1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre Open Tourer by Edmunds of Plymouth
- Engine
- 4.26L inline-six OHV, twin SU carburettors, raised compression, sporting camshaft
A 1937 Bentley 4¼-Litre delivered in November 1937 as an H J Mulliner sports saloon, 'CS 6856' was subsequently rebodied as a sporting open tourer by Edmunds of Plymouth in 1960. The car was once owned by the late Alan Clark, Conservative MP, author, and noted motoring enthusiast, during whose tenure Nottingham Derby Bentley specialists Ristes carried out a comprehensive mechanical overhaul. The car has since been extensively restored by marque specialist Glen Grindrod and has completed the Flying Scotsman and the inaugural Carrera Iberia rally in 2019.
Ownership
- 2022-04-10Auction saleSold £100,000 (≈ $125K)
- 1937-11-01 →Factory deliveryMiss Marjorie A Smithpartial documentation
First registered owner, took delivery of the car new with original H J Mulliner sports saloon coachwork.
- 2003-05-01 → 2016Private saleOwner acquired via Orchid Carspartial documentation
Purchased through Orchid Cars and kept the vehicle for roughly 13 years, covering approximately 15,000 miles, largely on touring events with the Bentley Drivers Club.
- 2016 →AuctionCurrent vendorfull documentation
Bought at a UK auction and commissioned extensive restoration work through marque specialist Glen Grindrod, including chassis, lubrication system, wheels, radiator core, cylinder head, and chrome; Payne overdrive added in 2019.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownAlan Clarkpartial documentation
Conservative MP and noted motoring writer who spent approximately £25,000 on mechanical restoration by Derby Bentley specialists Ristes of Nottingham, covering engine, suspension, and rear axle. Odometer was reset to zero following completion of the work.
Competition
- 2019Rally the GlobeRally the Globe — Carrera IberiaSuccessfully completed
Participated in the inaugural edition of this rally while fitted with the newly installed Payne overdrive.
- —Silent Sports Car Club event at Chatsworth HouseVoted most desirable car by fellow participants
Fellow entrants at the Silent Sports Car Club gathering selected this car as the one they would most wish to take home.
- —Flying Scotsman rallySuccessfully completed
Completed after the current vendor's extensive restoration program.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1960BodyworkEdmunds of Plymouth
Original H J Mulliner saloon coachwork replaced with an open sports tourer body fabricated by Edmunds of Plymouth.
- 2019Modification
A Payne overdrive unit was installed.
Fitted during the current vendor's ownership as part of the broader improvement programme.
- —RestorationRistes
Comprehensive mechanical overhaul covering the engine, suspension, and rear axle, carried out by Derby Bentley specialists; documented expenditure of approximately £25,000. The odometer was zeroed upon completion.
Work was undertaken during Alan Clark's ownership. The car subsequently carried 24,918 miles on the odometer at the time of the 1993 auction sale, representing distance covered since this restoration.
- —Maintenance
Replacement hood, side screens, and tonneau cover fitted prior to the 2016 auction sale.
Work carried out shortly before the current vendor's acquisition.
- —RestorationGlen Grindrod
Extensive restoration programme encompassing the chassis, one-shot lubrication system, new wheels, new radiator core, new cylinder head, and full re-chroming of brightwork, among other work. Included a full engine rebuild.
Carried out under the current vendor's ownership after 2016; supporting invoices are held on file. The car had covered 4,198 miles since this engine rebuild at the time of cataloguing.
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