Bentley 3 4½ Liter Speed Model

ONE
OF 513

VANDENPLAS
BODY

BRITISH
INITIAL DELIVERY

FIVA
PASS

READY TO
DRIVE

Technical specifications

Manufacturer

Bentley

Model

3, 4½ Liter

Model series

Speed Model

Mileage

80.339 Meilen

Period of production

1921-1929

Year of construction

1925

Initial registration

01.10.1925

Engine

6-cylinder in-line engine

Transmission

4-speed manual gearbox

engine (ccm)

4.398 cm³

Fuel

Petrol

Steering

Right-hand drive

Exterior

British Racing Green

Interior

Leather Black

General inspection

New

Quantity

513

Assessment

Restored

car description

This Bentley 3 4 ½ liter offered here for sale left the factory in 1925 as a 3 liter Speed Model. A very desirable variant for Bentley enthusiasts, as it serves as the perfect basis for installing a 4 ½ liter engine and thus creating a homage to the Bentley 4 ½ liter, which was only built 9 times.

The Bentley is fitted with a Vandenplas 4-seater Tourer body, which still bears the same 1925 license plates after all these years.

It is an incredible vehicle with fantastic documentation! A rarity for vehicles from this era. Absolutely every owner since 1925 is known and documented. The documents also show that the car had already covered 90,324 miles in 1933 - a sensation for the time!

According to the well-known work by Michael Hay, Bentley, The Vintage Years, this Bentley was built as a Speed Model with a four-seater body by Vanden Plas. It was registered to P. Latham with the license plate YL 4773. The car, one of only 513 3 liter Speed Models built, was sold to J. W. Cock in 1931 and to C. D. Pitman in 1934.

A Mr. C. B. Matthews owned the Bentley from 1947 to 1970 and the 3 Liter Bentley was subsequently purchased by Richard "Dick" Baddiley, a prominent VSCC Bentley racer, who acquired the engine number "685" and converted the car into a racing car. The original Vanden Plas body was sold and a special body was fitted in its place. The documentation includes a photo of Dick Baddiley driving the Bentley at a VSCC meeting at Silverstone. In 1989 the Bentley was rewired and sold to H C Peity (in Portugal), who in turn sold it to marque specialist Stanley Mann in 1989.

The car remained unused from 2000 to 2012 and was only completely rebuilt in 2012 by a renowned British Bentley expert (Solutions Racing from Standlake). The ash body frame was repaired where necessary and a new oak dashboard was made, new wheels were refurbished, a hydraulic braking system added and finished with a repaint.

Both the chassis and the body are in particularly good condition. The car has a high-quality soft top. The oak dashboard provides space for perfectly functioning instruments. The green carpets and leather are also in good condition and match the splendor of the car. In addition to the conversion to a 4 ½ liter engine, the Bentley was fitted with an A-Type gearbox and the shock absorbers, differential and both axles were renewed.

As you can see, the car is very extensively documented, including a Fiva passport. If you are looking for a fantastic pre-war Bentley that is sporty to drive and has great documentation, this is certainly the perfect car.

History of the series

The Bentley 3 Litre Speed was first introduced in 1921 and was the first model to be produced by Bentley Motors Ltd. It was a sports car prized for its robustness and ability to reach high speeds.

Under the hood of the Bentley 3 Litre Speed was an impressive 3-liter inline four-cylinder engine, which gave the vehicle a remarkable performance for the time. With a peak output of 70 hp and a top speed of over 130 km/h, the 3 Litre Speed models were extremely fast cars for their time.

The Bentley 3 Litre Speed was also known for its racing successes. The model took part in various racing events, including the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1924, a 3 Litre Speed managed to take first place in the racing class, cementing the car's reputation as a high-performance racing car.

The Bentley's design was elegant and timeless. The body was produced by renowned coachbuilders such as Vanden Plas and Park Ward and was characterized by its curved lines and high-quality workmanship. The interior was luxurious and comfortable, designed to pamper the driver and passengers on long journeys.

Today, only a few examples of the Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model remain, and they are considered extremely rare and sought-after collector's items. Their historical value and significance in automotive history make them valuable mementos of a golden era of British motoring. The Bentley 3 Litre Speed Model of 1925 remains a milestone in the history of motoring and a symbol of the passion and pursuit of perfection that characterizes Bentley as a brand. Its legacy lives on in today's Bentley cars, which embody the same spirit of luxury, performance and elegance.

Price

469.000,00 € (VAT not applicable)

This offer and the information contained therein are non-binding. Errors, omissions and prior sale excepted.

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