1927 Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Replica (Vanden Plas four-seater body)

HF3179roadUnited Kingdom

Engine: 4.5L inline-four cylinder

Bentley 4½-Litre chassis HF3179, completed in December 1927, was originally delivered with a Park Ward coupé body to a private owner in Kent. After decades of road use and a wartime lay-up — legend holds the car was bricked into a farmhouse chimney to prevent requisition — it was rediscovered in 1988 with original engine, gearbox, and chassis numbers intact. Rebuilt between 1990 and 1991 as a Le Mans replica Vanden Plas four-seater, it has since been maintained in good condition.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold £415,625 (≈ $520K)
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1927-12-22 → 1933Factory delivery
H.G. Sicklemore
partial documentation
Original recipient of the car, based in Chislehurst, Kent. The factory provided ongoing maintenance during his period of ownership.
1933 →Private sale
J.R. Combe
partial documentation
London-based owner on Curzon Street. The car reportedly remained in active road use until early 1941 during or following his tenure.
1946 →Private sale
J. Foster
partial documentation
Acquired the car after the war; a two-seat body was fitted in 1947 though the conversion was reportedly never finished, leaving the car stored in a barn.
1988 →Acquisition unknown
Richard Sanders
partial documentation
Located the car via a telephone tip-off and verified original mechanical numbers. Undertook a full rebuild as a Le Mans-replica Vanden Plas four-seater, completed around 1990–1991.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Current consignor
partial documentation
Has maintained the car to a high standard during their period of ownership.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

1947
Bodywork
A two-seater body was fitted to replace the original Park Ward coupé coachwork, though this project was reportedly left incomplete.
Car subsequently remained in storage, reportedly in a barn, for an extended period.
1988
Service
Following rediscovery, the car was recommissioned and briefly exhibited, with original mechanical numbers verified on the crankcase, cross shaft turret, gearbox, chassis, and carburettors.
Recommissioning preceded the decision to undertake a full body rebuild.
1990
Restoration
Full rebuild carried out, fitting a Le Mans replica Vanden Plas four-seater body in place of the incomplete two-seater project. Work completed by 1991.
Documented in Dr. Clare Hay's The Vintage Years.

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