1928 Bentley 4½ Litre

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Even after 100 years, Bentley’s success at Le Mans during the 1920s continues to resonate among motoring enthusiasts, and the cars that left the Cricklewood factory during that era are among the most charismatic of their era.

The Bentley 4½ Litre being offered for sale here was built up on a new chassis during the 1990s by Green Farm Racing, a specialist in pre-war Bentleys and Vauxhalls run by Vintage Sports-Car Club stalwart Julian Ghosh.

A considerable number of original components were used as part of the build, including the robust four-cylinder engine, which is number AD3662 and was originally fitted to chassis AD3664. Other major period parts include the front and rear axles, steering box, and the B-type gearbox, which benefits from the installation of close-ratio C-type gears.

A very handsome Vanden Plas-style four-seater tourer body was fitted, and the completed Bentley was registered in 1997, the DVLA having issued it with the period number ‘YV 4790’. It was subsequently used and thoroughly enjoyed by its new owner – another member of the VSCC – during the early 2000s.

After a period in storage in the late 2010s, it was extensively recommissioned and has recently been entrusted to renowned specialist Kingsbury Racing Shop for some fine-tuning work that included adjusting the clutch and brakes.

Driving any Cricklewood-era Bentley is a unique experience and – with race numbers applied and a ‘fish tail’ exhaust fitted – YV 4790 is an extremely well-presented and well-sorted car. Not only does it offer a nod to the legendary racing Bentleys of the 1920s, it’s ready to be used and enjoyed as part of the vibrant scene that still surrounds these engaging cars.

MODEL HISTORY  

From victory at Le Mans to the patronage of royalty and aristocracy alike, the foundations for the Bentley marque were laid during the 1920s and early 1930s, when it marketed its powerful, sporting models as being ‘the British thoroughbred car’.

The first model to be offered by WO Bentley’s eponymous new company was the 3 Litre, which used a four-cylinder monobloc engine that featured 16 valves, an overhead camshaft and twin plugs per cylinder. 

Various combinations of chassis and engine tune were offered from the beginning of 3 Litre production in 1921, from the long-wheelbase Blue Label model to the short-chassis Green Label Supersports, which was guaranteed to provide 100mph performance.

In 1927, Bentley introduced the 4½ Litre model, which offered the same robust reliability as the 3 Litre, but with added performance that made it even more attractive to the wealthy, dashing individuals who made up Bentley’s clientele. The 4398cc engine shared much with the 3 Litre in terms of its basic design, and many of its internal components were also shared with its six-cylinder 6½ Litre sibling.

A wide range of bodies was offered by the leading coachbuilders of the time, and the 4½ Litre continued the marque’s run of competition success. The car known as ‘Old Mother Gun’ won at Le Mans in 1928 in the hands of Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin, despite the fact that its chassis had cracked and the engine was rapidly losing all of its water.

The 4½ Litre also formed the basis for a limited run of supercharged ‘Blower’ Bentleys that were developed by successful racing driver Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin.

Just over 700 examples of the 4½ Litre are thought to have left the Cricklewood factory before Bentley fell into receivership in late 1931. Production therefore came to an end, and the company itself was subsequently taken over by Rolls-Royce.