---
title: Bentley 3 Litre · HICONIUM
description: "The 3 Litre established the W.O. Bentley formula: a large, slow-turning engine, separate coachbuilt body and endurance results that made the road car credible. Chassis, engine and original coachwork outweigh a later Le Mans-style body."
canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/3-litre
image: https://hiconium.dev/og/vehicle/bentley/3-litre.png
market_as_of: "2026-09-01"
---

> HICONIUM · Index: https://hiconium.dev/llms.txt · Every page: append `.md` or send `Accept: text/markdown`.
> Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [Vehicles](https://hiconium.dev/models) › [Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/bentley) › 3 Litre
> On this page: [The price and the proof](#the-price-and-the-proof) · [Model readouts](#model-readouts) · [Documented sales](#documented-sales) · [A sporting chassis sold to owners who chose the body.](#overview-heading) · [Technical specifications](#technical-specifications) · [Powertrain](#powertrain) · [Chassis and variants](#chassis-and-variants) · [3 Litre register](#3-litre-register) · [The people behind the car](#the-people-behind-the-car) · [W.O. Bentley](#wo-bentley) · [Member instruments](#member-instruments)

![A green Bentley 3 Litre with brass fittings, front three-quarter view on an olive field with warm morning light](https://hiconium.dev/images/cars/bentley-3-litre/hero-wide-2560.jpg)

# 3 Litre

Bentley's first production chassis

The 3 Litre established the W.O. Bentley formula: a large, slow-turning engine, separate coachbuilt body and endurance results that made the road car credible. Chassis, engine and original coachwork outweigh a later Le Mans-style body.

1921 to 1929 · 1'622 built · Cricklewood

## The price and the proof

Indicative road-car band $203K–$296K · typical $259K · 50 documented road sales · 50 recorded sales on file · market as of 2026-09-01. Modeled values are not observed sales. Nothing here is investment advice.

Confidence: medium. Three documented USD auction sales anchor the band, but coachwork continuity, specification and chassis history produce a wide spread. The first production Bentley and cars with major period competition provenance sit outside it.

USD; representative of documented, usable 3 Litre road cars rather than the first chassis or works-raced examples.

Recent public Speed Model results cluster below the exceptional early-chassis and competition cars.

Valuation method and source rules: [HICONIUM standards](https://hiconium.dev/standards). Observed auction results across the wider market: [Market terminal](https://hiconium.dev/market).

### Model readouts

50 documented anchors. model v1 · seed bentley-3-litre. Compound annual growth is modeled price CAGR; S&P 500 is a price index without dividends. Forecast quantiles are not investment advice.

| Window | This car* | S&P 500 | Gold |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1Y | -50.2% | +18.8% | +21.9% |
| 5Y | +1.0% | +11.4% | +17.6% |
| 10Y | -2.2% | +13.3% | +11.8% |

| Series | Deepest drawdown | Window |
| --- | --- | --- |
| This car* | -83.9% | Aug 2018 → Mar 2024 · not recovered |
| S&P 500 | -50.8% | Oct 2007 → Mar 2009 · recovered Mar 2013 |
| Gold | -39.3% | Sep 2011 → Dec 2015 · recovered Jul 2020 |

| Horizon | P10 | P50 | P90 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| +6M | $211'619 | $256'720 | $311'433 |
| +12M | $194'999 | $254'674 | $332'612 |
| +24M | $172'074 | $250'632 | $365'053 |

### Documented sales

50 recorded. Every public sale on this file, newest first. Amounts keep the recorded currency. Source links appear only when the catalog stores a public auction-lot URL.

