In the 1930s, Rolls-Royce's Derby factory supplied Bentleys only as
chassis, without bodies, and many customers for these refined, fast and
enormously desirable cars would then turn to a particular coachbuilder
to design and construct a body for them to meet their tastes and
requirements. From Abbey of Acton, West London, to Worblaufen of
Switzerland, by way of great names like Barker, Gurney Nutting, HJ
Mulliner and Saoutchik, Coachwork on Derby Bentleys covers all the
British and overseas coachbuilders on the Bentley chassis, and reviews
the bodies they built on the 3.5-litre, 4.25-litre and the short-lived
Mark V. The British coachbuilders are dealt with in alphabetical order,
as are the overseas companies in a separate section, with details of the
different types of bodies they supplied. Bentley aficionados will
particularly appreciate the inclusion of chassis numbers for all the
cars bodied by all the coachbuilders, which makes this a truly inclusive
work. There are some 280 colour photographs, including in-detail shoots
of 40 outstanding cars by the distinguished automotive photographer
Simon Clay, and 80 black-and-white illustrations from the archives.
Celebrating as it does the work of the leading coachbuilders of the era,
as well as Bentley's quite exceptional productions of the 1930s, this
book offers an unrivaled store of knowledge for the many enthusiasts and
owners who care passionately about the cars, and serves as a tribute to
the people who made them.
