The story of Bentley is fascinating and includes an incredible racing history, legendary personalities, and a series of different company owners. The first owner was W.O. Bentley, for whom the company was named. They built some of the most exciting sporting cars of the 1920s and early ’30s, until they were acquired by long-time rival Rolls-Royce in 1931.
The Bentley cars produced after this acquisition are known as “Darby Bentleys” because they were built in the Rolls-Royce factory, which was located in Darby, England. During this period, the cars became more sophisticated and, while still sporting, definitely leaned more into the ultra-luxury segment. Bentley marketed the cars as “The Silent Sportscar.” These were coach-built vehicles, with the Bentley factory providing the chassis and running gear and then sending the cars out to various coachbuilders based on what the specific customer ordered. The very definition of bespoke cars, they are often of amazingly great value, especially when compared to French and Italian coach-built cars of this era.
The Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com is one of these beauteous cars, a 1937 Bentley 4-Litre, chassis number B147HM, with coachwork by Freestone & Webb. The coachbuilder built a number of four-door bodies for the 4-Litre, but this is the only two-door produced. It is finished in two-tone gray and black paint with black wire wheels.
The interior is the essence of British prewar elegance, with fabulously well-worn dark green leather seats, polished wood veneers, and intricate detailing completing the cabin. While a true two-seater, it does have a small jump seat on the passenger side. The overall spaciousness of this Bentley, something rare in the period for two-door models, makes this car ideal for touring, offering plenty of luggage space. The instrumentation is elegantly laid out, with attention to detail evident in every aspect of the interior, making it a true pleasure to experience.
The extensive documented history of this Bentley is what makes owning one of these cars somewhat like having an interactive time machine. Ordered and delivered new to a Miss GM Philcox of Sussex, B147HM spent a fair portion of its life in England. In October 1945, the car made its way to Suffolk under the ownership of Mrs. Alan Nash, who seemingly sold the motorcar to a lawyer and teacher, N. Harrow Esq. The car was then relocated to London, where it was offered for sale by Jack Olding & Co. The history then gets a bit murky for a few decades but picks up again in 1974, when Charles Schmidt of Massillon, Ohio, sold the car to Celestine Remlinger of the same town. The car remained in Ms. Remlinger’s possession until 2003, when it was acquired by the most recent previous owner, a prominent collector of the marque and active Rolls-Royce Owners Club member.
According to the description, B147HM has been cared for lovingly, especially by the previous owner. The description states that, at some point in its life, the motorcar was restored; however, no historical documents can pinpoint an exact date. It is described as a car that currently presents well and is mechanically even better. The adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers work marvelously via the steering wheel controls; there is a right-hand floor-mounted shifter, and the transmission shifts wonderfully. These Darby Bentleys had the advantage of a synchromesh transmission, setting itself above many rivals at the time and making for effortless driving. This car includes the Derby factory build sheet, owner’s card, and other historical documents from the RROC.
Now if this was a prewar Bugatti, Talbot Lago, or Alfa Romeo, the price for a car like this—with its stunning one-off bodywork—would be somewhere north of $500,000. But this is a Darby Bentley, which is eligible for the same kind of events as the aforementioned cars (think Pebble Beach, Ville d’Este, and every vintage tour on the planet), features an asking price of $189,500—less than half the price of its competitors. In addition, when compared to those other cars, a Darby Bentley is much simpler to care for, with parts and the knowledge to maintain it readily available.
If I were in the market for a world-class car I could take to every concours event and drive on the Colorado Grande and the California Mille, this 1937 Bentley 4-Litre would be at the top of my list.
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