Bentley 3.5 Litre

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Bentley 3½ Litre
Manufacturer	Bentley
Also called	Bentley 4¼ Litre
Production	1933–1939 2411 produced
Predecessor	Bentley 4 Litre
Successor	Bentley Mark V
Class	Luxury car
Engine(s)	3.7 L I6 4.25 L I6
Wheelbase	126 in (3200 mm)

The 3½ Litre (and later 4¼ Litre) was the first Bentley to be developed by new owner Rolls-Royce. Released in 1933, it became the "entry level" car that the 4 Litre failed to become. With good performance and a low-profile look, the 3½ Litre became known as the "silent sports car."

[edit] 3½ Litre

Based on an experimental Rolls-Royce with a supercharged 2¾ L engine, the 3½ Litre was finally fitted with Rolls' straight-6 developed from the Rolls-Royce Twenty. Actual power output was roughly 110 bhp (82 kW) at 4500 rpm, allowing the car to reach 90 mph (145 km/h). The engine displaced 3.7 L (3669 cc/223 in³) with a 3¼ in (82.5 mm) bore and 4½ in (114.3 mm) stroke. A 4-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on 3rd and 4th, 4-wheel leaf spring suspension, and 4-wheel mechanical servo-assisted brakes were all common Rolls-Royce parts. The complete driveable chassis, ready for delivery to the customer's chosen coachbuilder, weighed 2510lbs.

1177 3½ Litre cars were built, with about half of them being bodied by Park Ward.

[edit] 4¼ Litre

Beginning in March, 1936, a 4¼ Litre version of the car was offered as replacement for the 3½ Litre, in order to offset the increasing weight of coachwork and maintain the car's sporting image. The engine was bored to 3½ in (88.9 mm) for a total of 4.3 L (4257 cc/259 in³). From 1938 the MR and MX series cars featured Marles steering and an overdrive gearbox.

1234 4¼ Litre cars were built, with Park Ward remaining the most popular coachbuilder. Many cars were bodied in steel rather than the previous, more expensive, aluminium over ash frame construction.

A Drophead 4¼ Litre was featured as James Bond's car in Never Say Never Again.

v • d • e Bentley ownership and road car timeline, 1920s–present – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG)
Type	1920s		1930s		1940s		1950s		1960s		1970s		1980s		1990s				2000s
	Independent		Rolls-Royce															Volkswagen Group
Sports car	3 L	4½ L			WWII
Saloon		6½/Six	4L/3½ 4¼L/V			VI	R	S1/S2/S3		T1		T2	Mulsanne								CFS
Premium		8 L										Camargue						Arnage
Coupé											Corniche			Continental & C Turbo		Continental R/S/T				C GT
Convertible																	Azure				C GTC
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys