It was marketed as 'The Silent Sportscar as you can't hear the engine running - luxuriate travel in total comfort'. They were delivered in chassis form to a British (or sometimes Overseas)coachbuilder of the customer's choice. It is widely accepted that the 1930's was the high point of the Coachbuilder's art, when the most legendary sporting bodies with sweeping rakish lines were created. Derby Bentleys exhibit some of the finest examples, with the more sporting and less formal Bentley Radiator allowing the designers to develop flowing lines, often of unsurpassed beauty.

This unusual car is no exception having been originally commissioned with a standardised saloon body by Park Ward it was rebodied in 1937 by Salmons & Son of Newport Pagnell (later to become Tickford Motor Bodies) one of the more exclusive concerns, into a bespoke 3-position Drophead body which it retains to this day. Of the 2,422 chassis produced at Derby only 5 are known to have been bodied by this coachbuilder. This actual motorcar is featured on page 170 of Nick Walter's book 'A - Z of British Coachbuilders' a copy of which is included with the sale.

These first Rolls Bentleys were far different from the vintage Bentleys or the smaller horsepower Rolls Royce. Some 1,191 31/2 litre chassis were built between 1933 and 1936, and some 72% still survive, remarkable achievement for cars that had to live through World War II. However handbuilt open-top styles, like this one, are a much rarer sight on the roads today, and are therefore of greater appeal to collectors.

The history file contains copies of the Rolls Royce Build Specification (Chassis Card) and Accounts for B-85-AE, handwritten in copperplate script. The first owner was a Bernard Hopps Esq of Rugby who took delivery of the car on 2nd March, 1934, and paid £1,496.6.6 or approx 15 times what a new Ford 8hp Saloon of the period cost! The records show that Mr Hopps made a special request for Lodge sparkplugs and also paid for a GB plate to be fitted, doubtless with extended Continental touring in mind. But it was not to be; by March 1935 an entry 'Deceased' appears next to his name in the Company's Ledgers.

G.Mackay owned it briefly then C.P.Hughes from 1935 to 1947 and it was during his tenure of ownership that the Saloon body was removed and replaced with the new Open tourer style at Salmons & Son Ltd. The post war history is a bit sketchy but by 1955 it seems to have been in the possession of F.C.Burgin of Newark. By 1984 it found its way to Yarmouth. Four years later year the car was in the ownership of a Mr J Wicks who paid a Banbury Bodyshop £3000 to strip and repaint the car in its present striking colours of black over ivory, fortunately the invoice specifies the paint codes.

By 1990 the car was owned by a Mr Gilbert of Lickey Hills, Nr Birmingham. He set about commissioning RR & B Garages (One of the leading RR & Bentley Motor Car Specialists with a Worldwide reputation) to carry out a full mechanical restoration. Over £30,000 was spent with this firm over the next few years, mainly on a full engine rebuild. Judging by the mileage quoted on the Work Sheet the car has only covered 9000 miles since; the engine certainly still feels tight like a new unit, in fact the only way to turn it over using the starting handle is to stand on it!

For the last 11 years the car has been owned by Mr Malcolm Smith of St Albans . He spent further sums at regular intervals on improvements such as a new mohair hood and rechroming the Bentley Radiator and vertical slats. The latter are temperature controlled and rotate open when the engine is warm.

Totting up all the bills in the History File the total comes to over £55,000 which confirm the care this car has received spanning the decades.

Today the car presents well with excellent paintwork and superbly patented Stone Leather interior and carpets. the engine bay is well detailed with all original large tools present and correct. there is a very spacious trunk mounted at the rear and the car comes with matching luggage bags for the fold-back roof arms. The toolkit is located inside the trunk in two foldout trays containing a full compliment of items, including the often misplaced feeler gauge. The car comes with period-style wicker picnic hamper with Bentley Badge, bound Workshop Manual.

Starting instantly and pulling very strongly, the combination of a rebuilt engine and lightwork coachwork making for spirited performance.

A lovely Derby Bentley by one of Britain's foremost Coachbuilders.

To see short Home Movie Clip of this car...

 click on this Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-gaUX1BzQE

NOTE: The 1934 3.5 litre Derby Bentley was one of the famous old marques that completed/registered in the original Mille Miglia of 1927 to 1957, and this car may still possibly be eligible for entry to this event. It sure would feel at home on those scenic Italian roads.