W.O. Bentley's founding car — the four-cylinder sports tourer that won Le Mans in 1924 and 1927 and established the marque.
The 3 Litre was Bentley Motors' first production car and the cornerstone of W.O. Bentley's reputation. Powered by a 2,996cc four-cylinder engine with single overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and twin magnetos, it was technically advanced for 1921 and powerful enough to win the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1924 (Duff/Clement) and 1927 (Benjafield/Davis in the famous 'Old Number 7'). Approximately 1,613 chassis were built across Standard, Speed and Super Sports specifications, the latter typically with the shorter 9-foot 9.5-inch wheelbase and Red Label engine.
The 3 Litre is the car that made Bentley. Continuous Le Mans success and W.O.'s personal involvement in design give every surviving example genuine historical weight.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Blue Label) | 1921–1929 | — | 9'9.5" or 10'10" wheelbase touring chassis. |
| Speed (Red Label) | 1924–1929 | — | Higher compression, twin SU carburettors, Le Mans-derived spec. |
| Super Sports (Green Label) | 1925–1927 | — | Short 9' wheelbase, 100 mph guaranteed; very rare. |
For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Bentley 3 Litre, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Vanden Plas Le Mans-style open coachwork on a Speed chassis with verified Red Label engine and registry-accepted history.
The four-cylinder engine is robust if maintained, but bearings, valve gear and the dual magneto ignition system reward specialist service. Compression and oil pressure tests on a hot engine are mandatory. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.
Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.
Cars on the original short Speed Model chassis with documented Vanden Plas open coachwork and continuous history are the strongest examples; rebodied cars and 'specials' built on saloon chassis trade at substantial discounts. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.
Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion
Vintage cars require disciplined preventive maintenance: lubrication regimes, magneto service, carburettor synchronisation, brake adjustment, and timber and trim conservation. A car used regularly and serviced annually by a specialist will outlast a stored example neglected for decades.
Strong global Bentley Drivers Club support and several capable specialists in the UK and US; parts are reproducible but expensive. Confirm the availability of marque specialists, period-correct fasteners, coachwork trim, instruments and tyres before committing. A car requiring fabricated one-off parts will absorb time and cost that a similar example with active specialist support will not.
Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions
The 3 Litre is a blue-chip pre-war collectable. Le Mans-specification Speed Model cars are the clear leaders; saloons and re-bodied 'specials' have softened modestly while genuine Speed chassis remain firm.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-15 | Bonhams Quail Lodge | 1925 Speed Model Tourer (Vanden Plas) | — | $742,000 Sold |
| 2024-09-08 | Bonhams Goodwood Revival | 1927 3 Litre Speed Tourer | — | £506,000 Sold |
The car that built Bentley's reputation. Verified Speed Model examples with continuous history are blue-chip and unlikely to soften meaningfully.
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Register interestThe valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
