Description
The Bentley 4.25 Litre Coupé by Van Vooren represents a rare and exquisite collaboration between British engineering and French Art Deco elegance. Van Vooren, the famed Parisian coachbuilder known for its innovative and avant-garde designs, brought a distinctively continental flair to Bentley’s reliable and refined 4.25 Litre chassis.
This particular coupé stood out for its flowing lines, aerodynamic cues, and balanced proportions. Van Vooren was known for crafting bodies that were not only stylish but also remarkably modern for their time, often incorporating flush-fitting panels, low rooflines, and elegantly curved fenders. The 4.25 Litre Coupé typically featured a long, sweeping bonnet, subtly integrated headlamps, and a gently sloping rear end, giving it a sense of motion even at rest.
Inside, the Van Vooren coupé combined Bentley’s mechanical solidity with French luxury. The cabin was a blend of fine wood veneers, supple leather, and polished fittings, arranged in a minimalist yet graceful layout. Dashboard designs varied but often leaned toward symmetry and clarity, reflecting the French taste for function-driven elegance.
Mechanically, the car retained Bentley’s trusted 4.25-litre inline-six engine, which provided smooth, responsive power, particularly well-suited to long-distance touring. Coupled with a manual gearbox and advanced chassis engineering, it offered confident handling and an impressively refined ride. The collaboration with Van Vooren meant that despite its size, the car maintained an agile and athletic presence on the road.
The Bentley 4.25 Litre Coupé Van Vooren is a symbol of the cosmopolitan luxury of the late 1930s, representing the pinnacle of custom coachbuilding across borders. Today, it is highly prized by collectors not only for its rarity but also for the way it encapsulates an era when style and substance were in perfect harmony.