Vintage 1935 Bentley to go up at auction

First purchased by Australian tea merchant Philip Bushell soon after rolling off the production line in 1935, the Bentley was sent to the land down under where it remained for just under two decades.

It ultimately returned to these shores and ended up going for sale at a garage in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1954.

Soon after, a 73-year-old local farmer fell in love with the car and bought it for £1,050.

Purchase bill for the 1935 Bentley in 2954. Picture: Charterhouse

Purchased as a ‘farm vehicle’, the owner disliked the yellow paintwork and had the car repainted in black, costing another £500.

Moving forward to 1968 and the Bentley failed an MOT on its kingpins, so it was pushed into the farm cart shed. It was brought out again in about 1971 by the current owner, the farmers’ grandson, when some repairs were made but only for it to again be pushed back in the shed where it remained for the next five decades.

With the grandson realising he will never get around to restoring the Bentley, he contacted Richard Bromell at Dorset-based auctioneers Charterhouse to value and sell on the car.

1935 Bentley revealed after decades of slumber. Picture: Charterhouse

Richard Bromell said: “Growing up as a child I thought every farm had old buildings hiding away classic and vintage cars. Although I have seen and sold many barn finds at Charterhouse over the decades, this one certainly trumps all other previous discoveries.”

Now requiring full restoration, this rare Bentley is estimated at between £50,000-70,000 in the Charterhouse auction of vintage cars being held at Haynes International Motor Museum on Wednesday October 12.

Visit charterhouse-auction.com for more information.