Bentley 4 Litre Explained

Bentley 4 Litre
Manufacturer:Bentley Motors Limited
Production:1931
50 produced
Assembly:Cricklewood, London
Class:Luxury car
Body Style:As arranged with coachbuilder by customer
Layout:Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Predecessor:Bentley Speed Six
Successor:Bentley 3.5 Litre
Sp:uk

The Bentley 4 Litre was a motor car built on rolling chassis made by Bentley Motors Limited in 1931. The 4-litre chassis was conceived and built in a failed attempt to restore Bentley to a good financial state. Announced 15 May 1931, it used a modified four litre Ricardo IOE engine in a shortened 8 Litre chassis at two-thirds of the price of the 8 Litre in an attempt to compete with the Rolls-Royce 20/25. Instead, Bentley went into receivership shortly afterward, from which it was purchased by Rolls-Royce Limited.

The conventional straight-6 engine used an bore and a stroke for a total displacement of and a power output of at 4,000 rpm. The engine power was not suitable for the heavy chassis.