Coys Auction - True Greats
Royal Horticultural Halls
Elverton St
Westminster
London SW1
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Following Rolls-Royce’s takeover of Bentley in 1931, the first new Bentley had been the 3½ Litre of 1933. Basically a sporting version of the Rolls-Royce 20/25, it utilised a shorter chassis together with a more powerful version of the 20/25’s six cylinder engine with new crossflow cylinder head. Producing 105bhp and mated to a four-speed synchromesh transmission, the 3,699cc engine provided the 3½ Litre with 90mph plus performance. For 1936 Rolls-Royce enlarged the engine to 4,257cc. Retaining the 3½ Litre’s crossflow cylinder head, twin SU carburettors, twin fuel pumps and single coil ignition, power rose significantly to 126bhp, which allowed an almost 100mph maximum speed and notably improved acceleration. Basically the new car had the same acceleration figures in top gear as the earlier car had in third.
Otherwise, the specification of the 4¼ Litre was much the same as i