Description
One of just six Derby Bentleys bodied by Mulliners, this example went through our hands in 1991 and has remained with the same owner until 2024 - 33 years. Mildly, but appealingly quirky in design in some ways, and refreshing different from some other Derby Bentleys out there. Although the car would perhaps benefit from some tidying and general uplifting, it has a smart red leather interior, is complete and correct, and is in useable condition, as you will see in the video below. Fitted with a new cylinder head some years ago, and has just been re-commissioned by ourselves. A 'use and improve' car, suitably priced, sound, running well.
Chassis No. B106EF Reg No. VSU 250
Snippets: Louis Antweiler
B106EF was owned by Louis Antweiler a director of both Mulliner & Calthorpe, in 1924 Calthorpe ran into financial difficulties & Antweiler bought out Calthorpe & at the same time he created Mulliners Ltd. His first order was from Clyno and later customers included Austin, Hillman, Lanchester and Daimler. By 1929 the firm went public and with the onset of WWII Mulliners expanded their range of bodies to include military vehicles, aircraft and gliders! The 2nd owner of B106EF was Col Sir Joseph Reed who was, as it happened, a co-director of Mulliners Ltd alongside Gordon Caine, Edward Montesole & Louis Antweiler. All of these gentlemen owned Rolls-Royce 20hps Caine GEN34, Montesole GEN29, Antweiler GUK71 & Reed GEN57! We have also been informed that, according to car-lore, the extra leg-room in the back of B106EF was done to accommodate Eva Antweiler’s famously long legs! Just prior to WWII B106EF became the property of Harold Basil Wallis – in 1925 he formed the firm Smith Wallis & Co, a Birmingham firm who manufactured brass, gunmetal and iron window fittings – was there a business connection between the two firms? By 1973 the Bentley was in Ohio with C. Fred Brown who in 1953, aged just 21 had the distinction of becoming the youngest Cadillac dealer in the world! His collection of Rolls-Royce & Bentley cars included a pair of 20/ 25s, a pair of 25/ 30s, 7 Silver Wraiths, a SCI, a PV, a Derby 4 ¼, a pair of MK VIs & of course B106EF!
