1938 Bentley 4 1/4-Litre - Inquire - Orange Village, OH - One of the very finest Bentleys available anywhere with no excuses. Multiple RROC first place awards, plus the coveted Guerrero Award. Stunning, fully-sorted, ready to tour and enjoy.
“Bertie,” as this handsome 1938 Bentley 4¼ Litre sport saloon by Thrupp & Maberly is fondly called, also has a remarkable history behind it. With 23 owners and a great deal of documentation, it provides the kind of colorful background that only magnifies any car’s appeal. Its most recent caretakers have treated B-184LS to an extensive and comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration to the very highest standards, creating one of the finest examples of “razor edge” styling available anywhere. Thanks to the factory build sheets and other paperwork, we know that the Velvet Green paint is close to what it wore originally and gives the sporting saloon a dignified look that’s entirely Bentley. As you’d expect from a car that has scored almost perfectly in RROC judging, finish quality is exemplary, with a deep, lustrous finish that has just the right shine without seeming too modern. Of course, it goes without saying that the chrome and other bright trim is in excellent condition, including the traditional Bentley grille and massive headlights.
Inside, the leather-lined interior certainly lives up to Bentley’s reputation for sporting luxury. Tan hides cover all the seating surfaces, which amount to two bucket seats up front and a generous rear passenger area. Burled walnut is used extensively, primarily for the dashboard and window garnish moldings, which are beautifully crafted with contrasting silver inlays to highlight their shape. Slide open the sunroof overhead, open the windows, windscreen, and scuttle and enjoy first-class motoring. As expected of a car of this caliber, everything inside is fully functional, including the tube-type radio and heater. In back, the trunk is well-appointed and finished to match the interior, and features a complete tool kit built into the deck lid, with several other tools stored under the bonnet or elsewhere in the boot. A newly machined hub tool set is also included.
Fully rebuilt and still sporting its original twin SU carburetors, four-and-a-quarter liter inline-six makes an estimated 125 horsepower and will probably nudge close to 90 MPH flat-out. Thanks to clever gearing and a superb chassis, it is comfortable at 65 MPH, making it a fleet touring choice that’s effortless to drive. The engine bay is neatly detailed with correct numbers, finishes, and markings throughout, with lots of raw aluminum and shiny gloss black enamel to make it sparkle. The 4-speed transmission offers synchromesh on third and fourth, so around-town driving is a pleasure, and with powerful servo-assisted drum brakes, it has the stopping power that few of its peers could match. 18-inch wire wheels with matching steel wheel discs give Bertie an understated appearance and wear new Firestone blackwall tires.
Documentation is beyond extensive and this is unquestionably the most heavily-documented car we’ve ever featured.
We invite you to explore all the other available offerings first, before visiting Bertie, because there is no question that this is among the finest Bentleys available anywhere at any price.
For more details and photos, please visit www.VintageMotorCarsUSA.com.