Broad Arrow Private Sales is offering this Bentley 4 ½ Litre Semi-Sports Four-Seat Open Tourer in the style of Park Ward for sale.
- Accompanied by an extensive history file with a documented chain of ownership history dating back to 1928
- One of just 25 “XL” series cars ever produced
- Body with sporting Le Mans Tourer coachwork in the style of Vanden Plas
- Retained by its current owner for the past 21 years
- Retains its original, matching numbers 4 ½ litre engine
Chassis No. XL3112
Engine No. XL3113
The debut of the 4 ½ litre model in late 1927 marked a monumental shift in the automotive landscape, catapulting Bentley Motors into a new era of power and speed. This model, the product of Bentley’s unwavering commitment to engineering excellence, was a direct evolution of its successful predecessor, the 3 litre. With the same bore and stroke as the formidable six-cylinder 6 ½ litre engine and the proven shaft-and-helical camshaft drive from the 3 litre, Bentley created a machine that was not only a marvel of performance but also a symbol of reliability.
The 4 ½ litre quickly validated its capabilities with a resounding victory at Le Mans in 1928, setting the stage for a string of triumphs at prestigious events like Brooklands. With a racing configuration capable of reaching speeds up to 120 miles per hour, the 4 ½ litre epitomized the pinnacle of automotive engineering in its time. Bentley’s meticulous craftsmanship extended to the production line, where 665 chassis were meticulously assembled, each adorned with bespoke coachwork and almost exclusively featuring the longer 3,300-millimeter wheelbase.
Ordered new by Gerald Wills with Park Ward, one of the most well-known British coachbuilding firms, design number 3139 semi-sport open touring coachwork, chassis number XL3112 is additionally noted as being equipped with Jaeger instrumentation, Cambridge thermometer, extended steering wheel, and steel drum brakes for the rear axle. The car remained under his stewardship, with documented regular trips to factory-approved service providers until 1934, when J.R.G. Cowen acquired it.
Under his direction, the body was exchanged for a silver Ranalah Drophead Coupe with a navy-blue top configuration in 1937. Shortly after the new body was affixed, it is believed the car was placed into secure storage as the hostiles of World War II began.
The car traded hands following the war’s conclusion in 1946 to Roy Martin Manby of Northumberland, reportedly acquiring it through the dealer Lex Garages in London. As recounted by Manby’s son, the car was used for touring through Europe and down to Monaco, as shown in the black and white photos dated 1947 and 1948. He recounts his father remaining at the wheel of his beloved Bentley when the car was unloaded in Belgium to ensure the crane operator was careful with the car!
In the early 1950s, the family moved to the Lake District after his father retired from his job as an architect to become a farmer. The car was kept in the barn and even occasionally used to transport litters of piglets to market. In approximately 1958, the car was put up in the barn when a new Volkswagen Beetle had been acquired for the family’s daily transportation needs, at which point the car was sold.
The car had a known chain of owners until it was purchased by Jack Broadhead in approximately 1968, who commissioned its restoration. The Ranalah body was changed to the configuration it remains in today with semi-sports four-seater open tourer coachwork in the style of the original Park Ward body. Crafting a wonderful example of the marque, the completed car was shown during Bentley’s 75th anniversary celebrations at the 1969 Diamond Jubilee, where it won first place against 150 fierce competitors, with a brass plaque affixed to the valve cover commemorating the occasion.
The first time the car was registered outside of the United Kingdom was in 1975 when it was purchased by Roberto Giori, who relocated the car to his home in Lucerne, Switzerland. After enjoying the car for five years, the car went to fellow Swiss enthusiast Jean Jaque Belet in 1980, with whom it would remain until 2003.
In April 2003, the car left Basel and was imported to Germany by its next owner. Under their stewardship, light restoration work was carried out to ensure the form and functionality were at the same level. This allowed the car to present well during numerous outings of the Bentley Owner’s Club throughout central Europe, in addition to clenching a third-place victory during the 2008 Oldtimer Grand Prix at the historic Nürburgring racetrack.
As presented today, this marvelous example of a 4 ½ litre Bentley stands apart from the rest due in part to its outstanding presentation as well as its impressive level of documentation dating back to when the car was new. Welcome at countless events, tours, and rallies across the world, this 1928 Bentley 4 ½ litre semi-sports four-seater open tourer in the style of Park Ward would be the perfect addition to any collection looking for a truly iconic pre-war British icon.
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