The Bentley 3 Litre is a luxury car produced by Bentley Motors Limited from 1921 to 1929. It was the company’s first model and established Bentley’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance luxury cars.
The Bentley 3 Litre was powered by a four-cylinder, 3-liter engine that produced approximately 70 horsepower. The car was designed to be both luxurious and sporty, with a top speed of around 80 miles per hour. It featured advanced features for its time, such as a four-wheel brake system and a suspension system that used semi-elliptical leaf springs.
The Bentley 3 Litre achieved notable success in motorsports, particularly at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Bentley won the race in 1924, 1927, 1928, and 1929 with variations of the 3 Litre model.
The Bentley 3 Litre was available in several body styles, including saloon, tourer, and sporting models. It was also available as a rolling chassis, allowing customers to have custom coachwork installed by a coachbuilder of their choice.
Production of the Bentley 3 Litre ended in 1929, and the model was replaced by the Bentley 4.5 Litre. Despite its relatively short production run, the Bentley 3 Litre remains a significant car in the history of the automotive industry, particularly for its success in motorsports and its role in establishing Bentley’s reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance luxury cars.