Bentley Pourtout/Embiricos-Inspired Homage Roadster

Featured here is the 1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre homage to the Pourtout crafted "Embiricos" coupé designed by Georges Poulin.  This roadster version was constructed by Chalmers & Gathings.  Some background on the 1938 coupé is here.  The roadster by Chalmers and Gathings was based on a 1936 Bentley 4 1/4 litre car with serial number B25GP and engine number N8BU.

Hemmings had information regarding the homage car here, including:

"An award-winning one-of-a-kind car, this Bentley was designed and built over an eighteen-year period, conceived, and developed by its enthusiastic first owner, a graduate of Art Center College of Design (the premier automobile design college) and founder of his own design office.  A longtime Bentley enthusiast and prior long-term R-Type Continental owner, his love of Bentley cars spanned more than thirty years including ownership of many Derby Bentleys and a one-off Vanvooren drophead that placed second in class at Pebble Beach under his ownership.

"Initially penned as a series of design drawings in 1992, the commissioning owner, designer, and builder of this 4 ¼ liter Derby Bentley began construction in 1993.  The original donor car was outfitted with Gurney Nutting coachwork which was sold to another enthusiast for use in a separate restoration.  The rolling chassis and driveline were comprehensively restored over the next eight years in the talented hands of dedicated craftsmen at MD Coachworks in Van Nuys, CA.  Concurrent to the detailed and authentic running chassis restoration, Art Center collaborators and the commissioning owner prepared full scale lofts for fabrication of a wooden body buck and ash frame, both of which were constructed by Doug Chalmers.  The all-aluminum body was hand fabricated using the master body bucks by expert metal craftsman Bill Gathings, thus creating the name Chalmers & Gathings, in keeping with coach work traditions.  The resultant exquisite body work is inspired by the work of Georges Paulin, a prolific designer including the masterwork “Embiricos Bentley” from which this car evokes a great deal of influence in both style and proportion."

I need to note that some observers hate the practice of creating retro cars, even when based on source period components, such as the situation here.  I am ambivalent on the issue.  The present case is essentially the figurative removal of the coupé's passenger compartment greenhouse to create a roadster or cabriolet.  Topless cars of almost any sort can be more attractive (if less practical) than closed-body versions with all the shaping and detailing such greenhouses require.  The homage car here is very attractive, as can be seen in the images below.

Photos of the homage car are via Hemmings.

Gallery

1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre 'Embiricos' Special by Pourtout - unknown date of photo.

Rear quarter view of the 1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre 'Embiricos' Special by Pourtout - unknown photo source.  Compare fender area details with those of the homage roadster in the photos below.

Frontal styling is the same, aside from the roadster's lack of a bumper.

The cockpit is short, and there's no compartment for a canvas top that I can see.

Compare this quarter view with that of the Pourtout car above.  Both cars feature catwalk areas next to high, peaked, teardrop-shaped fenders fore and aft.  The forward catwalk design is of particular interest.

Buried in those wide catwalks are tapered headlight assemblies that echo fender plan-views -- but without the trailing crease.

Overhead view showing the tapered fender and boat-tail trunk elements.

The windshield differs from the original, but is in keeping with a sporty 1930s style.