1936 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre Park Ward

This magnificent Derby-build Bentley comes with Park Ward ‘C1023’ coachwork and presents extremely well all-round.

We believe this is a matching numbers car and one that was delivered new on 2.7.1936 to a Capt. R.B. Brassey - variously a Conservative MP, owner of Cottesbrooke Hall, owner of Gilltown Stud in Ireland (later bought by the Aga Khan III) and one-time Master of the Heythrop Hounds.

The vendor’s father bought the car in Croydon in 1981, at which time he and his family were just the third owners and the UK registration was NV 7506.

In the early 1990s the car was given a restoration by Wildae Restorations Ltd of Devon and then went to live in Denmark, which is where the vendor’s family is from.

The car returned to Wildae in the early 2000s for more restoration work, this time focusing on the engine, mechanicals and paintwork.

The engine was completely stripped and rebuilt, and the car was given a full respray in the sumptuous shade of black you see today.  

In recent years the car has received a new radiator, battery and refurbished/replaced electrical components. The water pump has also been refurbished.  

The car has been kept in a heated garage throughout the years and passed the Danish equivalent of an MoT (which is every 10 years) with no advisories in May 2023.

The vendor tells us that the key for locking the front door has been lost. The key for the boot is in the glove compartment.

The 5 digit odometer is showing 34,643 miles today.
 

The bodywork is very straight and true, and there are no dimples, dinks or dents of any note anywhere that we can see.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are equally impressive, as evidenced by doors that close with such satisfying weight and precision that you’ll want to keep opening and closing them just for the fun of it.

The wire wheels and in fine order and the matching Excelsior tyres look to have a good amount of life and service left in them.

The paintwork, too, is really very good and is a lasting tribute to the work done by Wildae some 20 years ago.

The chrome boot lock mechanism is missing from the offside of the boot lid and a couple of the rubber tread strips on the offside running board are making a bid for freedom.

The chrome work is mostly good although there is some light pitting to be seen around the windscreen surround and in one or two other places.

There is some nascent bubbling and cracked paint to be found in the offside roof gutter and the strip of bodywork just ahead of the (fully functional) sun-roof.

There are a few scratches on the n/s/f wing, some cracked paint in the nearside roof gutter, and just an entirely normal number and distribution of small stone chips here and there.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings are decent. An additional flat chrome radiator 'Town' cap is also included.
 

The interior is every bit as well preserved and carefully curated as its exterior counterpart.

A symphony in rich brown leather, carpeting and wood, the inside of this Bentley is as classy as a London gentleman’s club or a ship’s cabin from the golden age of ocean liners.

The brown leather upholstery on the seats is comfortable, supportive and buttery-soft to the touch.

The only signs of light wear are a few creases on the driver’s seat back-rest and squab, and some light wear to the forward-facing aspects of the rear armrests.

The brown carpets are broadly very good, although the carpets in the front foot-wells could do with being introduced to some efficacious cleaning products.

The door cards are fine, as is the headlining.

The attention to detail is impressive, and things that might have gone missing in lesser examples, for example the charming rope pull handles, are present and correct.

The gear lever and handbrake look good, as do the other dials, switches, buttons, knobs and instruments.

The wood has held onto its shine and lacquer with commendable stubbornness.

Some fabric trim is loose and hangs down at the front when the sun-roof is opened.
 

The vendor tells us that the car drives exceptionally well and that this and its excellent cosmetic condition reflect that fact that the car has spent its life on an on-going journey of restoration, maintenance and incremental improvement – regardless of cost.

The engine bay is clean and tidy. Everything seems to be in its right and proper place.

The car’s undersides appear to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity and everything looks solid and sound from what we can see. 
 

The car comes with limited paperwork, but what there is covers the work done in recent years and is supported by anecdotal evidence from the vendor that covers the work carried out in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The car is not currently registered in the UK, and is currently on Dutch Registration so will require re-importing to the UK. We have partners that can assist with this.
 

This car is really very good indeed. There wouldn’t be much work required to push it towards the concours category, if so desired, and aside from a couple of minor cosmetic issues, there’s really little or nothing for the next owner to do except carry on the good work of their Danish predecessors.

It’s a splendid thing, it really is.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £40,000 - £50,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.