Rolls-Royce acquired Bentley in 1931, and Bentley cars from this era became known as “the silent sports car.” During this time, all Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars were sold as rolling chassis, allowing customers to choose their own coachbuilder. They are often referred to as Derby Bentleys because the chassis and mechanical components were built at the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby.
Exterior:
The Bentley Park Ward Sport Saloon 4¼ is finished in a wonderful exterior colour combination of grey and dark blue. This is a car with a beautiful patina. On closer inspection, there are scratches and a few small blisters in the paint. I first saw this car about 30 years ago, and it looks much the same today as it did then.
One of the car’s wonderful features is its large sliding sunroof. The chrome parts are in good condition, and I think that during this period, the importance of a car was determined by the size of its headlights. If the interior becomes warm, the front windscreen can also be opened to provide ventilation through the cabin.
A proper spare wheel is mounted on the outside of the trunk. As mentioned above, there are many different styles of coachwork, but this example from Park Ward is one of the prettiest.
Interior:
In a Bentley or Rolls-Royce, the gear shifter is always positioned on the right-hand side, regardless of which side the steering wheel is on. As you can see, this is a right-hand-drive example. Looking closely, you will also see that there is only a door lock on the left-hand side of the car.
The car is intended to be unlocked on the left-hand side, away from the busy street, after which you slide across the passenger seat to the driver’s position. Once in place, you will find yourself behind a beautiful wooden dashboard filled with instruments and a proper ignition switch.
The car still has its original blue leather interior, completing its authentic, original appearance. This is a car that you look at and love exactly as it is, with all the patina it has. If you think for even one second that you might replace something, you should look for another car. This car is in harmony just the way it is, and there are not many cars like it still on the road today.
Engine and mechanics:
We recently completed a 100-kilometre trip in this car without any issues, but it is now due for a proper service. The Bentley was not used much during the past 20 years, but it will start right up when you push the button.
History:
The Bentley Park Ward Sport Saloon was imported from the United Kingdom about 30 years ago and has remained in the same ownership ever since. It has been regularly maintained over the years and used only on beautiful summer days, as it has been part of a larger car collection.
The car has always been stored out of the sun in a dry, heated garage. The time has now come for this British piece of history to embark on new adventures.
