1934 Bentley 3.5 Litre Special Sports Roadster

Despatched from the Derby factory to Park Ward in June 1934, chassis number ‘B49BL’ eventually found itself finished in “Fawn, with brown moulding” and a brown leather interior. After final tests at Park Ward, the car was registered on 11th September 1934 and issued with the registration number ‘BGT 446’ before being shipped from Dover to Boulogne three days later to be used as an export demonstrator.

A Captain Harold Montague Hinde OBE of the Royal Army Service Corps became its first owner when he purchased it in March 1935. He didn’t keep it for long, selling it in late 1935 to a dealer in London.

It spent the next fifteen years and three owners in London before moving to Ipswich. After a gap in the records, all the dismantled parts of the car were purchased from two brothers in 1982 by William C. Mount.

With the original ash frame being rotten, the body was discarded in anticipation of a full mechanical restoration and re-bodying. Bill Mount, a skilled furniture designer and maker whose work has been displayed in the V&A Museum, was so obsessed with the Art Deco movement that even the workshop he used for the chassis-up restoration was the garage of his Art Deco-styled house. 

Using the original engine and mechanical parts, the chassis was made ready for a new ash frame. This beautifully crafted structure, incorporating particularly complex curvature at the rear, is a testament to Bill’s professional skills. 

Taking styling cues from the 1930s, Bill then designed a sporting open roadster body. Essentially a two-seater, with occasional seating in the rear and having a fully concealed hood, it can be used either open or ‘all-weather’. With the bulk of the original wings slimmed down slightly and a reduced overall length, this became one of the smaller Derby-built Bentleys. 

On completion of the ten-year project, ‘B49BL’ was returned to the road after nearly thirty years being laid-up. A move to Guernsey prompted its sale and the next owner, Bill Brown, commissioned Fiennes Engineering to carry out a full engine rebuild in 1996.

Invoices for maintenance work by Sargeants of Goudhurst from 1998 along with comprehensive records of the rebuild, including the engine, are in the history file which came with the car when the seller purchased it from Frank Dale & Stepsons in 2011. 

Since then, we are told it has been in regular use, often for RREC events in the South East area. Maintained initially by the dealer, it was then returned to Sergeants until they closed due to redevelopment. 

It has had a major service carried out in 2020 by Fiennes Restoration, with additional advisory works including a new clutch and brake servo. The total cost of this was in excess of £25,000. 

Annual maintenance has since been carried out by West Hoathly Garage, an independent Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist, and the most recent service was carried out by them in August 2023 at a cost of almost one thousand pounds. 

Finished in British Racing Green over tan leather and now fitted with a high-ratio rear axle for better cruising, the seller tells us that he has thoroughly enjoyed his time with it, taking it to Goodwood and his local RREC club events on a regular basis (and even winning some prizes!), along with many a drive in the countryside. 

However, his advancing years mean he reluctantly feels that now is the time to let someone else enjoy his wonderful vintage Bentley.

If you were to ask a schoolboy to draw his idea of a pre-war Bentley then we bet you’d end up with something that looked very much like this. Wonderfully low and compact, the combination of a pair of huge, mesh-covered  headlamps, flowing front wings, boat-tail rear, painted wire wheels, and an open body reek of the sort of high-society, high-speed shenanigans many of us lusted for after reading about Mr. Toad in Wind in the Willows.

The lucky few of us never really grow up and, if they’re very lucky, are one day in a position to buy their childhood dream car. Like this one, which is, of course, finished in British Racing Green and in fine fettle. 

And while the bodywork is excellent, being both stylish and beautifully preserved, the weather protection is also worth noting because in addition to proper hood and side screens, it also has a full canvas tonneau for those times when you are happy to have your head and shoulders exposed. Or to protect the cockpit when it’s parked up. Or just because driving with only a tonneau fitted is the epitome of cool.

The hood folds away out of sight behind the rear seat too, leaving a clean profile when it’s lowered. The metal hinges of the frame are also hidden behind folding leather armrests that even have burr walnut handles to release them for folding and it’s details like this that go to the heart of how well executed the work is.

And there’s more. The windscreen folds down for the full wind-in-the-hair experience – or leave it up and fir the aeroscreens that are in the boot, for even more protection against the elements. 

Still too namby-pamby for you? Then take it all off and rely solely on the goggles that also come with the car.

