As we perused the lot list in Worldwide Auctioneers sale at Scottsdale on January 18th, we started to weigh up two British beauties to see which we might prefer.
The 1937 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Fixed Head Coupe is a coveted 'one off' example with particularly striking Coachwork by Park Ward. The original owner was one Miss F. Pickles, who is understood to have at first desired a Drophead Coupe, but soon changed her mind in favour of this Fixed-Head body.
The 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Drophead Coupe was a radical redesign by Rolls-Royce standards of the era and it marks the last series designed and developed under the watchful eye of company co-founder Henry Royce.
The auction description chronicles the history of the car which culminates with the long, sleek, and sensuous Binder Drophead Coupe body being married to a PII chassis slightly later than the one with which it started life, thus embodying the very essence of both elegance and silent speed.
But then BAM! We find this fabulous 1938 Talbot-Lago T-23 Sport Cabriolet.
Gorgeous in every respect with its desirable short chassis, four-litre engine, Wilson pre-selector gearbox and independent front suspension. This car enjoys a factory-built body influenced by Figoni & Falaschi. Giuseppe Figoni's fascination with aerodynamics produced some truly breathtaking designs.
All three cars have interiors which elevate the driver above the surrounding traffic and make pre-war motoring a true delight.
Vive la difference !
Text Robin Batchelor, pictures courtesy Worldwide Auctioneers.