1936 Bentley 3.5-Liter Saloon 3.5 Litre & 4 1/4

This 1936 Bentley 3.5 Liter Saloon, chassis #B98FB, is a running, driving example that remains largely unrestored. The 3.5 Liter was the first new model produced after Bentley was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931 and was produced in the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby, England. It was also the first Bentley designed for luxury rather than outright performance, with a price roughly 15 times that of the plebeian Ford Model Y of the same period. As with most luxury cars of the time, it was delivered as a bare chassis with bodywork left to a coachbuilder. This example is a 4 door saloon with bodywork by Park Ward. The current seller purchased it nearly 20 years ago from a previous owner who had plans to turn it into a street rod. It runs, drives, steers and stops but will need a full restoration to bring it back to its original glory. The car wears an older repaint in green and white that presents well from a distance, though the seller notes it looks better in photos than in person. Some body damage on the right rear fender is evident, the trunk lid does not close properly, and there is some door droop apparent. The lights and accessories appear to be complete and in good unrestored condition. Several aluminum under body panels have been removed from the car but are included. All glass is present and intact. The interior is well worn but largely complete. The green leather seat upholstery is faded and shows significant wear but remains mostly intact, other than a duct tape patch over a hole on the side of the right hand driver’s seat. The wood dash, gauges, and steering wheel are all quite presentable for their age. Park Ward was one of the more frequently used coachbuilders for the 3.5 Liter. Many details on this car are consistent with other Park Ward bodied examples, a sign it has avoided the poor quality “restoration” work often inflicted on pre-war classics. The original “Three and 1/2 Liter” engine remains in running condition. The actual displacement is closer to 3.7L and it was originally rated at 110HP, an impressive number for a pre-war car. The seller states that it has only required a new muffler and battery during his 19 year ownership. It reportedly starts, runs, shifts, steers, and stops but little else is known about its mechanical condition. Chassis number B98FB is listed in “All the Pre-War Bentleys” by Stanley Sedgwick as a Park Ward bodied saloon equipped with engine T5BM, and originally delivered in February 1936 to a Mr. William C. Jones. Engine T5BM is still installed and the coachwork is believed to be original. A scan of the reference material is included in the gallery below. The brightwork looks to be in good shape and includes the famous “Flying B” hood ornament. This model was one of the finest cars in the world in its day, and this example remains in running and driving condition 80 years later, a testament to the no compromises approach used in its design and manufacture.