1931 Bentley 4 Litre

Here is a short summary of the 1931 Bentley 4 Litre.

Car History

The 8 Litre chassis used for EV 5330 was manufactured during 1930/31. The completed chassis was purchased by Jack Barclay Limited on 23 December 1931. It was then sold to Colonel Robert Frederick (Fred) Wall, who purchased the car for his son Ernest Dudley Wall, after having installed a Vanden Plas tourer body (See Sales Brochure photo which is actually EV 5330).

Colonel Wall was a Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County and President of the Conservative Association. During his term as President, he arranged many Garden Parties at his home, Ivylands. On a Friday evening in mid-July in 1933, at one of his Garden Parties, his good friend and local MP, Sir Winston Churchill, gave a speech on German rearmament and the importance of India.

EV 5330 comes complete with the initial service history from the build date until the outbreak of WW2, when the car was stored in a garage for safekeeping.

Ernest Dudley Wall kept the car until his death in 1952. It was sold via Richards & Brown (see Motorsport attachment) to Captain Fabling who promptly placed the car into a Transport Museum in California. He eventually sold the car to John Milchick in California, who took it to local club events, including in May 1973 – when four W.O’s gathered, including Formula One World Champion Phil Hill’s ex-Villiers blown 4½ – As a result of having had only a few owners for the first 60 years of its life, the car has retained all its original fittings, as recorded on the bill of sale, which includes an altimeter from a RAF Hawker Fury!

Having been in touch with the daughters of the original owner, there are photos of EV 5330 from its very early days.

EV 5330 was subject to a detailed restoration between 1994- 2001. During the restoration it won its Class at the BDC Concours at Broughton Castle in 1998.

Many tours since.

It was a Class Winner at a RREC & BDC event in 2008.

It completed the Ennstal Classic in Austria in 2009.

Class Winner (Originality and Restoration) and Class Winner (Limited Edition) at Uniques Special Ones Concours in Florence in 2012..

Vintage “WO” Class Winner (Second Overall) at the BDC Hampton Court Concours in 2021.

Since 2019, EV 5330 has been looked after by James (Jim) Wilkie. Jim was a very experienced engineer who only worked on WO Bentleys. He could rectify problems that other “Vintage Bentley specialists” couldn’t. He was a great engineer and a true gentleman. Sadly now no longer with us.

Bentley Literature

EV 5330 was used in Bentley Sales Brochures throughout 1931 and is mentioned within many Bentley reference books including “Bentley Factory Cars 1919-1931” by Michael Hay. Within this most important book on Vintage Bentleys, EV 5330 is one of only eight cars presented within the central colour photo section. Michael Hay states that EV 5330 is very rare, as there are few Bentleys in such an “…original a form as this one.” And goes on to state that EV 5330 has been “…thoroughly restored.”

Rarity & Originality

Walter Hassan (WO Bentley’s Senior Engineer) was very complimentary about the 4 Litre, and Woolf Barnato had one as his daily driver during 1931.

Essentially, EV 5330 enjoys very attractive coachwork with the best chassis, gearbox and back axle of all the WO’s.

Registration: EV 5330
Chassis Number: VA 4089
Engine Number: VA 4095
Gearbox: F-Type
Tecalemit “one-shot” lubrication system
Engine: Six cylinder 3915cc
Bosch Ignition

There are two substantial folders with the car with photos throughout its life.

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