| |
1926 BENTLEY
3 LITRE "SPEED MODEL"
MANUFACTURER: Bentley Motors
Ltd, London
CHASSIS NO: LT1581; ENGINE
NO.: LT1589; ENGLISH RESTORATION NUMBER:
HS4479
BODYWORK: Fabric covered Weymann
lightweight Saloon, built by J. Gurney
Nutting and Co. Ltd, London - Body
No. A723
Colour: Red and black with
red leather upholstery.
MECHANICAL SPECIFICATION
Engine: 4 cylinder, with single gear
driven overhead camshaft, 4 valves
per cylinder, twin "sloper"
S.U. carburettors, and twin ML magnetos.
Bore 80mm x 149mm stroke, capacity
2996cc.
Chassis: Channel section side
members, with channel section cross
members. Beam axles front and rear
underslung on semi-elliptic springs,
with original friction shock absorbers
at front, non-original hydraulic shock
absorbers at rear.
Gearbox: Close ratio 4 speed
"A" type sliding mesh.
Brakes: 4 wheel rod operated
Perrot-type, with 16" drums.
Wheels: Centre lock well-base
wire type, carrying 6.00 x 20 tyres.
Twin spare wheels mounted in front
mudguards.
DESCRIPTION
The technically advanced and extremely
well built 3 litre Bentley would have
been one of the outstanding cars of
the "Vintage" 1920s, even
without its series of competition
successes.
The design team led by W.O. Bentley
profited both from pre-war racing
experience, and wartime aircraft engine
involvement, with its developments
in metallurgy and machining processes.
As a result the 3 litre Bentley showed
the benefit of all these technical
advancements.
Like Royce, Bentley received his engineering
training in the locomotive works at
Doncaster. During this period English
railway engineering represented the
very best in design and execution
of dynamic mechanical engineering,
carried out to the highest possible
standards. The Bentley is sometimes
described as over-engineered, but
this criticism is clearly refuted
by the outstanding reliability and
long life of the Vintage Bentley,
their ability to withstand years of
abuse and neglect, and the very high
regard in which these cars are held
today.
With their light and accurate steering,
excellent road holding, powerful brakes,
sporting engine characteristics, and
a close ratio gearbox which, once
mastered, is a delight to use, the
3 litre Bentley is extremely rewarding
and satisfying to drive.
While most short chassis "Speed
Model" 3 litres, popularly known
by the usual colour of the radiator
badge as "Red Label", were
fitted with the classic lightweight
fabric tourer body produced by Vanden
Plas, there were also other standard
bodies offered by Bentley Motors,
and of course many owners specified
their own particular designs which
were then executed by various coach
builders.
Due to its light weight, freedom from
cracking, drumming, and creaking,
the patented flexible body design
developed in France by Henri Weymann
overcame all or most of these problems,
and proved very popular during the
1920s and into the 1930s. Gurney Nutting
were one of the English Coach Builders
who favoured the Weymann fabric saloon
design and arranged with Bentley Motors
to offer their attractive 4 light
saloon as a standard body design,
as shown on the original Body Number
plate.
When fitted, as in this case, to the
Speed Model chassis, the resulting
car with its attractive lines and
proportion, together with its above
average performance, thus became one
of the very first true sports saloons.
HISTORY
This car was delivered in England
in 1926 to Mr. J.H. Watson, and was
registered with the English registration
number HS4479, which it still carried.
It spent much of its life inthe Cheshire
area of England, and for some 30 years
was owned by the Bracegirdle family.
It was built to full short chassis
Speed Model specification, with high
compression egine, twin SU carburettors,
close ratio gearbox and Speed Model
Back axle ratio. It is what is known
as a late type 3 litre, the distinguishing
features of which are the use of many
improved chassis and engine components
developed for the 4½ Litre model,
and the incorporation of a built in
stoneguard for the radiator.
In the 1970s this car was bought by
a well-known Californian Bentley collector
and enthusiast who wisely maintained
its originality. The present Australian
owner imported the car several years
ago, to add to his stable of Bentleys.
Apart from the interesting feature
of a Speed Model 3 litre being fitted
with a saloon boy, the most outstanding
characteristic of this car is its
remarkable originality, the details
of which warrant a close study.
It has a most appealing air of regular,
but considerate use, giving it a charming
patina which no restored car can achieve.
|
|
