Description
Chassis No. XL3112
Engine No. XL3113
Chassis XL3112 was ordered new by Gerald Wills and bodied by Park Ward, one of Britain's most respected coachbuilders, with their design number 3139 semi-sport open touring specification. Notable factory features included Jaeger instrumentation, a Cambridge thermometer, extended steering wheel, and steel rear drum brakes. The car remained with Wills until 1934, during which time it was regularly serviced by factory-approved agents, before passing to J. R. G. Cowen. In 1937, under Cowen's ownership, the Bentley was re-bodied with a silver Ranalah Drophead Coupe and navy-blue top as it was common practice at the time to change bodies according to the owner's specification. Shortly thereafter, it is believed that the car was placed into secure storage as the Second World War approached.
Following the war, the Bentley was acquired in 1946 by Roy Martin Manby of Northumberland through Lex Garages of London. Period photographs dated 1947 and 1948 document extensive family touring throughout Europe, including journeys to Monaco. As recounted by Manby's son, his father famously remained seated at the wheel while the car was unloaded by crane in Belgium, ensuring it was handled with appropriate care. In the early 1950s, the family relocated to the Lake District, where the Bentley was stored in a barn and even pressed into occasional rural service, including transporting piglets to market. By approximately 1958, following the purchase of a Volkswagen Beetle for daily use, the Bentley was subsequently sold.
After passing through a chain of documented owners, the car was acquired around 1968 by Jack Broadhead, who commissioned a comprehensive restoration. During this process, the heavy Ranalah body was replaced with the semi-sports four-seater open tourer configuration it retains today, executed in the style of the original Park Ward coachwork. Upon completion, the Bentley was exhibited at the marque's 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1969, where it achieved first place among approximately 150 entrants, with a brass plaque affixed to the valve cover to commemorate the occasion.
For the first time in 1975, the Bentley was first registered outside the United Kingdom when it was purchased and relocated to Lucerne, Switzerland by Roberto Giori. After five years of ownership, it passed to fellow Swiss enthusiast Jean-Jacques Belet in 1980, remaining in his care until 2003. In April of that year, the car was imported to Germany, where light restoration work was undertaken to ensure both cosmetic presentation and mechanical integrity. During this period, the Bentley participated in numerous Bentley Drivers Club events throughout central Europe and secured a third-place finish at the 2008 Oldtimer Grand Prix held at the Nürburgring.
As presented today, this exceptional 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre distinguishes itself through its outstanding condition and the depth of its accompanying documentation, which traces the car's history back to its earliest years. Eligible for premier events, tours, and rallies worldwide, it represents a compelling opportunity to acquire a historically significant and highly usable example of one of Bentley's most revered pre-war models.
