January issue: Model of the Month - Bentley 4¼ litre Concealed Drophead Coupe

**OUR TOP MODEL AS CHOSEN BY THE DIECAST TEAM THIS MONTH

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Brooklin Models
Bentley 4¼ litre Concealed Drophead Coupe
PRICE: £69.99 LIMIT: NOT SPECIFIED SCALE: 1/43 REF NO: LDM.81

This month we shine the spotlight on a white metal model which is elegant, stylish and desirable in equal measure.

Brooklin Models’ new Bentley 4¼ litre Coupe, with concealed Drophead, is from 1936 and was built for Bentley Chairman Woolf Barnato, by coachworker HJ Mulliner. This beautiful bodywork was first draped over a 3½ litre chassis a couple of years before, but Barnato was so delighted with the car that he requested Mulliner transfer it to the new 4¼ litre chassis instead. With sweeping lines, the sports saloon’s retractable hood was concealed by a rear cover, which aided performance and improve the styling. The first example of this type of bodywork was on show at the London Motor Show and similar designs were seen up until 1939.

The model is wonderfully finished in faultless silver-blue and a creditable job has been done to imitate the wooden trim along the tops of the doors and behind the rear seats.

Spatted rear wheels give a heightened sense of streamlining, but the front spoke wheels, which look delicate, are actually very sturdy. Chrome trim runs across the doors to the rear wheel arch, and along the bottom of each wheel spat, and the windscreen is crystal-clear.

'Top Model' is a regular feature in Diecast Collector (pg 12-13).

If this fantastic model has caught your eye, why not have a look at what Diecast Collector issues are available to buy online?