1937 Bentley 4 1/4 Offord Four Door Cabriolet B56JD

An exceptional car. with an exceptional history. Bought new in 1937. inherited by the owner's son in the 1980s. and we have just acquired it from him. so a true one family car. In this time. it has covered just 54. 00 miles. and is now delightfully correct. nicely mellow. wonderfully sound. and driving very nicely. In addition. the car is very attractive. well proportioned. practical. being a four door with wind up windows. and an easily erected and lowered hood. The coachwork carries Offord plates. and is 'officially' their work. but we understand that it was actually constructed by Carlton. as was sometimes the case with this coachbuilder. The car was advertised in a June 1937 issue of 'The Autocar'. and we have a copy of this in the file. The design incorporates some lovely features. such as wonderfully 'sculpted' front wings. freedom from running boards. a low windscreen with external visor and a general low-slung appearance. It is the only one of its type. and therefore truly unique. With the car is the original handbook. which includes handwritten notes on work carried out from 1944 until very recently. in each case showing mileages. helping to confirm the total covered of less than 55. 00. which is also confirmed in writing by the original owner's son. Also with the car are various documents. including the original 1937 sales invoice. an old buff logbook. letters from Bentley Motors Ltd. and a 2008 invoice carefully detailing a comprehensive and very nicely executed re-wire in correct. cotton-covered cable. At the same time. the original 'Philco' radio was overhauled and upgraded for FM reception. new tyres were fitted. and various other attention given to the car. The underside is excellent. with much evidence of the original brown primer on the chassis frame. as the car would have left the factory. In the 1970s. the car was repainted in its original shade of blue. and at the same time fitted with a new hood. These have now matured. and harmonise well with the chrome work and the original leather interior. giving the car a pleasing overall patina and charm. A really. unusual opportunity to acquire a very desirable specification of Derby Bentley. with a fabulous history.

Chassis No. B56JD. Reg No. DYM 751. £155. 00.

Snippets: The Kildrummy families

The first owner of B56JD was James Pearson Smith. initially from Yorkshire. In the late 1950s James & his wife Hylda (nee Stell) acquired the Kildrummy Estate which had been home to Colonel James Ogston (soap manufacturer) who in 1900 commissioned the architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie to build an English Tudor-style house to replace the old Gordon lodge. Within the quarry that resulted from the sandstone being dug to build the new Kildrummy house. Colonel Ogston constructed a water & rock garden. In this garden is a replica of the Auld Brig O'Balgownie - which is one of the oldest bridges in Great Britain dating circa 1290. The estate has family links with the Huntlys. the Gordons. James 1st. Elphinstone & of course the Ogstons. Several books about the estate & the family links have been published by Hylda Smith.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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