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1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre Tourer

  • Coachwork by Weymann
  • Chassis Number: RN3043
  • Engine Number: RN3044
  • Registration Number: KW 3725
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.

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 4.5 Litre image  1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre image  
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 4.5 Litre image  1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre image  
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 4.5 Litre image  1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre image  
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 4.5 Litre image  1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre image  
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 4.5 Litre image  
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 4.5 Litre image  1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre image  
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.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1928 BENTLEY 4 1/2 LITRE TOURERPM32542023 Gooding & Company : London Auction $600,000$800,000
1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Sports TourerTX32392021 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours Auction $1,100,000$1,400,000
1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Drophead Sports Coupe by Salmons & SonsXL31142021 RM Sothebys : Monterey $500,000$600,000
1928 Bentley 4½-Litre TourerUK32772020 Bonhams July Motoring Auction $380,000$400,000
1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Drophead Coupé by Salmons & SonsXL 31142019 Historics at Brooklands Motor Museum $380,000$420,000
1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Sports TourerST30062019 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $1,000,000$1,300,000
1928 Bentley 4½-Litre TourerNT31372018 Bonhams : Goodwood   
1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Le Mans Sports The Bobtail by Vanden PlasKM30882017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island $6,500,000$7,500,000
1928 Bentley 3/4.5 Litre Vanden Plas Style Le Mans TourerHT16492015 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 CoupeXR33472012 Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, Fl $600,000$800,000

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1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre

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