| Date | Chassis / label | Class | House | Venue | Amount | Currency | Basis | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | gooding · Amelia Island Auctions · incl. buyer's premium | Road | gooding | Amelia Island Auctions | $302'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-tourer](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-tourer) |
| 2026-01-28 | RM Sotheby's · Paris, France · incl. buyer's premium | Road | RM Sotheby's | Paris, France | €230'000 | EUR | incl. buyer's premium | [https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa26/lots/r0059-1924-bentley-3litre-speed-model-tourer-by-vanden-plas/](https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa26/lots/r0059-1924-bentley-3litre-speed-model-tourer-by-vanden-plas/) |
| 2025-08-16 | RM Sotheby's · Monterey, USA · incl. buyer's premium | Road | RM Sotheby's | Monterey, USA | $555'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo25/lots/r0149-1927-bentley-3litre-speed-model-fourseater-sports-by-vanden-plas/](https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo25/lots/r0149-1927-bentley-3litre-speed-model-fourseater-sports-by-vanden-plas/) |
| 2024-07-20 | Historics · Windsorview Lakes, Datchet, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | Historics | Windsorview Lakes, Datchet, UK | £168'168 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-230---1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-sports-tourer-by-vanden-plas/?lot=16620&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=6&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=100&pn=2&g=-1](https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-230---1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-sports-tourer-by-vanden-plas/?lot=16620&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=6&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=100&pn=2&g=-1) |
| 2024-04-14 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £88'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/29331/lot/108/1927-bentley-3-litre-sports-project-chassis-no-tn1566-engine-no-tn1567/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/29331/lot/108/1927-bentley-3-litre-sports-project-chassis-no-tn1566-engine-no-tn1567/) |
| 2023-12-15 | bonhams · London, New Bond Street · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, New Bond Street | £90'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/28309/lot/23/1923-bentley-3-litre-boat-tail-roadster-chassis-no-178-engine-no-178/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/28309/lot/23/1923-bentley-3-litre-boat-tail-roadster-chassis-no-178-engine-no-178/) |
| 2023-09-29 | Bonhams · Audrain Concours Auction, Newport, USA · incl. buyer's premium | Road | Bonhams | Audrain Concours Auction, Newport, USA | $263'200 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/28012/lot/27/1922-bentley-3-liter-short-chassis-tourer-chassis-no-166-engine-no-164/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/28012/lot/27/1922-bentley-3-liter-short-chassis-tourer-chassis-no-166-engine-no-164/) |
| 2023-09-01 | 2023 | Road | gooding | London Auction 2023 | £264'375 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-tourer-1](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-tourer-1) |
| 2023-08-04 | Iconic Auctioneers · The Dawn of Motoring Sale, Broadway, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | Iconic Auctioneers | The Dawn of Motoring Sale, Broadway, UK | £164'333 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/1925-bentley-3-litre-open-tourer-rec12704-1-broad-0823](https://www.iconicauctioneers.com/1925-bentley-3-litre-open-tourer-rec12704-1-broad-0823) |
| 2023-03-15 | H&H Classics · Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | H&H Classics | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK | £157'500 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/22-1923-bentley-3-litre-tourer---wilfred/?lot=57276](https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/22-1923-bentley-3-litre-tourer---wilfred/?lot=57276) |
| 2022-12-16 | bonhams · London, New Bond Street · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, New Bond Street | £120'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27525/lot/125/1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-ph1475-engine-no-lt1586/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27525/lot/125/1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-ph1475-engine-no-lt1586/) |
| 2022-10-20 | H&H Classics · Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | H&H Classics | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK | £191'250 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/50-1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-vanden-plas-tourer/?lot=56193](https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/50-1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-vanden-plas-tourer/?lot=56193) |
| 2022-10-20 | H&H Classics · Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | H&H Classics | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK | £157'500 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/111-1924-bentley-3-litre-vanden-plas-tourer/?lot=56442](https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/111-1924-bentley-3-litre-vanden-plas-tourer/?lot=56442) |
| 2022-10-15 | 1029 | Road | Richard Edmonds | Classic Cars, Showell, UK | £195'000 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/119771/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/119771/results) |
| 2022-09-03 | 2022 | Road | gooding | London Auction 2022 | £292'500 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-boattail](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-boattail) |
| 2022-04-10 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £120'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27520/lot/10/1925-bentley-3-litre-open-tourer-chassis-no-1079/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27520/lot/10/1925-bentley-3-litre-open-tourer-chassis-no-1079/) |
| 2022-03-26 | Richard Edmonds · Motor Cars, Showell, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | Richard Edmonds | Motor Cars, Showell, UK | £200'000 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/109006](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/109006) |
| 2021-11-17 | H&H Classics · Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | H&H Classics | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK | £211'500 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/50-1925-bentley-3-litre-dual-cowl-tourer/?lot=54866](https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/50-1925-bentley-3-litre-dual-cowl-tourer/?lot=54866) |
