Articles

07 February 2026

Vintage Bentleys under the Hammer at Retromobile 2026

Four Bentleys from the Peter Godehart Collection find new homes at Retromobile. A busy start to the season with trade exhibitors also experiencing brisk trade

Rm Sotheby's got the instruction for finding new custodians for some vintage Bentleys from the Peter Godehart collection and all four models found new homes.

Peter was a really enthusiastic Vintage Bentley motorist, having partaken in numerous tours and events throughout Europe and the US. This would have provided some buyer confidence that the cars were all "drivers" and not just suited for static display.

(It should be noted that prices should take account of the fact if the cars were exported outside the EU they would be require an export licence and liable to your local import taxes)

The first to cross the block was a 1924 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model Tourer by Vanden Plas - Lot details here >>>

A typical template for a good 3 litre, it featured the original desirable Van Den Plas body, chassis, engine and gearbox. This was a great 3 litre with really strong history and provenance. A "no excuses" car, it sold well at mid-estimate for 230,000 euros.

Next up was a 1924 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model Tourist Trophy Two-Seater in the style of Jarvis - Lot details here >>>

Featuring a Tourist Trophy-style polished two-seater taper-tail body built in the style of Woolf Barnato’s Jarvis-bodied 3-Litre, this Bentley was acquired by The Godehardt Collection in 2003. The engine was rebuilt to 4½-Litre specification and the competed in a number of events. More of a finite market car, it sold for just over 100,000 euros which represented super value to access a Vintage Bentley.

Following one was an amazingly original 1926 Bentley 3-Litre Weymann Saloon by Gurney Nutting - Lot details here >>>

A super well-preserved example, still with it's original chassis, engine, steering box and coachwork. Sold at 138,000 euros, there simply aren't many examples left with such charming originality.

Finally, the undoubted star of the collection was the 1931 Bentley 8-Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas - Lot details here >>>

Rescued from a scrapyard in 1948 - this 8 litre has been one of the most actively campaigned examples around today, with 8(!) Mille Miglia participations and journeys as far afield as Argentina, South Africa, Turkey, and India.  In 2009 the motor was thoroughly rebuilt with all the bits that present the best possible longevity for active use and car presented well today. When you see a car like this, where in 2009 the owner inferred that he had undetaken 75,000 miles in it, you are left in no doubt that the ownership experience was thoroughly enjoyed and presented a great return on time and funds spent.