Description
Introduced in 1936, the 4¼-liter model shared its 3,200mm wheelbase with the outgoing 3½ Litre platform while offering increased power output. Like that of its predecessor, the 4¼ Litre chassis was built at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, England, before being outfitted with bodywork by a variety of coachbuilders. This example’s two-door, fixed-roof coachwork was provided by London’s Park Ward and incorporates a steel body with alloy fenders and hood panels.
Originally finished in black and gray, the…
Introduced in 1936, the 4¼-liter model shared its 3,200mm wheelbase with the outgoing 3½ Litre platform while offering increased power output. Like that of its predecessor, the 4¼ Litre chassis was built at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, England, before being outfitted with bodywork by a variety of coachbuilders. This example’s two-door, fixed-roof coachwork was provided by London’s Park Ward and incorporates a steel body with alloy fenders and hood panels.
Originally finished in black and gray, the car received a repaint in brown and cream during the seller’s refurbishment between 1997 and 2006. The body was removed from the frame during the project, which is also said to have included sand-blasting the main shell and walnut-blasting the aluminum panels. Imperfections noted in the finish include areas of blistering, cracking on the lower rear fenders, and a rust bubble at the lower edge of the trunk.
Black-painted 17” wire wheels are secured by octagonal nuts and wear 6.00/6.50 Dunlop Fort bias-ply tires, as does a side-mounted spare. Exterior features include rear-hinged doors, four shutters on each side of the hood, a sunroof, a central Lucas driving lamp, ornamental landau bars, twin locking fuel-filler caps, and a luggage rack. Turn signals have been added at the front and rear, although a switch allows reversion to use of the trafficators.
The cabin is trimmed in fluted brown leather over the front bucket seats, rear bench, and door panels, while beige carpeting lines the floors, lower seatbacks, and lower door panels. Interior features include a driver-side armrest with an integrated cigar box, storage pockets on the doors and in the footwells, a right-mounted shifter, roll-up windows, quarter vent windows, a pull-out tray on the passenger side of the dash, and a fold-down center rear armrest.
The steering wheel is situated at the right-hand side of an ebony wood dash panel with pewter inlays, which is said to have been refreshed during the refurbishment along with the matching door caps and other wood accents. Smiths instrumentation includes a 110-mph speedometer and gauges monitoring coolant temperature, oil pressure, amperage, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 5,700 miles and has turned over while under the seller’s ownership, which has seen the addition of approximately 7,600 miles. The omission of a tachometer and clock in favor of a second cubby is noted on the factory build sheet.
The 4,257cc inline-six incorporates a cast-iron block, a separate aluminum crankcase, a crossflow cast-iron cylinder head, and pushrod-actuated overhead valves. The engine is said to have been rebuilt during the refurbishment with replacement rod and main bearings, updated valve-stem seals, hardened valve seats, and a spin-on oil filter assembly. Electrical wiring was also refreshed with vintage-style elements.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on its top two gears. A Laycock de Normanville J-Type overdrive unit from a 1970s Volvo has been added for use on third and fourth gears, and the seller states that neither welding nor drilling was utilized during its installation. The suspension incorporates hydraulic shock absorbers that can be adjusted to preferred firmness via a manette on the steering wheel hub. Stopping is handled by drums all around, while a mechanical clutch-type servo driven via the gearbox provides braking assistance proportionate to the speed of travel.
The build sheet lists the Park Ward fixed-head coupe bodywork as style number 12756 along with the original colors, equipment numbers, and delivery date. A handwritten list of custom features is also documented on the build sheet, including the hood shutters, twin fuel fillers, ebony and pewter wood accents, a “cigar box” in the armrest, and a strengthened upper trunk area to accommodate the luggage rack.
A driveshaft, connecting rods, and other parts and tools are included in the sale, as is an owner’s manual. Two images from the refurbishment are included in the photo gallery below. According to the seller, the car won a Touring award in its class at the 2007 Rolls Royce Owner’s Club National Meet following the completion of the project and a subsequent drive from Washington to Arizona.
$37,500
Make:
Bentley
Model:
4 1/4-Litre
Color:
Brown
Drive Type:
RWD
Transmission:
Manual
Condition:
Used
Year:
1937
Mileage:
10,700 miles
Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Color:
Brown
Contact Person:
Kristie Astwood
State:
Washington
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