Bentley Windover 3 1/2 Litre, for sale in San Diego, California, price on application.

Manufacturer: Bentley Model: Windover 3 1/2 Litre Year: 1936
In 1931, Bentley production moved to the Rolls-Royce factory at Derby, England, following the acquisition of Bentley by Rolls-Royce. The cars which followed were called Derby Bentleys as opposed to earlier cars which came from the original Bentley works in Crickwood, London . The first Derby Bentley was launched in 1933.

Bentley automobiles personified racing and the 3 litre followed this tradition. It had a more powerful engine then its Rolls-Royce counterpart the 20/25. This was achieved by adding a second carburetor and a slight modification of the compression ratio.

When launched in 1933, the first of the Derby Bentleys, continued the marques sporting associations but in a manner even more refined than before. Even W. O Bentley himself acknowledged that the 3.5-Litre model was the finest ever to bear his name. Similar the contemporary Rolls-Royce 20/25hp, the 3.5-Litre Bentley was slightly shorter in the wheelbase and employed a tuned (115bhp) twin-SU-carburetor version of the overhead-valve six. Adding to this already remarkable package an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox and servo assisted brakes, the result was a vehicle offering the driver effortless sports car performance in almost absolute silence.

The Silent Sports Car, as it was swiftly dubbed, it was known for combining traditional Rolls-Royce refinement with Bentley performance and handling. The Derby Bentley was, of course, an exclusively coachbuilt automobile and as befitted its sporting nature was almost always fitted with owner-driver saloon or drophead coupe coachwork, the standard designs being the work of Park Ward Limited. Of the 2,442 examples manufactured (including the 4.25-Litre model) almost 50% were bodied by Park Ward in a limited number of styles. Most of the other great British coachbuilding firms offered designs as well, many of them unique, on this Dutch Darrin Design Derby Bentley it wears handsome ONE-OFF Sedanca Coupe coachwork by the respected firm of Windover, founded in 1856 in Huntingdon and from 1924 was based in Northwest London. Windover diversified into the manufacture of motor bodies in the early 1900s, concentrating on quality marques chiefly Daimler and Rolls-Royce at first before adding the likes of Alvis, Armstrong-Siddeley, Lagonda, Lanchester, Mercedes-Benz and, of course, Bentley to its portfolio in the 1930s. Featuring a particularly elegant door profile and waistline, this car chassis B111FC is pictured on page 175 of Johnny Greens book, Bentley: Fifty Years of the Marque. It also notes in the book the vehicle as a ONE-OFF design.

This vehicle is in remarkable condition it has undergone a complete frame-off restoration and was recently shown at Pebble Beach in 2003 where it took a 3rd place in its class. Correct in everyway the vehicle features its original body and engine. Finished in black and fitted with a luxurious Red leather interior. The dash is walnut and stunning to say the least. The fenders bares a thin crease line that runs on top of the fenders, this styling cue can be found throughout the car and is the only one of its kind with this clean crisp look to the fenders. Includes a beautiful set of spats, landau bars, and a leather wrapped roof, the trunk features a complete tool set incorporated into the deck lid. The vehicle sits on a set of original wheels correct tires and features full wheel covers. The vehicle is a multiple concours winner and is in virtually flawless condition. Although any Derby Bentley is rare this car is ONE-OFF and very special.