Bentley 3 1/2 Litres

Introduced in 1933, the Bentley 3½ Litre marked a major turning point in the history of the prestigious British marque. Developed following Rolls-Royce’s acquisition of Bentley in 1931, it inaugurated a new generation of grand touring cars combining performance, refinement and reliability. Its 3,669 cc inline six-cylinder engine, entirely engineered by Rolls-Royce, featured an overhead camshaft and delivered exceptional smoothness, a remarkable characteristic for its time. Coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on third and fourth gears, it enabled the car to reach nearly 145 km/h (90 mph), an impressive figure for the mid-1930s.
Technically, the 3½ Litre benefited from a particularly rigid chassis, well-developed semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension and a mechanically assisted braking system derived from Hispano-Suiza patents, providing braking performance well ahead of many contemporary competitors. Its precise steering, excellent road manners and outstanding comfort quickly established it as one of the finest luxury automobiles of its era.
Delivered as a rolling chassis, the Bentley 3½ Litre was subsequently fitted with bespoke coachwork handcrafted by Britain’s most prestigious coachbuilders, including Hooper, Park Ward, Vanden Plas, H.J. Mulliner and James Young, making virtually every example unique.
Nicknamed “The Silent Sports Car” by the British motoring press, it successfully combined the legendary refinement and engineering quality of Rolls-Royce with the sporting character that had made Bentley famous throughout the 1920s. Between 1933 and 1937, only 1,177 examples were produced before being succeeded by the Bentley 4¼ Litre. Today, the Bentley 3½ Litre is universally regarded as one of the finest pre-war motor cars, highly sought after by collectors for its timeless elegance, exceptional engineering and significant place in British automotive history.
Completed in 1934, chassis B.51-BL was delivered to the renowned British coachbuilder Hooper at the request of its first owner, Mr. Leslie Culverwell. It received a saloon body built to Hooper’s then-new design, bearing the internal coachwork reference No. 5767. Accompanying the car are copies of the original design drawings produced specifically for Mr. Culverwell, together with Hooper’s original body specification describing the car and all of its factory-fitted options, as well as its valuable original Handbook. An extensive collection of period documents traces the history of this Bentley from 1934 through to 1956.
Several photographs dating from the 1950s show the car carrying its original registration AHY 230. Around 1977, it was exported to the Netherlands before returning to England in the late 1980s. A substantial archive of documents from 1989 records the car’s history through correspondence with the Science Museum Library, the Bentley Drivers Club and the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club. At that time, the Bentley belonged to Mr. Howard, who, after considerable effort, successfully succeeded in having its original registration AHY 230 officially reissued.
In the early 2000s, the car was acquired by Mr. N. Plant, who retained ownership until at least 2013. Several subsequent owners followed the Bentley was exported to Germany. It was photographed for the last time in approximately 2018 in its original saloon configuration before its transformation began around 2020. A comprehensive restoration of the chassis and engine was then undertaken while a new roadster body was carefully constructed.
The current owner purchased the Bentley in 2021 and entered it in the 2025 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, an extraordinary adventure that once again demonstrated the legendary durability and reliability of Bentley’s pre-war engineering. Following the event, the car benefited from a further restoration and today presents in outstanding mechanical and cosmetic condition. Equipped with its original centralised chassis lubrication system, a beautifully trimmed leather interior and an engine-turned aluminum dashboard, this magnificent 1934 Bentley 3½ Liter represents an ideal entrant for Bentley Boys club events, prestigious pre-war rallies and the world’s finest historic motoring gatherings.

Year1934BodyRoadsterTransmission4 speed manualEngine Size3.669 cm3Power110hpPriceUpon Request