1929 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Saloon by Vanden Plas

1929 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE SALOON BY VANDEN PLAS  CHASSIS NUMBER  HB3418  ENGINE NUMBER  HB3413  UK REGISTRATION NUMBER  MT 4588

Having won Le Mans in 1928 and set numerous speed records at Brooklands , the 4 1/2 litre Bentley was considered to be the ‘must -have’ sporting automobile for the well-born and well-bred , with a high social status . One of the most popular body styles when new was the Sports Saloon, ‘HB 3418’ being such an example , built by the famous high -class London coachbuilders , Vanden Plas.

Delivered new to a Northern England textile magnate  by the name of Philip William Greenhalgh, in June 1929, the Bentley was chauffeur-driven throughout its early life. Quite remarkably still in original family ownership , the current and fourth ‘Greenhalgh’ custodian kindly shared with us many fond memories of this highly-original heirloom . He recalls being taken to watch the Belle Vue Aces racing their speedway motorcycles as a child and ‘Riley’ the chauffeur taking them to Blackpool for the day . A former coachman , he was known to whisper to the car , just as he would have done with the horses all those years earlier ! The majority of the family used ‘HB 3148’ at their wedding celebrations and the decision to offer the car for sale is only due to it receiving little use over the past decade.

By the 1980,s the Bentley was starting to show its age and the decision was made to sympathetically improve the car . Whilst never technically stripped and fully restored , ‘HB 4138’  was treated to  set of  wings by Jack Buckley of Knarr Mill. A crack was found in the diff casing and this was rectified by John Ambler , with parts supplied  by the late Donald Day . Whilst  mechanically highly-original and to its factory specification , an upgraded starter motor was fitted for practicality . The Rexene covering to the coachwork was deemed beyond repair  and replaced to a high standard in vinyl  and  the interior was re-trimmed in leather , retaining the original seat bases ( marked to the underside by the coachbuilder ). Other work at this time included  the fitment of a new headlining  and carpets . The luggage trunk is believed to be the original item and is fitted with a tray of period hand-tools.

UK registered  and  without exaggeration quite simply one of the most significant and exciting British pre-war offerings of the last decade . Running and driving well  during our recent video/photography session , the car will require an element of recommissioning before any lengthy adventures are undertaken . Unrepeatable !!  £625,000