Bentley “The Honeymoon Express” 4 ¼ Litre
| Manufacturer: | Bentley |
|---|---|
| Model: | 4 ¼ Litre “The Honeymoon Express |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1938 |
| Coachwork: | Park Ward |
| Body Style: | Sports Coupé |
A two door sports coupé, Park Ward’s exhibit at the 1938 London Motor Show, finished in maroon with fawn leather. This car came to us for a complete nut and bolt restoration to Concours standards.
Apparently Charlie Ward was very taken with the Mercedes 540K coupé and felt there was an opening for a high speed businessman’s express with extra large luggage carrying capacity, however no orders were received so only the one was built.
When the car appeared on the Park Ward stand in 1938 it acquired the title “The Honeymoon Express” because of the space behind the front seats for its luggage rather than passengers. It is reported the press named the car because there was only room for “two people and two toothbrushes”! The boot is fully taken up with the spare wheel.
BENTLEY 4 ¼ LITRE “THE HONEYMOON EXPRESS”
Bentley “The Honeymoon Express” 4 ¼ Litre
One of the most famous “Derby Bentleys”, this car was displayed by Park Ward at the 1938 Earls Court Motor Show in London. A unique design, this sleek two seater sports coupe was intended to be Bentley’s counterpart to the Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier. It featured a smooth fastback tail and aerodynamic close-coupled lines on the “MR” chassis with fixed radiator shutters, a more sporting dashboard layout, a Marles steering box, and most importantly, the overdrive 4-speed transmission.
