1929 Bentley 4½ Liter Tourer
This ORIGINAL BODIED Tourer is a rare find. The Thrump and Maberly body is in supurb condition as is the drivetrain. History is known from day one in Scotland. Chassis # 3390 and engine #3393 have traveled the world together for almost 80 years and has been enjoyed as a Hill Climb car (pictures attached) and a Tourer by its previous owners. This Bentley was meant to be driven and is capable of any Tour or Rally. A rare find indeed.

Delivered in May 1929 to its first owner, W.M. Wallace Jnr. of Clarendon Place, Stirling, Scotland, this car, chassis number MR3390 is one of a very small list of vintage Bentleys that have survived with its original Sports open four-seater coachwork intact.

At the order of the first owner, this chassis was sent to Thrupp and Maberley Ltd , one of the oldest English Coachbuilders, whose excellence had attracted the patronage of the Royal Family and their appointment as official suppliers to them. The exquisite sports coachwork executed on this superb car is a true one-off, in that it is the sole example of their coachwork on the 4 1/2 litre Bentley chassis. The car would spend its prewar years in the United Kingdom and eventually be exported to South Africa in the forties where it was owned by a respected member of the Bentley Drivers Club. As evidenced by the United Kingdom Department of Transport registration document, MR3390 was then returned to England in 1989. At that time a sympathetic restoration was performed and the car was used sparingly. Entrance into the United States of America is apparent in 1993 when the car was titled to Lynn Boynton of Ohio. The car has since changed hands one more time to the current vendor, making its home in St.Louis, Missouri.

The original engine MR3393 is also retained, and the specification build sheet indicates that a C type gear box number 6510 was used and other fittings include an inside battery tray with interchangeable double batteries, Tecalamite one-shot chassis lubrication system, Cambridge thermometer gage, and steering wheel set 16" from the frame.

Several photographs of this beautiful Bentley are known from as far back as 1930 at the original owner's home in Scotland, while in the Royal Scottish Rally in 1932 and again later while touring in South Africa. Some of these early photos depict the car with its hill climb fenders, which are still with the car and included in the sale. Early service history is noted in the Bentley Works sheets from the build date through to 1938, and it is of interest to note that the car was entered in the RAC Rally on March 1, 1932, without the prior permission of the Works. It would then compete again in many rallies through and including the year 1938 with several impressive results. Accompanying the rally information previously mentioned and accounted for in the book entitled "British Rally Drivers-Their Cars and Awards 1925-1939" by Donald Cowbourne, are also copies of maintenance records throughout the rally seasons.

 

1929 Bentley 4-1/2 Litre Thrupp and Maberly 2-Door Convertible

1929 W.O. BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE 4-seater Tourer with its original, one of a kind, all aluminum body by Thrupp and Maberly.

Chassis # MR3390, engine # 3393. Body #5187.

Full history with completely documented factory records. Totally correct numbers. Very tight coachwork and superb mechanics. A joy to drive. Entered in the 1931 RAC rally. Current paid English registration and also a US title.

The following modifications were done at Thrupp and Maberly in 1938 and are fully documented.

The windshield was raked about 2 inches and second rear door added.

On 11/10/89 car was issued a new Reg. No. of DS 8226.

In USA in 2006 / Owned by an RROC member

 

 

 

Chassis No. MR3390 with second registration mark WG 8032 with original body configuration.

 

 

Chassis No. MR3390 on the Bill Milligen Memorial Rally.