| 2021-11-05 | bonhams · London, New Bond Street · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, New Bond Street | £210'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26804/lot/215/1928-bentley-3-litre-blue-label-tourer-chassis-no-nr-526-engine-no-742/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26804/lot/215/1928-bentley-3-litre-blue-label-tourer-chassis-no-nr-526-engine-no-742/) |
| 2021-09-18 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £200'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27000/lot/208/the-stan-west-collection1926-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-ap307/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27000/lot/208/the-stan-west-collection1926-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-ap307/) |
| 2021-08-30 | 2000 | Road | Aguttes | Tour Auto Optic 2000, Paris, France | €230'460 | EUR | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/97117/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/97117/results) |
| 2021-05-19 | bonhams · London, New Bond Street · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, New Bond Street | £180'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27194/lot/8/1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-425/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/27194/lot/8/1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-425/) |
| 2020-10-30 | bonhams · London, New Bond Street · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, New Bond Street | £238'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26120/lot/231/offered-from-60-year-ownership1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-1224-engine-no-1055-ss/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26120/lot/231/offered-from-60-year-ownership1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-1224-engine-no-1055-ss/) |
| 2020-09-05 | gooding · Passion of a Lifetime · incl. buyer's premium | Road | gooding | Passion of a Lifetime | £345'000 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-tourer-2](https://www.goodingco.com/lot/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-tourer-2) |
| 2020-07-25 | bonhams · Bicester, Bicester Heritage · hammer | Road | bonhams | Bicester, Bicester Heritage | £200'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26115/lot/39/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-roadster-chassis-no-tn1559/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/26115/lot/39/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-roadster-chassis-no-tn1559/) |
| 2020-03-18 | H&H Classics · Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | H&H Classics | Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK | £174'375 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/75711/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/75711/results) |
| 2020-03-07 | RM Sotheby's · Amelia Island, USA · incl. buyer's premium | Road | RM Sotheby's | Amelia Island, USA | $335'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20/amelia-island/lots/r0004-1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-by-vanden-plas/828167](https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/am20/amelia-island/lots/r0004-1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-by-vanden-plas/828167) |
| 2019-11-23 | Historics · Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge, UK · incl. buyer's premium | Road | Historics | Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge, UK | £220'740 | GBP | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/71446/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/71446/results) |
| 2019-11-21 | bonhams · Hendon, RAF Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Hendon, RAF Museum | £250'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/25448/lot/243/offered-from-the-bursville-collection1926-bentley-3-litre-red-label-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-ph1469/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/25448/lot/243/offered-from-the-bursville-collection1926-bentley-3-litre-red-label-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-ph1469/) |
| 2019-09-14 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £170'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/25454/lot/229/1924-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-365/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/25454/lot/229/1924-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-365/) |
| 2018-09-08 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £165'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24878/lot/209/1924-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-589/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24878/lot/209/1924-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-589/) |
| 2018-09-01 | bonhams · Beaulieu, National Motor Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Beaulieu, National Motor Museum | £190'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24877/lot/556/the-ex-george-daniels1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-373/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24877/lot/556/the-ex-george-daniels1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-373/) |
| 2018-08-25 | 2018 | Road | Gooding Christie's | The Pebble Beach Auctions 2018, Pebble Beach, USA | $693'000 | USD | incl. buyer's premium | [https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/46692/results](https://glenmarch.com/auction-cars/show-backup-image/46692/results) |
| 2018-02-08 | bonhams · Paris, The Grand Palais Historique · hammer | Road | bonhams | Paris, The Grand Palais Historique | €610'000 | EUR | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24882/lot/337/bentley-3-litre-red-label-speed-model-tourer-1926/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24882/lot/337/bentley-3-litre-red-label-speed-model-tourer-1926/) |
| 2017-09-09 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £318'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24122/lot/210/the-ex-lieutenant-commander-christopher-tomkinsondarell-berthon1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-two-seater-chassis-no-bl1604dn1731-see-text/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24122/lot/210/the-ex-lieutenant-commander-christopher-tomkinsondarell-berthon1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-two-seater-chassis-no-bl1604dn1731-see-text/) |
| 2017-03-19 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £250'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24118/lot/28/1924-bentley-3-litre-red-label-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-485/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/24118/lot/28/1924-bentley-3-litre-red-label-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-485/) |
