Today we saw the incredible 1934 Bentley 3½ Litre Windovers Sedanca Coupe chassis B111FC which is one of the very best Derby Bentleys in the world at RM Auction’s Amelia Island sale in Florida.
Estimate is $300,000 – $400,000 without reserve.
Auction Specialist Alexander Weaver was kind enough to open B111FC up completely exposing an immaculate engine bay and tool tray in the trunk.
RM Auctions list the highlights as:
*Offered from the estate of Charles “Chuck” Swimmer
*One of the most beautiful Bentleys ever produced
*Lightweight one-off coachwork
*Ordered by its original owner for a Royal Automobile Club tour
*A 2003 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance award winner
*Featured in most of the important Bentley reference texts
Pieces of the Derby Tool kit in a replica Silver Ghost tool roll.
One of the more interesting topics concerning our new Bentley is what we are missing. By that I mean the exhaustive tool kit and supplies that were originally delivered with the car from new.
Fortunately our friend Nick Northeast came by and showed us his impressive collection that accompanies his own Derby Bentley. We wasted no time to document Nick’s entire kit which can number over 50 pieces depending on the car.
Nick tells us that the kit is similar to the standard Rolls-Royce output, but has Bentley specific pieces such as early F.B. spanners and the unobtainable Bentley Motors Ltd. feeler gauge.
The harder to find Bentley-specific parts of the kit.
4 Tommy Bars and their Double Ended Box Spanners
Unrestored Lucas Bulb Holder with correct holder and a Lucas Type 97 inspection lamp.
Tire related Tools: Dunlop Jack with handle. Ace Corncraft Wheel Disc Spanner, Rudge Whitworth Wheel Nut Spanner, Kinsman MKII Tyre Pump, Hammer, Starting Bar, Starting Handle.
Entire selection of the small tools in the replica Phantom II roll.
Bentley Specific List of Nick’s tools:
1931 Bentley Motors Ltd. Feeler Gauges
Double Ended Jaw Spanner 3BA w ¼BSF FB559
Double Ended Jaw Spanner 1BA w ¼BSF w FB560
Double Ended Jaw Spanner 5/16BSF w ⅜BSF FB561
Double Ended Jaw Spanner 7/16BSF w ½BSF FB562
Double Ended Jaw Spanner FB563
Single Ended Jaw Spanner 11/16BSF FB2190
Valve Tool Comprising Clamp with Adaptor EB809
Rocker Tappet Adjustment Spanner E79087
Nestel Oil Syringe FB82659
Air Silencer Spanner EB2126
Petrol Tank Drain Plug Key FB564
Double Ended Box Spanner 3BA w 2BA F9809
Double Ended Box Spanner 1BA w ¼BSF F9810
Double Ended Box Spanner 5/16BSF w 3/8BSF F9811
Double Ended Box Spanner 7/16BSF w ½BSF F9812
Double Ended Box Spanner ¾BSF w 13/16 F9814
Tommy Bar 3/16BSF E7342
Tommy Bar ¼BSF E7658
Tommy Bar 5/16 E9048
Tommy Bar 7/16 E12645
***Update**
Peter Charlton has found this exceptional Derby tool kit and has kindly let us feature it on this page.
It looks like the type tucks away in the trunk is sometimes integraded on a separate tray or on the inside of the trunk panel itself.
He says “Looks to be unused and totally original.
They used both FB and F series box spanners, I guess the coach builder used what he had available.
Pliers look to be nickel plated and no markings.
The open ended spanners have no markings as you would expect, but are modified RR tools then cadmium coated. Even the small contacts spanner has had it’s markings removed.
I did a bit of searching in the RROC archives. I found a 3 1/2 litre tool list. It clearly states that the open ended tools are to be made from modified RR tools.”
