Western Models Bentley 3 ½ Litre 2-Door Saloon ‘aerofoil’ 1937 Grey/Black 1:43

Lovely white metal 1:43 scale Bentley by Western Models. This is an early assembled and painted version, with no ‘Flying B’ radiator mascot and cast-in wing-mounted sidelights. The early No.4 and later WMS4 models are boxed as 1937 Bentley 3 ½ Litre 2-Door Saloon. The model depicted is an ‘Aerofoil’ sports saloon with bodywork by J Gurney Nutting and one of only 4 made.

Black wings and chassis, with gloss grey-green bodywork. Bare metal front radiator grille, headlights, spotlights, horns and front bumper. Blank black number plates front and rear. Silver painted wing-mounted sidelights, door handles and single rear light painted red. Clear glazing, a detailed interior with dark green seats, dark wood-effect dashboard with silver instrument dials and a black, 4-spoke steering wheel.

The gloss black chassis is detailed with engine, transmission, fuel tank and exhaust system. It rolls on cast metal wheels with treaded rubber tyres.

1937 Bentley"Aerofoil" Sports Saloon - Coachwork by J Gurney Nutting

The 'Art Deco' period of the inter-war years was one that saw an increasing interest on the part of motor manufacturers - and independent coachbuilders - in streamlined or 'airline' designs, resulting in the creation of some of the most visually exciting cars ever seen. British company J Gurney Nutting - 'coachbuilder to the maharajas' - had first produced an airline body in 1930 for Woolf Barnato's famous 'Blue Train' Bentley, and the firm would be responsible for some of the most daring Art Deco designs of the next decade.

After acquisition of Bentley Motors in 1931, Rolls Royce declared their intention to make the best sporting car of its type in the world. The result was the 3 1/2 litre Bentley which combined power, luxury and superb Rolls Royce engineering. Quickly becoming known as the "Silent Sports Car", the 3 1/2 litre Bentley, soon succeeded by the more powerful 4 1/4 litre, won almost universal praise for its performance, superb brakes and effortless long distance touring capabilities.

The 3 1/2 and 4 1/4 litre Bentleys were clothed with beautiful and striking bodies by the finest coach builders of the day. The London firm of J Gurney Nutting, based in fashionable Chelsea, quickly became the sporting and elegant coach builder of choice for royalty in England and abroad and for wealthy sportsmen like Woolf Barnato, the wealthy South African sportsman and industrialist who won Le Mans and commissioned Gurney Nutting to build the famous "Blue Train" Bentley. The Prince of Wales and Duke of York were among Gurney Nutting's clients; in 1931 the firm was awarded the Royal Warrant. Chief designer, A.F. McNeil, produced many of Gurney Nutting's most elegant and striking designs, aided by his young assistant, John Blatchley, who was soon to succeed him and, after the war, design the legendary Bentley R Type Continental fast back Coupé and, for Park Ward, the S1 Continental fixed and drop head Coupés.

Leading London Bentley dealer H.R. Owen commissioned just four "Aerofoil" fixed head Coupés. The first two "Aerofoil" Coupés were ordered by Maharajas and exported to India. The shape has a high waistline which falls sharply behind the doors leading to an elegant tail with a small rear window. The lines of the front and rear wings and of the tail are masterly, combining a recognisably traditional Bentley radiator with Art Deco elegance and aerodynamic suggestions of effortless power and speed.

Western Models was started in November 1973 with the first model being released in January 1974 at the now Windsor Swap meet. The company was started by Mike Stephens, Bryan Garfield-Jones and Ken Wooton. Their first customer for their first model, the Mercedes Benz 540K, were the Lang brothers of Danhausen in Germany and many models were produced for them over the following 10 years, as well as Western's own comprehensive range. Gunter Lang went on to produce the Minichamps range of which Western produced some early examples.

Mike Stephens took full control of the company in 1975 and also issued 1/4 scale models such as an Essex Lotus.

During the 1970s and 80s a strong link was forged with many F1 Teams and models were produced in lots of different scales from 1/87 through to 1/4.

Having started in Epsom, Surrey from an idea originally planned in Devon, the company moved to various larger premises in Redhill, Surrey and then a major move back west to Taunton. With Acre Ridge, the company was again based in a rural setting, and the company had gone back to its "Western" roots before being sold and moved "East".

Whilst in Taunton a new range of Aircraft was started in 1/200th scale and represented 50% of Western Models production. In 1994 Geoff Noble sold the very first Western Models aircraft, a Bristol Super Freighter, in Silver City markings.

Route 66 Model Car Store purchased most or all of the American 1/43 model car range in 2007. Models are still produced in England but have been upgraded with many more details. The range is now called Western Models Collectors Editions or WMCE.

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