1939 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys Paris event, 4 - 5 February 2025.
Offered Without Reserve 400,000 - 550,000 EUR

• Formerly belonged to Ferrari factory driver and four-time 24 Hours of Le Mans victor, Olivier Gendebien; used for many years as his personal transport to races
• Retained by the Gendebien family until Oliviers passing in 1998
• The last Bentley delivered to continental Europe before World War II; delivered new to Baron Robert Gendebien of Brussels
• Attractive convertible four-seater body by Parisian coachbuilder Vanvooren
• Restored for The Curated Collection by Clark & Carter Restorations
• Awarded 1st-in-class honours at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance

Bentley customers are often colourful characters but rarely do examples join families as storied as Gendebien. Baron Robert Gendebien, a descendent of one of the founding families of the 1830 Belgian government, became a hero of World War I before establishing himself in business and as a respected art collector. Clearly a man of taste, he placed his order via Andr Pisart of Brussels for a desirable MX overdrive version of Bentleys 4 -Litre.

Unlike most Bentleys, chassis number B197MX was delivered on 12 October 1939 to famed Parisian coachbuilder Vanvooren to be adorned with a stunning four-seat Convertible body. This work appears to have been completed on 15 January 1940 when it was tested at Park Ward and finally delivered to Belgium. Sadly, Gendebien had only five months to enjoy his Bentley before it had to be hidden from occupying forces at the family estate.

After the war, this Bentley was then passed to Roberts son, Olivier, who kept himself busy during hostilities as a resistance fighter and then a paratrooper. Olivier Gendebien would become one of Belgiums greatest racing drivers, applying his skills in Formula 1, sportscar racing, and rallying. His greatest triumphs would be at the wheel of Scuderia Ferrari cars in endurance racing, collecting four victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans among many others. During his racing career, it is known that he used this Bentley regularly to cross the continent to attend races.

Following his retirement at 38, Gendebien kept his beloved Bentley, commuting from his house in Provence until his passing in 1998. Subsequently acquired by The Curated Collection, this historic Bentley was eventually committed to a remarkable restoration by Clark & Carter Restorations. Completed in 2019, it was exhibited at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance, where it won a 1st-in-class prize and performed faultlessly during the drive down to Big Sur.

Offered publicly for the first time, this historic Bentley is presented in truly stunning condition and would make a fine concours entry or perfect touring car for the roads of Europe, just as Olivier Gendebien enjoyed it throughout his life
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa25/.