173 Bentley 4¼ Litre All Weather Tourer (1936) ASL 625 by Robert Knight Via Flickr: Bentley 4¼ Litre Tourer (1936-39) Engine 4257cc S6 Production 1234 Body Vanden Plas All Weather Tourer Registration Number CLN 688 (London) BENTLEY SET www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/albums/72157623759855498/ Following Rolls-Royce's acquisition of the Bentley brand in 1931 Bentley's were no longer built at the Cricklewood factory, instead they were built at the Rolls Royce factory in Derby. Bentleys of this era became known as Derby Bentley's. The cars followed Rolls Royce design principles and new models veered away from the Bentley traditional sporty image, and more toward the Rolls Royce ethos of compete on quality and grace. Though this shift alienated many of Bentley's traditional clientele others were drawn to the new model. Despite not being a car of remarkable outright performance, the car's unique blend of style and grace proved popular with the inter-war elite The first offering under Rolls Royce stewardship was the Bentley 3½ Litre a luxury car produced by Bentley from 1933 to 1939,designed by Ernest Hives and launched in September 1933 the car was powered by 3.5 litre straight six engine. From March 1936, a 4¼ Litre version of the car was offered as replacement for the 3½ Litre, in order to offset the increasing weight of coachwork and maintain the car's sporting image in the face of stiff competition. The engine was bored to 4257cc From 1938 the MR and MX series cars featured Marles steering and an overdrive gearbox. Bentley sold only the drivable bare rolling chassis with engine and gearbox, scuttle and radiator, ready for coachbuilders to construct on it a body to the buyer's requirements. Many distributors ordered their preferred bodies as showroom stock to enable them to stock finished cars ready for immediate sale. Despite not being a car of remarkable outright performance, the car's unique blend of style and grace proved popular with the inter-war elite and it was advertised under the legend the silent sports car. Over 70% of the cars built between 1933 and 1939 were said to have still been in existence 70 years later. 1,234 4¼ Litre cars were built, with Park Ward remaining the most popular coachbuilder. Many cars were bodied in steel rather than the previous, more expensive, aluminium over ash frame construction. The 3½ and 4¼ litre models attracted some fampus and influential owners, including WOOLF BARNATO racing driver & former Bentley chairman, who's parents had made a fortune in South African diamond mining PRINCE BIRA Siamese Prince, racing driver and Olympic sailor BILLY COOTON Band leader and Brooklancs racing driver GEORGE ETSTON three time World Land Speed Record holder RAYMOND MAYS racing driver and Grand Prix winner ROBERT MONTGOMERY American actor, director, and producer SIR ERNEST OPPENHEIMER diamond and gold mining entrepreneur, financier and philanthropist A drophead 3½ Litre was briefly featured as James Bond's vehicle in the 1963 movie From Russia with Love. A drophead 4¼ Litre was featured as James Bond's car in the 1983 movie Never Say Never Again. Diolch am 95,934,921 o olygfeydd anhygoel, mae pob un yn cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr. Thanks for 95,934,921 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated. Shot 07.08.2022, at the VSCC Prescott Speed Hill Climb, Prescott, Gloucestershire REF 162-173
