| Bentley 3 Litre | |
|---|---|
 Blue label tourer by Park Ward 1924 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bentley Motors Limited, Cricklewood, London |
| Production | 1921–1929 1622 produced[1] |
| Designer | Walter Owen Bentley |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | as arranged with coachbuilder by customer |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.0 L OHC 4-valve I4 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 108 in (2,743 mm) 117.5 in (2,984 mm) 130 in (3,302 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | 4½ Litre |
The Bentley 3 Litre was a car chassis manufactured by Bentley. The company's first, it was developed from 1919 and made available to customers' coachbuilders from 1921 to 1929. The Bentley was very much larger than the 1368 cc Bugattis that dominated racing at the time, but double the size of engine and strength compensated for the extra weight. The 4000 lb (1800 kg) car won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, with drivers John Duff and Frank Clement, and again in 1927, this time in Super Sports form, with drivers S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis and Dudley Benjafield. Its weight, size, and speed prompted Ettore Bugatti to call it "the fastest lorry in the world", which was regarded as a compliment. Built in 3 main variants, Blue label, Red Label Speed models all carrying a 5-year warranty, and the coveted and rare Green Label 100 mph cars, which only carried a 12-month warranty reflecting the high state of tune.
- ^ Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2.