The example in question was ordered new with open touring coachwork, custom designed to distinct sporting form, by the well known patron of the marque Mr. E. Bullivant. Bullivant.
The car even retains its original coachwork, which is extremely rare due to the fact that these cars were driven hard and usually modified.
“While it is a common misconception that all Bentleys were Vanden Plas Tourers, the reality is quite different. Only one tenth of all 6.5 liter chassis built were tourers. Of those, less than 20 received open Vanden Plas touring coachwork – including the works racers for Le Mans – with less than half surviving today with their original bodywork, this car being one of them,” Bonhams explains.
Furthermore, the car benefits from a known and documented history of subsequent owners from Bullivant's original purchase through today. Accompanying the purchase are copies of the original Bentley factory records, the Vanden Plas order and, most rare of all, the bill of sale in 1929 to the car's second owner. Additionally, there are several period photos from its earliest days, which, too, is quite rare.
“Today, the opportunity to own a matching numbers, original bodied Bentley of this pedigree is nearly unheard of. It is truly one of the finest of the breed and one of the world's all-time great British motorcars,” a statement from Bonhams reads.
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