1937 Bentley 4 ¼-Litre Open Two-Seater by Carlton

Mar 26

Written By Katelyn McSherry

Lights: Marchal Electric Headlamps

This elegant 1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre features beautifully crafted headlights by Marchal. Pierre Marchal founded an electric lighting company in 1923, and the company continued to make headlights well into the 1970s.

As a lot of manufacturers believed the bigger engines created more power, the same philosophy was used when constructing headlamps - the larger the light, the more power it had. The Marchal headlamps were practical on a fast car like the Bentley, with similar lights used on several race cars before and after WWII. The headlamps featured a secondary bulb, placed behind the primary bulb facing the reflector, to be as bright as possible. The car’s central driving light features deep cut grooves in the lens to project light as far as possible. The driving light is mounted low so it doesn’t blind other drivers. Additionally, the car features spot lights near the windshield and fender lights on the front fenders.

One of one, the coach builder Carlton bodied this elegant two-seater, the only open tourer Bentley ever built; and you’re looking at it.

Bentley was acquired by Rolls Royce in 1931 during the height of the great depression. The Rolls Royce Bentley venture had difficulties becoming successful. The first “Rolls Bentley” had an engine upgrade to 4 ¼ liters by using the Rolls-Royce 25/30 horsepower engine and chassis with a higher compression ratio. This gave the Bentley 4 ¼ Litre the nickname, “Silent Sports Car”.

The sporty chassis would be sent to a coachbuilder, with this specific car being sent to Carlton, a more exclusive body builder. There were only four 4 ¼ Bentleys bodied by Carlton, and this was the only two-seater open tourer ever built. The first owner of the car was quite the enthusiast as he ordered it “for use in town and touring.” The interior of the car features special ordered instruments including a Smiths tachometer with a clock built into its center top. Today rare Bentleys with original engines and coachwork are in great demand to righteous collectors.