Bentley 3 Litre History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
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The 3 Litre was the first Bentley, developed from 1919 and delivered to its first customer in September 1921. Sold as a rolling chassis to be bodied by coachbuilders — Vanden Plas, a Cricklewood neighbour, being the most common — it had an advanced four-valve-per-cylinder, single-overhead-cam inline-four and established W. O. Bentley's goal of 'a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.'
It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 (John Duff and Frank Clement) and again in 1927 in Super Sports form (S. C. H. 'Sammy' Davis and Dudley Benjafield), launching Bentley's racing legend and the era of the 'Bentley Boys.' Cars were sold under colour-coded radiator badges — Blue Label, the high-performance Red Label Speed Model, and the rare 100-mph Green Label.
Around 1,600 were built through 1929, making it the most-produced Cricklewood Bentley before the larger 4½ Litre and Speed Six took over racing duties.
Body styles
- Tourer
- Saloon
- Drophead
- Coachbuilt
Notable special editions & performance variants
Red Label Speed Model
The higher-performance 3 Litre on the short chassis with twin carburettors — the sporting version of the original Bentley.
Related models
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