1939 Bentley

A wonderful example of a very late MX series Derby Bentley with beautiful Vanden Plas Pillarless body. This car has had a body off chassis up nut & bolt restoration by noted marque specialists McKenzie Guppy in Dorset between 1999 – 2018, during this time, around £200,000 was spent on the car to put it into ‘as new’ mechanical condition.

The history file is complete with a large selection of photographs detailing the extensive works undertaken. Literally everything has been attended to over the course of a nigh on two-decade long restoration.

Pleasingly the extremely rare Vanden Plas body, number 3679, is finished in its original colours of two tone Falmouth Grey and White. The original Red leather interior & woodwork has been preserved with wonderful patina to the cabin. The headlining has been replaced with new West of England cloth in pale Grey. The body is of the pillarless variety making for very easy access for the occupants. A full set of small & large tools comes with the car the majority of which reside in a tray in the boot lid.

The car was ordered on 9th March 1939 with the chassis being delivered to Vanden Plas on the 15th of May 1939. On 10th January 1940 the finished car was sold to Hill Motors Ltd of Old Hill Stafforshire for immediate delivery to Helliwells at Walsall Airport who were manufacturers of aircraft parts.

Since the car has emerged from restoration it has been used regularly, attending many shows and being very well admired. Bentley Specialists West Hoathly Garage have been charged with keeping the car in fine fettle in recent years and it is offered today in the finest condition. All MX series Derby Bentleys are highly sought after, but chassis number B-159-MX must surely be one of the most highly sought, with a beautiful and very rare pillarless body and having had so much expenditure in order to make is the best it possibly can be, this Derby is not to be missed.