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The Bentley Derby, sometimes better known as Bentley 3½ Litre or Bentley 4¼ Litre for the later production years. It was built from 1933 to 1939 and was thus the first new Bentley model to hit the market after Bentley was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931.
Its name is owed to its birthplace, which was Derby, in the United Kingdom. Derby is, in fact, the city where Rolls-Royce and their factory are located; the production of the 3½ Litre was simply taken there after the acquisition. In addition to its name, there is, of course, the offered luxury, attributed to the prestigious Bentley emblem mounted on its nose. After Rolls-Royce's takeover of Bentley, they continue in their usual style, but Bentley now goes to great lengths to infuse the new models with luxurious gadgets and details that enhance every aspect of luxury; the clientele belonged to the highest elite and demanded luxury accordingly. From the outside, it is already apparent that this is an extraordinary car. Inside, there are comfortable seats finished with the highest quality leather, a dashboard finished with wood, and handcrafted gauges. The new Bentley was more refined than ever before and simply significantly better developed; no costs or efforts were spared, and it shows.
The Derby did not necessarily have to boast sporting performance, but the Bentley 3½ had to be based on the Rolls-Royce 20/25. Under the winged hood, a 3.7-liter inline-six-cylinder engine with two carburetors was therefore installed, delivering an adequate 110 hp, which, thanks to the success of the Derby in 1936, is increased to about 125 hp by enlarging the six-cylinder engine to 4.3 liters.
Reportedly, about 70% of all Derby models ever produced still exist, reflecting their phenomenal build quality. Bentley is not often surpassed, that much is clear. The Derby emphasizes that fact.
Bentley 4¼ Litre
From 1936, the Bentley Derby came with a 4.3-liter engine. The enlarged engine was obtained by boring out the previous one. The new drivetrain was, as mentioned earlier, more powerful and faster to compensate for the robust constitution of the car's body; the Derby was certainly not a lightweight.
In 1939, the looming World War II is, of course, a concern, yet a successor is still introduced before the war, and that is the Bentley MkV. According to sources, 1234 units of the Bentley 4¼ Litre were built. The Derby Bentley is a collector's item; after all, it is the first new Bentley released under the reign of Rolls-Royce.
Technical information:
Body work
Mechanics
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