1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Coupe “Honeymoon Express”
This British luxury car stands as one of the most notable Derby Bentleys ever produced. The 1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Coupe first appeared at London’s 1938 Earls Court Motor Show, where Park Ward displayed this unique two-seater design. The vehicle featured a powerful 126 bhp OHV inline six-cylinder engine with twin SU carburetors and a distinctive four-speed manual transmission with overdrive fourth gear.
The sleek fastback was conceived as Bentley’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz 540 K Autobahn Kurier, built on the advanced “MR” chassis with fixed radiator shutters and a sportier dashboard configuration. Innovative features included a “sunshine roof,” frameless side windows with mechanical lifts, integrated lighting, and complete rear wheel spats. Its most distinctive element was a power-operated roller blind covering the rear window—a somewhat provocative touch that, along with generous luggage space behind the seats, earned it the enduring nickname “Honeymoon Express” in period press.
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