Other nice touches include a central spot lamp, currently not connected so as to be compliant, a pair of huge chrome horns, and a selection of period-appropriate badges.

As for the painted wire wheels, they’re not only in great shape but are also fitted with a matching set of 5.5-18 Goodrich Silvertown Cord bias ply tyres. (Interesting note: B.F. Goodrich sponsored an orchestra in the 1930s, and their name? the Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra.) 

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

There are also a few small hairline cracks in the finish on places such as the boot lid, nearside front wing, and driver’s door. But, given only a Defender wears a patina better than a vintage Bentley you might be happy to leave it to continue to develop.

Your dream vintage Bentley would have a tan leather interior and lots of burr walnut veneer too, wouldn’t it? Which is lucky because that’s exactly what you get here.

Like the coachwork, it’s all in great shape too being gently worn in but nothing more. Creased and comfortable, it’s a winning balance between usability and condition; you could show it off at your local classic car show without shame – and then throw your bags in and tour Scotland without having to worry about the odd scuff or spot of rain.

And it really is a lovely place to be. Take a look at the huge steering wheel for example, with its four controls neatly integrated in the hub. And the chromed safety catches for the rear-hinged ‘suicide’ doors. And the Smiths heater. And the cut out in the drivers side screen that allows you to make hand signals.

We could go on, but we hope you get the picture; this is a very, very lovely place to be.

Seatbelts have been fitted, which seems like a canny investment to us, as is the fire extinguisher.

The boot is beautifully trimmed, which thanks to a very neatly executed underfloor compartment, is also home to a proper tool kit. Not a fancy Bentley-branded one in a leather case but a real tool roll filled with the sort of tools you’re actually going to be able to use to fix any roadside problems. 

As for work you might like to do, if you’re of a fastidious nature then the lacquer is getting on a bit and peeling in places from the walnut dashboard. 

Of course, the engine and under bonnet area is an absolute delight and the centre-hinged and louvered bonnet gives unrivalled access to the engine and ancillaries.

The chassis is Isambard Kingdom Brunel-strong and as nicely detailed as everywhere else. To wit, note the leather covers for the leaf springs, the neatly installed cotter pins, and well-greased pivot points.

And as many of you enthusiasts will know, a particular feature of the Derby Bentleys is the ‘one-shot’ lubrication system, which in this case, was fully overhauled as part of the works carried out by Fiennes in 2020.

Basically, its ready to go and be used and enjoyed as our knowledgeable vendor has done.

Despite being classified as a Historic Vehicle,  the Bentley not only has an MoT certificate, but one that is valid until August 2024. Better yet, it, like every single one on file since records begin in 2006, was issued with no advisories.

How’s that for top-notch curation?

The recent Vehicle History Check is also clear, and the history file includes a Repairs and Maintenance Log in addition to another ring binder filled with paperwork including the old tan log book, a handful of expired tax discs, and photocopies of historical documents. 

The engine rebuild was fully documented and the records include dozens of photographs, all of which are neatly indexed and notated. In fact, our head honcho said of the record “it must be five inches thick” and is “meticulously archived”. He also noted that “the seller clearly doted on it and has done everything right having spent tens of thousands over the years”.

All of which means there’s simply too much paperwork to photograph and upload, so why not make an appointment to pop along and see the car and the paperwork in person? Be warned though, it’ll take a while… 

The Bentley is also mentioned in Special Bentleys & Bentley Specials Volume 2 by Ray Robert's book, where it is also shown on the front cover, and Bernard L Kings' 2nd Edition of The Derby Built Bentleys.

Oh, and if you search the numberplate on Google and you’ll find a photo of it queuing for the original Skye ferry on the jetty at Kylerhea in July 1938.

The photo of it queuing for the Skye ferry got us thinking: wouldn’t it be great to buy ‘BGT 446’ and then set off on an adventure? Maybe across Europe. Or even into Asia. Or you ship it to the USA and streak across the country before returning across Canada.

After all, if Ewen and Charley can go around the world on motorbikes, this would be the (relative) height of luxury.

Or you could join the VSCC and take advantage of their active sports and social scene.

Or just use it to go to the pub in.

No matter what you decide, we can’t remember seeing anything in recent times that made us wish so hard we had the wherewithal to it.

And, if you do, an estimate of between £90,000 and £115,000 allied to rock-solid residuals means we can’t think of a better place to move your money while you enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.