full restoration, completed in 1989 by John Griffin of Montgomery, Alabama at roughly $50,000.
- 2007 →Private saleBarry Brownpartial documentation
Acquired via Frank Dale & Stepsons after they had serviced it; enjoyed using the car on rallies and at shows for several years.
- 2017 →Private saleCurrent vendorfull documentation
Acquired through Germany; car subsequently maintained by Kenworthy & Co and used regularly on long-distance tours and rallies, with the most recent service in November 2019.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownThe Real Car Companypartial documentation
Dealership that acquired the car after restoration, imported it to the UK, and sold it on.
- Date unknownPrivate saleGraham Thompsonfull documentation
Norfolk-based owner who had the car maintained by Fiennes Engineering; work included rectifying various mechanical issues and fitting a heater, with bills on file totalling around £30,000.
Competition
- 19381938 Paris Motor Show
Car was exhibited at the show following completion of coachwork by De Villars.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1989RestorationJohn Griffin
Full restoration completed at a cost of approximately $50,000, commissioned by Dominic Cappelli.
Griffin was based in Montgomery, Alabama; restoration invoices and photographs are on file.
- 2019ServiceKenworthy & Co
Most recent service completed in November 2019.
Car maintained by this specialist throughout the current owner's tenure since 2017.
- —Bodywork
Interior re-trimmed in red at an unknown date prior to 1955.
- —MechanicalFiennes Engineering
Various mechanical issues rectified and a heater fitted; bills on file totalling around £30,000.
Work carried out during Graham Thompson's ownership.
- —ServiceFrank Dale & Stepsons
Routine service carried out by the selling dealership prior to onward sale.
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