| 2015-12-10 | bonhams · Hendon, RAF Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Hendon, RAF Museum | £250'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/22705/lot/351/1926-bentley-3-litre-light-tourer-chassis-no-hp393-engine-no-hp389/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/22705/lot/351/1926-bentley-3-litre-light-tourer-chassis-no-hp393-engine-no-hp389/) |
| 2014-04-28 | bonhams · Hendon, RAF Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Hendon, RAF Museum | £200'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/21899/lot/368/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-lt1591-engine-no-ht1628/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/21899/lot/368/1927-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-lt1591-engine-no-ht1628/) |
| 2012-06-29 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £198'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20143/lot/225/1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-two-seater-chassis-no-1025-engine-no-451/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20143/lot/225/1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-sports-two-seater-chassis-no-1025-engine-no-451/) |
| 2012-06-29 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £105'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20143/lot/240/formerly-the-property-of-ha-stonor-offered-from-the-sharpe-family-collection1925-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-886-engine-no-890/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20143/lot/240/formerly-the-property-of-ha-stonor-offered-from-the-sharpe-family-collection1925-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-886-engine-no-890/) |
| 2012-04-30 | bonhams · Hendon, RAF Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Hendon, RAF Museum | £145'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20141/lot/320/1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-840-engine-no-744/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/20141/lot/320/1924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-840-engine-no-744/) |
| 2011-09-10 | bonhams · Beaulieu, National Motor Museum · hammer | Road | bonhams | Beaulieu, National Motor Museum | £112'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/19288/lot/437/50-years-in-the-current-ownership1925-bentley-3-litre-shooting-brake-chassis-no-915-engine-no-923/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/19288/lot/437/50-years-in-the-current-ownership1925-bentley-3-litre-shooting-brake-chassis-no-915-engine-no-923/) |
| 2010-12-06 | bonhams · Weybridge, Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands · hammer | Road | bonhams | Weybridge, Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands | £135'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/18220/lot/512/one-family-ownership-since-19541924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-804-engine-no-803/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/18220/lot/512/one-family-ownership-since-19541924-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-804-engine-no-803/) |
| 2010-11-12 | bonhams · Sydney · hammer | Road | bonhams | Sydney | A$295'000 | AUD | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/19040/lot/256/formerly-the-property-of-the-late-john-cresswell1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-1054-engine-no-1077-body-no-1144/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/19040/lot/256/formerly-the-property-of-the-late-john-cresswell1925-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-tourer-chassis-no-1054-engine-no-1077-body-no-1144/) |
| 2008-12-01 | bonhams · London, Olympia · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, Olympia | £250'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/16256/lot/624/one-of-only-eighteen-examples-manufactured1925-bentley-3-litre-100mph-supersports-brooklands-two-seater-chassis-no-1161-engine-no-546/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/16256/lot/624/one-of-only-eighteen-examples-manufactured1925-bentley-3-litre-100mph-supersports-brooklands-two-seater-chassis-no-1161-engine-no-546/) |
| 2007-12-03 | bonhams · London, Olympia · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, Olympia | £95'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/15348/lot/676/1922-bentley-3-litre-sports-two-seater-with-dickey-chassis-no-50-engine-no-358/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/15348/lot/676/1922-bentley-3-litre-sports-two-seater-with-dickey-chassis-no-50-engine-no-358/) |
| 2004-12-06 | bonhams · London, Olympia · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, Olympia | £52'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11245/lot/688/1928-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-dn-1734-engine-no-dn-1736/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11245/lot/688/1928-bentley-3-litre-tourer-chassis-no-dn-1734-engine-no-dn-1736/) |
| 2004-12-06 | bonhams · London, Olympia · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, Olympia | £50'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11245/lot/702/192426-bentley-3-litre-four-seat-tourer-with-vdp-style-coachwork-chassis-no-620-engine-no-sr1420/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11245/lot/702/192426-bentley-3-litre-four-seat-tourer-with-vdp-style-coachwork-chassis-no-620-engine-no-sr1420/) |
| 2004-06-25 | bonhams · Chichester, Goodwood · hammer | Road | bonhams | Chichester, Goodwood | £95'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11094/lot/724/1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-fitted-with-4-12-litre-engine-vanden-plas-four-seater-tourer-chassis-no-ah1478-engine-no-xl3111/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/11094/lot/724/1926-bentley-3-litre-speed-model-fitted-with-4-12-litre-engine-vanden-plas-four-seater-tourer-chassis-no-ah1478-engine-no-xl3111/) |
| 2003-07-23 | bonhams · London, Lords Cricket Ground · hammer | Road | bonhams | London, Lords Cricket Ground | £53'000 | GBP | hammer | [https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/10533/lot/226/by-order-of-the-executors-of-the-late-william-rogers1928-bentley-3-litre-sporting-tourer-coachwork-by-freestone-and-webb-ltd-chassis-no-dn-1734-engine-no-dn-1736/](https://cars.bonhams.com/auction/10533/lot/226/by-order-of-the-executors-of-the-late-william-rogers1928-bentley-3-litre-sporting-tourer-coachwork-by-freestone-and-webb-ltd-chassis-no-dn-1734-engine-no-dn-1736/) |

