The 3 Litre Speed was the first performance-focused Bentley, and started a nameplate still in use today to signify the most performance-focused members of Bentley’s model range.
The Bentley 3 Litre
The 3 Litre represents W.O. Bentley’s original vision of ‘a fast car, a good car, the best in its class’ brought to life. It stayed in production from 1921 to 1929 and won countless races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and 1927. Production of the 3 Litre was slow at first, but Bentley’s order books were soon packed with the names of wealthy and aristocratic clients, including Prince George (later the Duke of Kent), the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) and the Duke of York, later King George VI. The 3 Litre remained in production until 1929, and models included the standard wheelbase Blue Label (for which Bentley literature claimed “with four passengers it is guaranteed the machine will lap Brooklands at 75mph”), Red Label Speed and 100mph Green Label models. It remained the mainstay of the Bentley range in production volumes until the introduction of the 4½ Litre. 1,622 examples of the 3 Litre were built.
The Speed Model
In 1924, Bentley launched the 3 Litre Speed Model, with a power increase from 70 to 80 bhp achieved by increasing the engine’s compression ratio. A shorter wheelbase than the standard 3 Litre was used, at 9′ 9.5″.
Specifications
- Date Produced 1921-1929
- Number Built: 1,622 total of which 513 were Speeds
- Body: Open tourer; 2-doors, 4-seats, Vanden Plas body
- Engine: Straight-4. 2,996 cc, four valves per cylinder, twin spark, overhead camshaft with bevel drive. Cast iron monobloc, twin ‘Sloper’ SU carburettors.
- Power: 80 bhp @ 3500 rpm
- Transmission: Four-speed manual
- Chassis: Pressed steel frame, 117.5 in chassis
- Performance: Maximum speed 90 mph (145 km/h)
