Description

The overdrive Derby Bentley was the final flowering of an extremely successful model, equipped with the higher gearing, lighter steering, enhanced handling and better ride (as well as other detail improvements) to enable it to compete with key rivals, most of which it continued to outsell.

These cars of the MR and MX series, despite their plentiful and undeniable improvements, would end up having a short production life of really only several months, is an oddity and this book does a fine job explaining the impact of the Depression and the gathering clouds of war but also the lifestyles and habits (i.e. vacations involving road travel, owner- v chauffeur-driven, family size etc.) of the people who could afford this sort of car.

The first edition of this book came out a quarter century ago, in 1994, but that version was rather less fully rounded.

During the 25 years that have passed since the last definitive book on this model was published. Further research has uncovered new information about the car and its development.

Current owners have been generous in sharing details of their individual examples. In this volume, the origins and emergence of the overdrive Bentley, the reception it received and the cars themselves, a high proportion of which survive, are dealt with in detail.

Hardback. Fine condition, unread.