Published sold totals are recorded without currency conversion. Each result must be read with its coachwork and numbered-component file.

## A sporting chassis sold to owners who chose the body.

Bentley Motors delivered its first production car in September 1921. The 3 Litre's long-stroke four, twin ignition and overhead camshaft gave the new company a technical identity before it had a competition record.

The model expanded into standard, Speed and short-chassis high-performance specifications. Bentley's current archive gives 1'622 cars, including 513 Speed Models; some older auction catalogues print 1'624, so a two-car discrepancy remains in published sources.

Most chassis left Cricklewood for an outside coachbuilder. Bodies, engines and other numbered assemblies were frequently changed during long working lives, making a Clare Hay report, factory service records and physical-number inspection central to valuation.

| Highlight | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Sixteen valves in 1921 | The fixed-head four used an overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and twin ignition. Those details came from W.O. Bentley's aircraft-engine work, not from a later competition conversion. |
| Le Mans came after the debut | John Duff and Frank Clement entered the first Le Mans in 1923, set fastest lap and finished fourth. Bentley backed their return in 1924; they won, and another 3 Litre won in 1927. |
| The badge is not the file | Blue, Red and Green Label names describe specification families, but a radiator badge alone proves little. Factory chassis records, numbered components and the continuity of the coachwork decide what the car is. |

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Built | 1'622 |
| Engine | 3.0L inline-four |
| Valvetrain | SOHC · 16 valves |
| Factory | Cricklewood |
| First delivery | September 1921 |

## Technical specifications

### Powertrain

| Label | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engine | 2'996 cc inline-four | cast-iron monobloc; fixed cylinder head |
| Valvetrain | Single overhead camshaft, 16 valves | bevel-shaft cam drive; four valves per cylinder |
| Ignition | Twin spark plugs and twin magnetos |  |
| Output | 70 bhp standard · 80 bhp Speed | Bentley factory figures; the Green Label was the 100 mph specification |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual | non-synchromesh |

### Chassis and variants

| Label | Value | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Frame | Pressed-steel ladder chassis |  |
| Speed wheelbase | 117.5 in | 2'984.5 mm; factory Heritage Collection specification |
| Suspension | Solid axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs |  |
| Brakes | Mechanical drums | specification evolved during the nine-year production run |
| Coachwork | Independent coachbuilders | Vanden Plas supplied many open sporting bodies |

### 3 Litre register

3 documented · public records only. Private, unpublished and member-only chassis files are omitted.

| Year | Chassis | Colour | Provenance | Last public sale | File |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1925 | 1108 |  | Published auction record from RM Sotheby's, 2020-03-07. | $335'000 · RM Sotheby's · 2020-03 | [Chassis file](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/3-litre?file=1108) |
| 1924 | 688 |  | Published auction record from RM Sotheby's, 2026-01-28. | €230'000 · RM Sotheby's · 2026-01 | [Chassis file](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/3-litre?file=688) |
| 1927 | AX1668 |  | Published auction record from RM Sotheby's, 2025-08-16. | $555'000 · RM Sotheby's · 2025-08 | [Chassis file](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/bentley/3-litre?file=AX1668) |

## The people behind the car

### [W.O. Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/people/wo-bentley)

Founder and chief engineer · Bentley Motors

![Portrait of W.O. Bentley](https://hiconium.dev/images/cars/bentley-3-litre/people/wo-bentley.jpg)

Defined the 3 Litre's engine architecture and used competition to prove the production chassis.

## Member instruments

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