1935 Derby Bentley 4¼ Litre MX Special – A Practical, Well Prepared Car for Road, Touring and Events

Offered for sale for the first time in around 27 years, this 1935 Derby Bentley 4¼ Litre, with MX gearbox, presents an excellent opportunity to those seeking a well cared for pre-war car to use and enjoy.

Powered by a 4¼-litre engine with matching MX gearbox sourced via Frank Dale & Stepsons
Lightweight touring body by John Kenny, designed for regular use with practical luggage accommodation.
Proven in use at Bentley Drivers’ Club Silverstone events and hill climbs in Ireland.
MX gearbox with well-spaced ratios suited to fast road driving and long-distance touring.
Well suited to fast road use, club events and endurance rallies including the Britannia and Flying Scotsman.

A Derby Bentley with a Sporting Evolution

Rolling chassis B104EF left the Bentley factory in 1935 fitted with Park Ward saloon coachwork. By the late 1990s the car had fallen out of use and was partially dismantled, with the body in very poor condition.

Rather than return the car to a heavy saloon configuration, the decision was taken to give the chassis a new and more sporting lease of life, with a clear focus on usability rather than originality for its own sake.

The chassis was sent to John Kenny to be fitted with a lightweight, purposeful body. From the outset, the brief was simple: a Bentley that could be driven properly, with sensible luggage capacity and the practicality required for touring.

The resulting body is straightforward, functional and well suited to the Derby chassis, avoiding unnecessary ornamentation while delivering a noticeably lighter and more responsive car.

MX Gearbox and Matching Engine

As the car was conceived with competition and fast road use in mind, a 4¼-litre powerplant was sought. Eventually, a suitable engine and MX gearbox were sourced via Frank Dale & Stepsons from a 4¼-litre donor car, which had already been re-bodied in the past.

That engine and gearbox were transplanted into chassis B104EF, where they remain today. The combination brings together Derby mechanical integrity with a drivetrain that feels entirely at home on modern roads.

A Bentley That Has Been Properly Enjoyed

In recent years, this Bentley has been actively enjoyed rather than stored. It has competed at Bentley Drivers’ Club events at Silverstone, taken part in hill climbs in its native Ireland, and covered touring mileage with ease.

Now surplus to family requirements, it is offered as an honest, usable example. The 4¼-litre six delivers the familiar under-exhaust note, the MX gearbox suits fast road work perfectly, and the chassis balance is exactly what you would expect from a well-sorted Derby Bentley.

A strong candidate for road use, events or endurance rallies such as the Britannia or Flying Scotsman.

Ready to Drive, Tour, or Compete

This 1935 Derby Bentley 4¼ Litre represents a rare opportunity to acquire a car that is both genuinely usable and historically engaging. Ready to drive, tour, or compete, it offers the mechanical refinement, chassis balance, and MX performance.

For those seeking a pre-war Bentley that delivers on road, event, and rally alike, contact Tom today to arrange a viewing or discuss its suitability for your collection.

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