Vehicle Description
Delivered new on December 10, 1937, this Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Sport Sport Saloon was a gift to Mrs. Helen McCann of Cumbria, England, from her parents, who believed that her current automobile—an Invicta low chassis tourer—was not a suitable car for a respectable married woman. Perhaps reluctant at first to give up her vehicle, Helen fell in love with the Bentley and enjoyed it for 23 years.
Upon Helen’s death in 1964, the Bentley was willed her to her best friend, Mrs. Glory Howard of Johnby Hall, along with her prized mink coat. Glory later sold the vehicle to Kenneth Neve in 1973, and after a series of owners, it was purchased by John Matthews of Benjamin River, Maine, in 1984. He imported it to the United States and sold it in the late 1980s to a Mr. Patys of New Bedford, Mass., who hired Bob Jefferson of Classic Sports in Brookfield, Mass., to do a high-quality rebuild of the engine and to rebuild the back axle with a high-speed ring and pinion, giving the Bentley the same ratio as the overdrive models. It was sold to the current owner in 1996. Since then, the body has been stripped to bare metal and re-sprayed with a base coat and clear finish. According to the consignor, it still cruises along nicely at 60 mph and has toured more than 30,000 miles in the past two decades without incident.
This sport saloon, chassis number 168KT, features a 6-cylinder engine with overhead valves, two SU carburetors, and a 4-speed gearbox, and a Thrupp & Maberly body. In addition, this elegant touring car comes with a complete tool kit in the boot lid and two continuation logbooks. Sold with a title.
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