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1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter

Bentley Motors was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931 with the declared intention to make the best sporting car of its type in the world. This was not an easy challenge, because they did not wanting to alienate either customer base. With production of the Bentley 8 and 4½ litre shut down, the question remained as to what sort of car to build. The Experimental Department developed several prototypes before settling on a car that was based on the earlier 18hp experimental chassis called the 'Peregrine' fitted with a modified 20/25hp engine. Introduced in 1933, these 'Derby Bentley' 3½ liter models offered luxury, power, and superior engineering. They were a combination of traditional Rolls-Royce refinement with Bentley handling and performance. Based on the contemporary Rolls-Royce 20/25, the 3½-Litre Bentley employed a tuned twin-SU carburetor version of the former's 3,669cc overhead-valve six-cylinder engine developing 115 horsepower. Its wheelbase was shorter than the 20/25, measuring 126-inches. They had servo-assisted brakes and a part-synchromesh four-speed gearbox, adding to the high performance capability in nearly absolute silence.

1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter photo
Sports Coupe by Vanden Plas
View info and history
The 'Silent Sports Car,' as they were called, was followed by the more powerful 4¼ liter, which raised the bar further, with its performance, superb brakes and effortless long-distance touring capabilities. The 4¼ liter had been introduced in 1936 when the bore size in the 3½-Litre had been increased to 4,257cc, and the adoption of superior Hall's Metal bearings. This new engine was used in both the Bentley and the Rolls-Royce 25/30hp, with the Bentley enjoying the superior specification, boasting twin SU carburetors, raised compression ratio, and a more 'sporting' camshaft. It had more power than the preceding model while retaining the well-proven chassis with its faultless gear-change and servo-assisted braking. With a top speed approaching 90 mph, they were at the top of the contemporary supercar category.

These were exclusively coachbuilt automobiles and due to the sporting nature, were almost always fitted with owner-driver saloon or drophead coupe coachwork, the 'standard' designs being the work of Park Ward.

A total of 1,177 examples of the 3.5-Liter and 1,234 of the successor 4¼-Litre model prior to the cessation of production in 1939.


by Daniel Vaughan | May 2019

Related Reading : Bentley 4¼ Litre History

Bentley Motors was purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1931. One of the first of the Bentley vehicles produced after this merge was the 1933 3-12 Liter, a vehicle similar to the Rolls Royce 2025. Bentley automobiles personified racing and the 3 12 Liter vehicle followed this tradition. It had a more powerful engine than its 2025 counterpart. This had been achieved by adding a second carburetor and modification....
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1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter Vehicle Profiles

1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Drophead Coupe

Coachwork: James Young
Chassis #: B29GP
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Drophead Coupe

Coachwork: Park Ward & Co.
Chassis #: B57KU
Engine #: Z6BM
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Airflow Saloon

Coachwork: Gurney Nutting
Chassis #: B118HK
Engine #: K2BY
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Tourer

Coachwork: Horsfield of Halifax
Chassis #: B 49 GP
Engine #: U 2 5K
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Pillarless Coupe

Coachwork: Gurney Nutting
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Two Seat Tourer

Coachwork: Vanden Plas
Chassis #: B 138GA
Engine #: K6BW
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Two Seat Tourer

Coachwork: Vanden Plas
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Barker Sunroof Coupe

Coachwork: Barker
Chassis #: B46 JD
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Drophead Coupe

Coachwork: James Young
Chassis #: APN 107
1936 Bentley 4¼ Liter vehicle information
Sports Coupe

Coachwork: Vanden Plas

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

4¼ Litre

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
126.00 in.
6 cyl., 259.35 CID., 125.00hp
126.00 in.
6 cyl., 259.35 CID., 125.00hp
117.48 in., 117.50 in., 126.00 in.
6 cyl., 274.61 CID., 125.00hp
$7,200 - $7,200
117.50 in.
6 cyl., 274.61 CID., 125.00hp
126.00 in.
6 cyl., 259.78 CID., 125.00hp

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