Bentley Derby 4¼ Litre Park Ward DHC

Chassis B85 HM is a Derby Bentley 4¼ Litre with Park Ward drophead coupé coachwork, the 22nd of 50 standardised Park Ward dropheads built on this chassis before the contract passed to Vanden Plas. It was delivered new via E D Abbott of Farnham, finished in grey with a grey hood and blue-grey upholstery.

The page names three early owners up to 1960. The car later went to Canada, and the current owner bought it from the Real Car Company in May 2019. Restoration work began in 2021 at Fiennes Engineering, which failed in 2023 with the work unfinished and about £100,000 spent. The car then went to P & A Wood, where a further £80,000 or so was spent on the mechanicals. The dealer says it has covered only a few thousand miles since.

The restoration favoured preservation over concours finish. The interior leather is lightly patinated, the paint is described as smart rather than new, and the dashboard wood has a satin finish. A large file of bills comes with the car, though the Fiennes invoices are incomplete.