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In 1927 Walter Owen Bentley replaced his 3 litre car with a more powerful one by increasing its engine displacement to 4.4 liters (270 cubic inches). The publicity brought by their competition program was invaluable for marketing Bentley's cars.
This 4.5 liter Bentley, originally owned by Thomas Ryan, was raced during the early 1930's and at some point, the engine seized. Another 4.5-liter engine (FB 3311) from the same year was sourced. The current owners, who purchased the car in 2011 began searching for the original engine. Eventually, that engine was discovered and reunited with the chassis. This has been documented by Dr. Tim Houlding, a Bentley historian at Vintage Bentley Limited. In addition to that engine, the car carries its original 'C' type gearbox, rear axle, and differential.
The restoration was completed in March of 2021. The car is a mechanical mate to the winner of the 1928 24-hour race at Le Mans.
This 4.5 liter Bentley, originally owned by Thomas Ryan, was raced during the early 1930's and at some point, the engine seized. Another 4.5-liter engine (FB 3311) from the same year was sourced. The current owners, who purchased the car in 2011 began searching for the original engine. Eventually, that engine was discovered and reunited with the chassis. This has been documented by Dr. Tim Houlding, a Bentley historian at Vintage Bentley Limited. In addition to that engine, the car carries its original 'C' type gearbox, rear axle, and differential.
The restoration was completed in March of 2021. The car is a mechanical mate to the winner of the 1928 24-hour race at Le Mans.
2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $750,000-USD $900,000
Sale Price :
USD $747,500
1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bentley 4.5 Litre
(Data based on Model Year 1928 sales)
| 1928 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE SPORTS TOURER Chassis#: TX3235 Sold for USD$31,060 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer Chassis#: HF3179 Sold for USD$561,053 2021 RM Sothebys : London | |
| 1928 Bentley 4½ Liter Le Mans-Style Tourer Replica Vanden Plas Chassis#: 3043 Sold for USD$747,500 2021 Bonhams : Quail Lodge |   |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer Chassis#: MF3157 Sold for USD$573,811 2019 Bonhams : The Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale | |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Open Sports Tourer Chassis#: FT3221 Sold for USD$1,100,000 2017 Gooding & Co. : Scottsdale, AZ | |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer in the style of Vanden Plas Chassis#: PM3252 Sold for USD$852,500 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island |   |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Semi-Le Mans Tourer Chassis#: MF3153 Sold for USD$2,750,000 2013 Gooding and Company - The Amelia Island Auction |   |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre British Flexible Coupe Chassis#: XR3347 Sold for USD$726,000 2013 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction |   |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Le Mans Sports Bobtail Chassis#: KM3088 Sold for USD$6,050,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction |  |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Tourer Chassis#: NT3131 Sold for USD$1,231,925 2012 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor cars and Automobilia at Goodwood | |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Tourer Chassis#: PM3252 Sold for USD$770,000 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
| 1928 Bentley 41/2-Litre Tourer Chassis#: RL3427 Sold for USD$327,541 2005 Bonhams - Sports, Competition & Collectors' Motor Cars, F1 Memorabilia, Automobilia & Models |
Bentley 4.5 Litres That Failed To Sell At Auction
1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
| Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE TOURER | PM3254 | 2023 Gooding & Company : London Auction | $600,000 | $800,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Sports Tourer | TX3239 | 2021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction | $1,100,000 | $1,400,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Drophead Sports Coupe by Salmons & Sons | XL3114 | 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey | $500,000 | $600,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer | UK3277 | 2020 Bonhams July Motoring Auction | $380,000 | $400,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Drophead Coupé by Salmons & Sons | XL 3114 | 2019 Historics at Brooklands Motor Museum | $380,000 | $420,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Sports Tourer | ST3006 | 2019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $1,000,000 | $1,300,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer | NT3137 | 2018 Bonhams : Goodwood | |||
| 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Sports The Bobtail by Vanden Plas | KM3088 | 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | $6,500,000 | $7,500,000 | |
| 1928 Bentley 3/4.5 Litre Vanden Plas Style Le Mans Tourer | HT1649 | 2015 H & H Auctions Imperial War Museum | |||
| 1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre Tourer | 2013 H & H Auctions The Pavilion Gardens | $400,000 | $470,000 | ||
| 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Harrison British Flexible Coupe | XR3347 | 2012 Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, Fl | $600,000 | $800,000 |
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1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre
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• Other Bentley 4.5 Litre model years
