Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1934 Bentley 3½ Litre James Young Drophead Coupé
No Reserve
Registration No: AXW 2
Chassis No: B86AH
MOT: Exempt
On offer at No Reserve from a deceased estate
Ordered at the 1933 Earls Court Motor Show and delivered to Dr I. W Magill in May 1934
One of 36 bodied with James Young Drophead Coupé Coachwork
In the ownership of only two owners from new, with the current family of the deceased estate having custodianship since 1974
Offered with one of the most extensive history files we have had the pleasure of handling, complete with three box files of history, including invoices for restoration in the 1970's and 1990's, buff log book, correspondence with the original owner and chassis cards
At the dawn of the 1930s with the reverberations of 'Black Friday' (29/ 10/ 1929) being felt worldwide, competition between carmakers grew increasingly desperate. Thus, while WO Bentley sought to refine his 8 litre into the ultimate luxury carriage, Rolls-Royce responded by dabbling with a sports car concept. Their concerns as to the branding of 'Peregrine' (as the project was labelled internally) were alleviated by Bentley's collapse in 1931. Outflanking rivals D. Napier & Son, they acquired Bentley wholesale (including WO's services) for £125, 257. With a department brief that "the new car must be as unlike the Rolls-Royce models as possible" Derby engineers set about preparing 'Peregrine' for flight. Built on a 'double-dropped' chassis carrying all round semi-elliptic leaf sprung suspension and assisted drum brakes, the new car used a tuned version of the Rolls-Royce 20/ 25's 3669cc OHV straight-six. Boasting twin SU carburettors, a wilder camshaft, strengthened con-rods and a higher compression ratio, this revamped unit developed around 120bhp (a fifty percent improvement) without compromising on refinement. Equipped with the 20/ 25's four-speed manual gearbox, high-geared worm and nut steering and hydraulic dampers, the resultant 'Silent Sportscar' - as the Bentley 3. 5 litre soon became known - was unveiled to great acclaim at the August 1933 Ascot Races.
More information to follow.
