"When Rolls-Royce bought Bentley Motors, they shut down production of the 8 and 4½ litre. They then had to decide what to do with the Bentley name as they couldn't afford to alienate their customer base and not build a new Bentley. The question was what sort of car to build; after several false starts, the Experimental Department developed a prototype car based on an earlier 18hp experimental chassis called the 'Peregrine' and a suitably tweaked 20/25hp engine; this combination proved to be a winner. Launched in 1933, the first of what would become known as the 'Derby Bentleys' continued the marque's sporting associations. The 'Silent Sportscar', as it was quickly dubbed, had few peers and as a tireless long-distance tourer, it combined traditional Rolls-Royce refinement with Bentley performance and handling. In 1936 the 4¼ litre model was offered with more power than the 3½ litre while retaining the well-proven chassis and servo-assisted brakes.
This delightfully handsome Derby Bentley has coachworks by Park Ward and is finished in the striking colour combination of Primrose and black with beige leather interior. The first owner of the car was the A-list actor Sir Ralph Richardson who starred in the films Dr. Zhivago and The Battle of Britain, a painting of Sir Ralph comes with the car. A recent front suspension overhaul costing over £8,000 has been carried out to ensure she rides beautifully on the road. This Bentley started immediately when requested and the 4¼ litre engine sounded superb, we are advised she drives exceptionally well on the road with brakes that function correctly and radiator slats that operate as they should via a thermostat and mechanical lever that open the slats to aid temperature cooling as and when required. This Park Ward Sports Saloon has a sunroof allowing the sun to flood in to both front and rear passengers. The brightwork is in exceptional condition as is the interior. The paintwork has a couple of blemishes although nothing that detracts from the presence of this magnificent Derby Bentley, for a car that is 84 years old the condition is remarkable. Supplied with a V5C registration document, there are four history folders with many receipts for work carried out. There is also a full set of workshop manuals and driver’s handbook, together with a copy of the factory build sheets. This well looked after example can be used reliably and with confidence.Viewing is recommended to appreciate the quality of this iconic Bentley."